DESAM drive against infrastructure deficiencies in colleges of Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19, 2012:
Highlighting a number of infrastructure deficiencies in colleges of Manipur, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has submitted a memorandum to the Government and also threatened to launch intense agitation if some of the demands are not fulfilled within a fortnight.
The memorandum addressed to the Education Minister demanded appointment of regular Director of Higher Education, regular Principals of higher education institutions, filling up vacant posts of teaching staff, repairing/renovation of classrooms, establishment of functioning libraries along with provision of basic facilities such as regular power supply and internet connection, upgrading of science laboratories, improvement in the condition of men's and ladies toilets, college buildings, conduct common admission test, ensure commensurate teacher/student ration, weed out teaching staff disparity between aided and Government colleges, constitute a state advisory board of education to ensure good governance and formulate an effective policy to ensure coordination between Manipur University and affiliated colleges.
Speaking to newspersons on the submission of the memorandum at its Keishampat head office today, DESAM general secretary Arambam Thoithoi strongly lamented that inspite of joint movement by student unions of colleges and representation presented to the Government of Manipur since 2009 conditions of colleges remain unchanged.
Accusing the Government of being indifferent to the plight of the student community, Thoithoi asserted that regular post/s of Higher Education Director and principals remaining vacant for the past many years is a testimony of the State authorities belittling higher education.
While there is leakages of classrooms in a number of colleges, pitiable condition of toilet facility and failure to provide power supply for efficient Sanctioning of libraries and laboratories are some other instances of the Government continuously neglecting the higher education sector, he expressed.
Asking authorities concerned to install solar lighting system at colleges to tide over chronic power supply failure and demarcation of college boundaries on priority basis, Thoithoi opined that until and unless such basic facilities could be provided to colleges the trend of Manipuri students opting to study in other cities would remain.
Reiterating the demand that atleast some of the genuine issues be addressed within 15 days, the student activist cautioned that launching intense agitation against the Government could not be ruled out.