Student bodies urge
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 16 2022:
At least six student organisations have urged the Government to constitute a transliteration committee, set up a Language Commission and make an arrangement so that UPSC candidates could write the Mains in Meitei Mayek.
The six student bodies are Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Singpang Lup (AIMS), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and another student body.
In a joint statement, the student organisations said that Civil Services aspirants taking Manipuri as a subject are in a disadvantaged position while giving the Mains which carry 500 marks as the UPSC recognises only Manipuri (in Bengali script) .
Saying that schools in Manipur started teaching Manipuri in Meitei Mayek since 2006 and right now there are many students who have completed Master courses in Manipuri, they added that more aspirants from Manipur will clear the Civil Services Examination if they are allowed to write in Meitei Mayek.
Unfortunately, the State Government hasn't put any effort to change the rules of UPSC and let Manipuri students give the examination in Meitei Mayek too, they claimed.
Further stating that allowing Manipuri students to write the Mains only in Bengali script is akin to violation of rights as many aspirants and fresh graduates of the particular subject are more convenient with Meitei Mayek, the joint statement reminded that Meitei Mayek was declared an official script of Manipur after amending the Manipur Official Language Act last year.
Saying that the UPSC not allowing Manipuri students to give the examination in Meitei Mayek is largely a fault of the State Government 'as it is their responsibility to highlight the inconvenience being faced by the students to the competent authority,' the student organisations maintained that they have raised the matter before the Education Minister and Director of Language Planning and Implementation earlier too 'but there is no sign of the Government taking the matter seriously.
They also urged the Government to constitute a transliteration committee to make sure adequate reference books are available in Meitei Mayek.
"We have been appealing to the State Government to set up a Language Commission and constitute a transliteration committee but no tangible actions have been taken up so far," it claimed and urged the Government to do the needful and promote Meitei Mayek.