Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2010:
The general assembly of All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) held on December 6 at Synod Hall, Churachandpur has resolved to make education free in all
tribal areas.
Accordingly, the general assembly, which was attended by representatives of CDSU, Churachandpur; TKS, Ukhrul; SDSA, Senapati,; ZSUM, Tamenglong and KSO (GHQ), resolved that all the educational institutions in tribal areas must be exempted from the purview of any agitation taken up by the tribal bodies.
Issuing a statement in this connection, assistant general secretary of ATSUM, Robert Leivon informed that to put into effect the resolution adopted, the assembly authorised ATSUM to make a declaration that the academic calendar in all the hill districts will be as usual and the Government cannot impose the revised academic calendar in the hills under any circumstances.
All the Zonal Education Officers must follow the previous academic calendar until further notice.
On other issues that were discussed, the statement asserted that the tribals of Manipur have always been at the receiving end politically, economically, socially and culturally.
The assembly condemned the failure of the State Government to frame and implement the 'reservation for SC/STs in Manipur' in accordance to the 100 point roster in all the departments (Govt and semiGovernment) as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Service (for SC and ST) Act, 2007 is still unoperative as rules for the said Act have not yet been framed till date.
So, non-implementation of the Reservation rules has deprived the ST of various posts and seats but no action can be initiated against any guilty officer/head of Departments due to non-availability of the said rules.
Therefore, the assembly, outrightly rejected the sudden introduction of the newly created 200point roster without any legislative sanction.
In line with devolution of power of the State Government, the assembly decided to oppose the Cabinet decision of posting Senior MCS officer as Executive Director of DRDA.
The assembly endorsed that tribal administration and decision with regard to the hill districts must be decided by the Hill Area Committee (HAC) at least and not by any Cabinet Minister.
Therefore, the assembly entrusted ATSUM to take up appropriate actions in co-ordination with all the federating units so that the Cabinet decision is withdrawn at the earliest, the statement added.