ATSUM seeks Government's attention
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, July 28 2017:
The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has sought the attention of the State Government towards improving the living conditions of the students from various remote areas of Kangpokpi district who have been staying in the Government Girl's Hostel at Motbung High School which is in a deplorable and uninhabitable condition .
The appalling condition of the hostellers came to light when ATSUM education secretary along with local media inspected the Girl's Hostel yesterday morning .
The girl's hostel at Motbung High School was constructed under MSDP (II) MOMA, Government of India, PIA-DRDA, Senapati with a cost of Rs 25,00,000 in 2014 and was completed last year but it remained defunct .
Water logging were witnessed all around the hostel due to the absence of proper drainage in and around the building making the students vulnerable to water borne diseases and other epidemics and no fencing were seen around the hostel .
Presently, most of the children/hostellers are from the surrounding area of Saikul Sub Division including Geljang in Konghom and Songjang in Khamenlok area who could not afford expensive private schools .
While interacting with the media persons, a hosteller who had just returned to the hostel after helping his families with agricultural chores during the summer vacation, said that private schools are beyond his family’s reach and the Government institutions functioning in his area have all failed .
Speaking to media persons, Deikholhing Lhouvum, teacher of Motbung Government High School, who also look after the hostel as the warden expressed her sympathy towards the children who even could not afford proper clothing and lodging materials .
She expressed gratitude towards the State Government for providing such costly hostel for the welfare of the poor students but at the same time expressed disappointment that no beds, tables, chairs, lockers and other basic necessities have been provided ever since its establishment .
She appealed to the state Government, NGOs, CSOs and the public to help the in providing the basic necessities .
ATSUM education secretary, Henkai Singsit, said that the deplorable state of Motbung High School Girl's Hostel is very much unfortunate and it is disheartening to witness the pitiable condition of a hostel which belongs to the Government .
He urged the Education Minister to intervene immediately and help the children.