MU should follow CEI 2012 norms : DESAM-II
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 22 2016: Stating that DESAM does not stand against the interest of the SC students, the statement said that if and when the population ratio of the SC increases, DESAM will also work hand in hand with the SC students to increase their reservation quota.

However the stand of the SC students that MU should follow the reservation norms of 7.5 pc for ST, 15 pc for SC and 27 pc for OBC is unacceptable, said the student body.

This is wrong, said DESAM and added that the population of the SC is not even 5 pc of the total population of Manipur while the population of the ST is about 41 pc.

Reserving just 7.5 pc for ST whose population stands at 41 pc is against natural justice.

Stating that Manipur is home to numerous communities, the student body said that as such there should be equality.

All should be entitled to their rights and there should be equality, said the student body and added that it is only when all are treated equally that Manipur can hope to progress.

This is the firm belief of DESAM, it said.

Seen in this context the recent decision adopted by the Academic Council of MU was totally wrong, it said.

This is ample proof that the Academic Council and those who were piling on the pressure to adopt the CEI reservation norms of 2006 have a totally distorted version of the idea of Manipur.

Their idea of Manipur has refused to go beyond the small valley area, said DESAM.

It is now clear that their idea of Manipur means that Manipur is for the Meiteis alone and hence Manipur University is for the Meiteis.

Such a mindset is not only wrong but can also have drastic effect on the land in the future.

Some academic elites and those who are pressurising them only serve lip service such as all are brothers, all are one etc.

But their action says something contrary to all their lip service, it added.

This is not serving the interest of the land and people, it said and added that it is this mindset which will break Manipur.

The recent decision of the Academic Council to stick to the reservation norms of 7.5 pc for ST, 15 pc for SC and 27 pc for OBC amounts to snatching the rightful share of the hill people, said DESAM and added that this goes against the slogan of chingmi-tammi amattani.

Citing an example, DESAM said that outsiders/Bengalis constitute 70 pc of the total population of Tripura while the indigenous people, the Borok constitute just 30 pc.

However Tripura university follows the CEI (reservation in admission) Amendment Act 2012 and from the academic session of 2013-14 follow the reservation norms of 31 pc for ST, 17 pc for SC and 2 pc for OBC.

And is Tripura a tribal State ?, asked DESAM.

As the big brother, the Meiteis should be happy that UGC and the Centre came out with the 2012 Amendment Act for it gives the right share to the ST.

But this has not been the case, observed the student body.

What is happening at MU today is indicative of the point that some Meiteis have become too self centred and selfish, said DESAM and added that this is wrong.

Meiteis should be taking the role of the big brother, but this has not happened and this is wrong, it added.

It is also wrong to link what is happening at MU with other issues, such as the ILP demand.

It is totally wrong to read the MU issue along communal line and linking it with other issues such as the demand for ILP, added DESAM If anyone tries to communalise the issue at MU then the already frayed relationship between the hill and valley people will be snapped, it added.

Expressing concern that what is happening at MU may cast its long shadow into the future, DESAM said that it is because of this that they are against the October 8 decision of the Academic Council of MU.

The Academic Council and those responsible for instigating them should be held responsible for any fall out, added DESAM.

The student body also urged all to be wary of the elements which try to portray DESAM in the wrong light and asked all to extend moral support to the student body so that it can stand for justice.

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