Hill students gear up for stir, no deadline set
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 25 2021: Three tribal student bodies namely; ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO have announced that they would launch different modes of agitation if the Govt fails to fulfil their charter of demands at the earliest.

The student bodies however did not set a deadline.

Speaking to media persons on behalf of the three student bodies at Adimjati Shiksha Ashram here this afternoon, ATSUM general secretary Seiboi Haokip said that they have been demanding the State Government to fulfil a charter of demands since 2017 .

"We have been talking with the Government from time to time on the charter of demands which are based on tribal issues and interests.

Hill students gear up for stir, no deadline set

The latest talk was held on August 13, 2019 in the Chief Minister's office with Chief Minister N Biren in the chair", Seiboi said.

Even though the Government and the student bodies came to an understanding at the latest meeting, there is no sign of transforming the points of agreement into action till date, he said.

The matter was reminded to the State Govt last year and the Govt assured that the charter of demands would be fulfilled as a New Year's gift.

But the Govt has been sleeping over its own assurance, Seiboi decried.

Decrying such attitude of the Government which smacks of suppression of hill people, the ATSUM general secretary elaborated the points agreed between them and the Government.

Regularisation of Primary and Graduate teachers recruited on contract basis in 2006, recruitment of lecturers, particularly MIL lecturers, filling up of ST backlog seats for Assistant Professors, opening of BEd centres in hill districts and upgrading of IGNTU, Manipur Regional Campus as a full fledged university are the main points which have been agreed between the student bodies and the Government, he said.

The charter of demands also includes recruitment of necessary staff for Tribal Affairs and Hills Directorate, recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff under ADCs and filling up of backlog seats of ST in JNIMS, he said.

The Government stated that the matter would be tabled at a Cabinet meeting and an appropriate decision would be adopted.

But there is no sign of tabling the charter of demands before the State Cabinet any time soon, Seiboi Haokip said.

He said that ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO would launch intense modes of agitation if the Government fails to fulfil the charter of demands at the earliest.

To a query, Seiboi said that they are not setting any deadline to the Government.

The agitation may be launched any time but prior information would be given to public, he said.

ANSAM president Thiirtung Wanglar Monsang and KSO Ghqs president Paotinthang Lupheng were also present at the press meet.