ATSUM highlights issues in CCpur
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, February 08 2021: The All-Tribal Students Union Manipur along with its sister organisations based in Churachandpur district, during a meeting with the District Administration Churachandpur today, appealed to the State Government to remedy the issues plaguing the hill districts.

Addressing media persons, ATSUM general secretary SR Andria stated that there are a number of issues which the State Government need to address, particularly in Education, Health, ADC and Forest, as many shortcomings of the departments have been exposed during the course of their 'Hill District Tour'.

Basic amenities and the required human resources are lacking in the schools under ZEO Churachandpur.

The district has no science laboratory despite having five Higher Secondary Schools, said the student leader.

ATSUM highlights issues in CCpur

'It is very disturbing to know that students have been appearing and clearing their Class XII (Science) exams without any laboratory,' he said.

SR Andria alleged that out of the 5 higher secondary schools in the district, only 3 are functional due to the lack of teachers.

While the absence of teachers is disturbing, it is again disheartening to know that many of them are utilized in the valley districts, where there are surplus teachers, he alleged.

Under the Government's flagship programme 'SSA', students are randomly provided uniforms by engaging some private firms and that too not on time.

Previous year's uniforms that were supposed to be used last year have not yet been issued till date, he added.

The two colleges in Churachandpur are functioning well but they too lack infrastructure.

Churachandpur College for instance has over 4000 students enrolled but without the required number of lecturers and classrooms, he said.

In the Health Care sector, there are 11 PHSCs in the district but none have their own building.

The District Hospital, which is scheduled to be upgraded to a medical college needs more specialist doctors and equipment.

Cases of pregnant women succumbing while giving birth due to the lack of medical facilities is reported over and over again.

This has to stop, said the ATSUM general secretary.

On the issue concerning the ADC, the recruitment notice issued last year, which intentionally omitted knowledge of local languages as a preference, needs to be amended at the earliest, he added.

SR Andria further urged the State Government to settle the Reserve Forest issue, which was notified without the knowledge and consent of the tribal chiefs, who are the land owners.

The ATSUM leaders who are on their second leg of the 'Hill District Tour' will compile their detailed findings and submit them to the Government for remedial measures, he added.