ATSUM lauds DESAM
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 05 2013 : The All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has lauded today's protest rally of students in Imphal organised by Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) demanding to make education a 'free zone' .

"The move of DESAM is timely, laudable and genuine case," said ATSUM president Muan Tombing and its general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang.

ATSUM said it fully gave moral support to the DESAM rally today and said, "Irrespective of geographical matter, ethnic groups, valley and hills, education should be made a free zone and no one should disturb the functioning of educational institutions" .

Meanwhile, ATSUM has expressed its resentment on the reported order of the Social Welfare Directorate, government of Manipur to conduct interview for the workers and helpers of Anganwadi from July 22 to 27 at the Directorate headquarter in Imphal.

ATSUM said that when when the move for decentralisation of power is on, the order of the Social Welfare Director Th Chitra to conduct the interview in the state capital is unfortunate.

"Let the candidates face interview in their own respective district," asks ATSUM.

Meanwhile, ATSUM leaders Muan Tombing and Vareiyo Shatsang said following the recent agitation of the tribal students' body, the government has fulfilled most of the demands put up by it but certain important issues are yet to be addressed.

The tribal student leaders urged the state government to immediately fulfil the ATSUM's long standing aspiration to find a State Commission of the Scheduled Tribes in Manipur under the Article 338A of the Indian Constitution which would usher in all round development and progress in respect of thee tribal people in this eastern most part of the Indian Union.

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes which came in to force on 19th February, 2004 has failed to provide adequate service to the state of Manipur a it is based on the distant centre in Shillong, they stated.

According to the ATSUM leaders, the state of Karnataka in 2002 had established the State Commission for SC/ST under the name and style 'The Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Tribes Act, 2002' .

They said the tribal population is the second largest in the state of Manipur but the pace of development is rather too slow till today comparing to that of the non-tribal populace.

There has been the Manipur state Commission for OBC which meant to safeguard the rights of the other backward classes, the ATSUM leaders said.

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