ATSUM steps up drive for its ROTO-2
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, November 02 2013 : As a prelude to kick-start of its second phase of movement under the operational code name ROTO (Reckoning of the Other), All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) is spending hectic time distributing leaflets as awareness campaigns among the people on its various demands.

ATSUM general secretary Vareiyo Satshang said there is every likelihood that the agitation will begin in the second week of this month.

ATSUM demands that condition of educational atmosphere in the hill districts is improved by appointment or recruitment of adequate teaching and non-teaching staff and necessary infrastructure for schools in the hill areas.

In this regard, ATSUM demands setting up of B.Ed centres in the hill districts and early solution to the crises in Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) .

Another demand of ATSUM is the improvement of healthcare in the hill districts by making all PHSC, PHC, CHC and DHC functional by taking care of the equipments and posting the required specialist doctors and nurses in the district hospitals of the hills.

ATSUM has also been demanding establishment of a separate state Commission for Scheduled Tribe (ST) in Manipur, adherence to the ST reservation norms as per the latest roster, encouraging equitable development through special economic package for the hill areas of Manipur.

Effective governance of the hill areas also another key demand of the tribal student body.

According to ATSUM, to have effective governance there are certain areas that should be revamped.

Securing the proper functioning of the Hill Area Committee (HAC) and requiring the Governor of Manipur to discharge his special responsibilities under 371-C of the Constitution on India is one area.

To bring the present Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Manipur at par with other ADCs in the North-Eastern states of India is also one of the areas.

ATSUM also said re-organisation (Delimitation) of assembly seats on the basis of the latest population census and sharing 30/30 seats between the hills and the valley is one area that should be done for the effective governance.

Lastly, ATSUM demands for the protection of tribal rights on land and natural resource.

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