Imphal, May 07: The Manipur Government is making hectic effort to convene a joint meeting with representatives of the MEELAL and DESAM on May 11 evening to find to solve the Meetei Mayek issue.

A press statement issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat reiterated that State Government is leaving no stone unturned to restore normalcy in the society.

The statement also mentioned of the Government intensely pursuing all possible option to reach an agreement in solving the prolonged impasse consequent to the script agitation launched by the MEELAL and student organisation DESAM demanding implementation of Meetei Mayek in the school curriculum with immediate effect.

The only impediment, maintained the statement, is lack of consensus on implementing Meetei Mayek as several hill district organisation had voiced opposition to the Meelal-Desam pursuit which had to be accommodated in view of multi-ethnic composition of the Manipur society.

Reaffirming that implementing Meetei Mayek is an unquestionable commitment of the Secular Progressive Front Government, the statement conveyed that equal emphasis had to be given in evoking positive response from all concerned.

As such complexity prevails efforts are being made to safeguard the interest and avoid hurting sentiment of all the community which will consequently be a time consuming process before paving the way for implementation of Meetei Mayek, it said.

Not only is the Government trying to reach out to the reluctant parties but constant communication is being established with leaders of the agitating bodies by despatching emissaries to detention centre which has evoked positive response culminating in the May 11 schedule, it said.

Even as Meelal had announced intensifying its agitation by targeting establishments and properties connected to essential services the CM's Secretariat fervently appealed to the agitating bodies to abstain from violent conduct.

Meanwhile, the Government is reported to be seriously considering simultaneous introduction of Meetei Mayek and Roman script in the school curriculum from class I-V in order to replace Bengali script.

The move, according to informed source, is with the objective to address intense agitation being launched by script organisations/activists as well as objection raised by various hill district bodies on implementation of the indigenous script.

An expert committee will be constituted by the Government to study technicalities of simultaneous introduction of Meetei Mayek and Roman script so that inclusion of Manipuri Language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution is not reduced to meaningless endeavour.

Explaining on technicalities of simultaneous introduction of the Meetei and .Roman scripts, the source said minor rectification is required regarding amendment of Manipur Language Act 1979 to Manipuri Language (Meetei Mayek) or Roman script (Elementary Manipuri).

On being queried from when would the scripts be introduced in school, the source said there is still no confirmation on time frame for the implementation and that the matter is to be decided by the State Government.

The source referring to demand from many hill district organisations to prescribe Elementary Manipuri rather than enforce Meetei Mayek stated that the Government is also mulling roping in services of experts for the transcription procedures.

On the other hand, the source asserted that State Cabinet meeting of May 4 on the Meetei Mayek issue had entrusted the Education Department, BSEM and SCERT authorities for detailed assessment of replacing Bengali script with Meetei Mayek/Elementary Manipuri (Roman script).

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