Tribal students call bandh to protest TET-centre snub
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 22 2012: Five tribal student's organisations have jointly given a 48 hours hill district bandh call to protest non inclusion of hill district headquarters as the examination centres for the forthcoming Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) .

Representatives of the student organisations have asserted that volunteers have been advised to ensure that the bandh call is effective in the hill areas covered by Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur districts.

Talking to newspersons today at a joint press conference of Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM), Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), Tangkhul Katamnao Shaklong (TKS), Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU) and Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUD), ZSUM chairman Stephen Disuang said the bandh will be enforced to protest the Government of Manipur's failure to translate into action assurance given last year that TET exam centres would be provided at all the hill district headquarters.

Line for TET form

Asserting that State Government would be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the bandh call, he informed that even health and education sectors would be covered by the bandh, from September 23 midnight till September 25 midnight.

If there is still no positive response from the side of the Government even after the bandh call further intense form of agitation would be launched, Stephen maintained.

Reminding the Government about its assurance given last year with regard to setting up TET centres at the hill district headquarters for such examinations conducted in the future, the student activist said that State authorities cited 'technical problem' when a delegate apprised the Government on what ground hill district headquarters have been ecluded as the TET venues for this year too.

While expressing that the tribal candidates deserve a thorough explanation about the 'technical problem' cited by the State authorities, Stephen also informed that an ultimatum has been submitted to the Education Minister to clarify on the matter.

TKS education secretary Ashung, who also interacted with the mediapersons strongly denounced alleged lack of sincerity and commitment of the Government to address grievances and problems endured by tribal students/candidates.

Cautioning the Government that playing games detrimental to the interest of the tribal students will surely backfire, he also denounced failure of the State authorities to translate into action assurances given to the tribal candidates that TET centres would be set-up at the hill district headquarters.

While terming as outrageous TET application form sold at Rs 300 each, Ashung pointed out that for many tribal candidates from to economically weak family background the rate is unjustifiable.

Moreover, a tribal candidate had to bear additional expenditures on account of transport fares and temporary accommodations as most come from distant places, highlighted the TKS functionary while conveying that many others had to return empty-handed due to long queues at application form venues.

SDSA vice president Robert was also present during the media briefing.