KSO Moltam Block condemns attempt to cancel allotment of EMRS
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, April 10 2022: The Kuki Student's Organisation Moltam Block, Kangpokpi District has strongly condemned the numerous attempts made by Micheal Lamjathang Haokip, secretary general of Thadou Student's Association (TSA) Manipur to cancel the allotment of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at L Jangnomphai village (Veitum Khunou) under Kangpokpi District and relocate it to Gopibung village.

In its latest attempt to derail the construction of EMRS at L Jangnomphai village, Micheal Lamjathang Haokip under the banner of TSA has written a letter to the Prime Minister of India on March 25, 2022 requesting to immediately cancel the Tender Process for construction of EMRS at L Jangnomphai Village, said a release issued by KSO Moltam Block.

The letter to the Prime Minister was full of lies and concealed relevant facts and truth, the student body alleged while adding that TSA had earlier raised the same issue to the Minister of Tribal Affairs & Hills, Government of Manipur, Vungjagin Valte under the pretext that there cannot be two EMRS at Saitu-Gamphazol Block, Kangpokpi.

Vungjagin Valte accordingly called a meeting on July 17, 2021 to discuss the issue of construction of EMRS at Sadar Hill West / Saitu Gamphazol and constituted a committee under Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Affairs & Hills) and Deputy Commissioner (Kangpokpi) to find out the administrative and revenue jurisdiction of L Jangnomphai village, it added.

KSO continued that the committee submitted the report stating that L Jangnomphai village falls under Kangchup Geljang Tribal Development Block and not under Saitu Gamphazol as alleged by the Thadou Students' Association.

In the view of the report and with the approval of the then Minister (TA & H), the Government of Manipur recommended to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India to kindly consider L Jangnomphai village as the site for the construction of EMRS, Sadar Hills West, it added.

The student body mentioned that the Government of Manipur followed all the due procedure and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India while recommending L Jangnomphai village as a site for the construction of ERMS.

KSO also condemned the arbitrary letter dated March 26, 2022 issued by a Cabinet Minister, Manipur to the Managing Director MANIDCO Ltd to cancel the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for construction of EMRS Sadar Hills West at L Jangnomphai village.

The organisation wondered whether the Minister had gone through the recommendations of its own Government to construct EMRS at L Jangnomphai village.

The student body also requested the Minister to withdraw the letter and instead help expedite the construction of EMRS for the poor tribal population of Sadar Hills West.

KSO further alleged that TSA cited various Government orders, guidelines, Census and bifurcation of Kangpokpi district in Manipur simply to mislead and misguide the public and the Government in order to shift EMRS from L Jangnomphai village to Gopibung village, another location of their choice.

It may be mentioned that Gopibung village is only 12.4 Km from ERMS Gamnom Sapormeina while L Jangnomphai is 68.8 Km from the said ERMS.

Gopibung Village is in the periphery of Kangpokpi District Headquarters but L Jangnomphai village is more than 80 Km from the District HQs.

It is common knowledge for the people of Kangpokpi district that all the educational infrastructure, Government office and commercial activities are concentrated in Kangpokpi, Saitu-Gamphalzol and Saikul, it added.

The Kangchup Geljang Tribal Development Block is one of the least developed areas under Kangpokpi district with minimal educational and health infrastructure.

The establishment of EMRS will surely uplift the tribal population of the area educationally which is one of the main objectives for the establishment of EMRS in tribal areas, it added.

KSO Moltam Block further appealed to the Government of Manipur and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to expedite the construction of EMRS at L Jangnomphai village and refrain from listening to individuals and organisations trying to mislead or create hurdles in the construction of ERMS.

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