Ninth Mayek Chatpa Numit observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 18 2015 : Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) observed its ninth Mayek Chatpa Numit at GM Hall today.

The day was observed to commemorate the formation of MEELAL on Aug 18, 2005 at Standard English School under the leadership of late Chingsubam Oja Akaba with 37 other registered organisations with the mission to save the indigenous script and language of the State.

Formed as a pressure group to champion the use of indigenous language and Meetei Mayek script in school and college in Manipur, MEELAL struck an agreement with the State Government in 2006 for the introduction of Meetei Mayek in class I and II in all schools of the State.

From that day, Mayek Chatpa Numit has been observed every year on May 18 .

Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro and vice- president of MEELAL Moirangthem Naokhamba Meetei attended the programme as the dignitaries.

As a measure to save the Meetei Mayek script and other indigenous dialects and languages, the State Government set up a separate Language, Planning and Implementation Directorate in 2013.This step of the State Government was hailed by MEELAL at the function as a good step towards the interest of thousands of Manipuris who pledged to save the indigenous script.

The clause, 'Manipuri language means Meeteilon spoken by the majority of Manipur written in Bengali script' which is there in the Manipur Official Language Act 1979 must be changed, asserted VP of MEELAL Naokhamba Meetei.

He added, "As the Meetei Mayek is there till class X, the Act must be amended." Further he said that there are many works which need to be done by the State Government and the public to cope up with the changing scenario of Manipur.

All the media houses too should support the movement of Meetei Mayek by including news and articles in Meetei Mayek to popularize the script, he added.

Education Minister M Okendro said that the State Government would take up steps to bring inclusive growth in the education sector as education is the only key to a developed society.

Further he said that bandhs and strikes hamper the education sector in the State while urging all concerned to end bandh and strike culture.

He said that the State Government has taken up steps to bring quality education and lift the standard of Government run educational institutions.

He urged people to join hands with the Govt and work sincerely to bring a change in the education system.

"We should not compromise on education and health sector," he added.

Under the rules and regulations of National Council For Teacher Education (NCTE), anyone can be a teacher provided he/ she has passed the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and to have a TET certificate one should have Diploma in Elementary Education or Bachelor of Education (B Ed).

The guidelines placed by NCTE would soon be applied in the recruitment of 365 teachers under SSA and RMSA, added Okendro.

To popularise the indigenous language, Meeteilon would be taught to all the incoming IAS, IPS and other high ranking officers from other parts of the country, he said.

As part of the observance function, floral tributes were paid by the participants to the photo of late Chingsubam Oja Akaba and prizes were distributed to children who participated in various competitions held on Meetei Mayek by MEELAL.

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