ATSUM holds debate on burning issues
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 11 2015 : A one-day Open Debate on contemporary issues of Manipur was held on Saturday.

It was organized by All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) at Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Chingmeirong.

Former MP & MLA BD Behring presented a paper on burning issues like bomb blast, Meetei Mayek, Mission Schools and Private Schools, strikes and blockade, ADC and Sixth Schedule and disparity in development, misuse and diversion of funds and number of MLAs in hill and valley.

While Dr Gaikhamsin presented a paper on issues like Tribal Rights in relation to HAC, ADC and Sixth Schedule former ATSUM President Dr John Pulamte also presented paper on Meetei Mayek, Private and Mission Schools and ADC issues.

The function was moderated by Apao Haokip, former General Secretary & Advisor ATSUM, Dailord, Advisor, ATSUM and Adani David Choro, former President ANSAM & Speaker ATSUM.

ATSUM members during the open debate

The meeting appealed to the BOSEM not to impose their own dialects on the students but give them options and demanded to make Additional English be made available to the students.

They urged Government to form a Committee on Catholic Mission Schools so that the present impasse could be solved.

They appealed to the organizations to relax the ban imposed on Missionary Schools immediately for the welfare of the students.

The meeting appealed to the MEELAL and others organizations to reconsider the policy of imposing Meetei Mayek in the registration numbers of the vehicles and other banners and adopt new strategies to develop the script.

They decided to hold another meeting regarding ILP issue and discuss it more elaborately in another platform.

The new Bill passed by the House to replace ILP by MRVT & MW Bill, 2015 needs further deep studies.

The meeting also decided that HAC, ADC & Sixth Scheduled issues need further discussion.

It also decided to regularly organise open debates so that misunderstanding among the different communities may be sorted out and bring about emotionally integration.

Giving the key note address ATSUM President Emboi Serto, pointed out that the tribals occupy about 93 percent of the geographical area of the state and constitute 41 percent of the total population.

He said there is a vast gap in development between valley and hills and alleged that no government employee wants to be posted in the hills.

Emboi further said infrastructural development in the hill is almost nil and many schemes to help the sick and poor are diverted to others areas.

Representatives of AMUCO, UNC, KSO-GHQ, MEELAL, intellectuals, research scholars and leaders of other civil organist ions attended the function.