Govt elaborates measures tor displaced students
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 12 2023: In view of the ongoing violent conflict since the first week of May, the state government has been initiating various initiatives to alleviate the hardships faced by the displaced students.

Informing this to the public in a press release, additional secretary higher and technical education) Dr Nivedita Lairenlakpam highlighted various benefits and facilities provided by the government for the welfare of displaced students.

The release said that in order to ensure the well-being of school going students staying in relief camps, the state government designated a nodal officer for each camp from June 2023 onwards, who are responsible for addressing all the needs of the students within the camps.

Remarkably, over 98 per cent of displaced students have been successfully re-admitted to nearby schools.

The attendance of these students is being meticulously monitored through a control room established at the directorate of education-S .

Additionally, the government has supplied essential educational materials such as textbooks, notebooks, stationeries, and sports kits to support the students.

Recognising the need for seamless transition, the state government has empowered DCs to issue provisional migration certificates for students seeking admission to new schools.

Furthermore, the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur has facilitated online applications and issuance of migration certificates.

In an effort to expedite access and verification processes, certificates, marksheets are being issued through DigiLocker.

In a collaborative effort, CBSE has granted permission for affiliated schools in Manipur to accept provisional migration certificates issued by DCs for admission, the release said.

The government has also waived the requirement of transfer certificate or no objection certificate from the previous school for dis placed students seeking admission to BSEM/COHSEM affiliated schools in the state.

Flexibility has been extended to students in classes IX-XII, allowing them to change optional subjects upon admission to a new school.

Additionally, the registration deadline for students in Board and Council has been extended to accommodate any delays caused by the shifting process.

Recognising the challenges posed by the conflict, alternative modes of teaching and learning have been introduced, including Radio Class, "LAIRIK" mobile app, a YouTube channel, and PM Vidya.

Digital classes for students from classes I to XII are being broadcast through local cable networks, the additional secretary maintained.

Furthermore, the press release said that Dhanamanjuri University is not only ensuring continuity but also facilitating document recovery.

The University has successfully conducted semester examinations on a physical mode through the collaborative efforts of respective DCs and reading materials distributed to students through these DCs, ensuring academic continuity despite the challenging circumstances.

Recognising the impact of the conflict on important documents such as migration certificates and mark sheets, the university is proactively addressing the issue.

Lost documents are being reissued through the assistance of friends and fellow students, and any pending documents will be dispatched through the DCs.

In anticipation of the new session, a separate time-table for online classes is being arranged, providing students with a structured and accessible mode of learning.

Understanding the displacement challenges faced by students, the university has taken measures to ensure the safety of their belongings left behind.

Bags, baggage, and personal belongings are being packed and stored securely, awaiting the students' return to claim them.

In cases where students have requested it, their belongings are being sent through friends.

To further support the affected students, the state government has encouraged students belonging to constituent colleges of Dhanamanjuri University to temporarily join physical classes in colleges convenient for them.

Regarding the support extended by Central government institutions to displaced students, the press release said that the state government has proactively reached out to the department of higher education, Ministry of Education requesting necessary action to allow these students continue their education for the upcoming semesters, regardless of their current location, ensuring minimal disruption to their academic and professional pursuits.

The director of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Imphal, has been informed of this request and has taken immediate action.

NIT has granted permission for displaced students to pursue their studies online.

Additionally, examinations for these students have been authorised to take place in the districts where they are currently situated.

To facilitate the transfer and migration of displaced students belonging to affected communities in the state, the government has initiated alternative arrangements.

Requests have been made to the Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi, the Registrar of Central Agricultural University in Imphal, and the Registrar of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Amarkantak, Chhattisgarh.

These requests aim to allow displaced students to study from their current locations, ensuring the continuity of their education.

The Director of IGNTU Regional Campus in Manipur, located in Makhan, Senapati, has been informed of these efforts and is expected to take necessary actions.

In a bid to further enhance educational facilities, a new computer centre within the mini secretariat in Churachandpur will soon be operational, facilitating online classes for NIT students.

To streamline the examination process, arrangements have been made in collaboration with NIT Manipur to conduct exams for NIT students at Churachandpur College.

On the measures initiated by Manipur University for seamless education, the additional secretary (higher and technical education) pointed out that Manipur University (MU) is actively working to provide online facilities, ensuring that students who are unable to attend physical classes can continue their studies without disruption.

MU is taking progressive steps to extend physical class arrangements to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students in Churachandpur and other hill districts.

This initiative aims to broaden accessibility to education and support students in these areas.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by lost or damaged documents, MU is committed to assisting affected students.

Burnt documents of college students will be regenerated by the university upon receiving requests from the students.

To facilitate seamless admissions, students are allowed to provisionally enrol without producing the Tost or damaged documents, with the provision to submit them after regeneration.

In another move to aid students in distress, the Chief Minister's College Students Rehabilitation Scheme for 2023 allows transfer of student from one college to another of their choice.

Notably, 252 students have applied for transfer from valley to hill colleges, while 64 students have sought transfer from hill to valley colleges.

All applicants have been granted admission to colleges of their choice.

To ensure accurate and updated records, MU will promptly undertake the task of updating the new college names in its records for the transferred students.

Regarding special arrangements for medical students in Churachandpur, Dr Nivedita referred to recently issued notification for non-displaced medical students, enabling them to write their first-year exams from November 30 at Churachandpur Medical College (CMC) .

This initiative is aimed at providing a conducive environment for students to continue their academic pursuits.

The health & family welfare department has taken proactive steps to facilitate smooth conduct of exams for first-year MBBS and BDS students in Churachandpur.

Collaborative efforts have been made with Medical Colleges and Manipur Central University to ensure successful implementation of this arrangement.

Exam forms and fees have been efficiently collected for students of Churachandpur Medical College, as well as displaced students from JNIMS and Shija Academy of Health Sciences.

In addressing the unique challenges faced by displaced medical students, the health & family welfare department has engaged with the Ministry and National Medical Council (NMC).

The matter includes discussions on the classes for displaced medical college students, and options of medical colleges have been gathered from individual students.

This information has been communicated to NMC for approval, with the matter currently under active examination.

Recognising the need for personalised assistance, a help desk has been established in the office of respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to cater to the requests and concerns of individual students.

This help desk aims to streamline communication and support services for a smoother academic experience during these challenging times, the press release added.

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