Governor launches 'School on Wheels' for displaced kids
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 05 2024:
Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday launched and inaugurated 'School on Wheels' at Sudarshan Hall of Bal Vidya Mandir Complex, Palace Compound in Imphal East district.
The School on Wheels, an initiative of Vidya Bharati Shiksha Vikash Samiti, Manipur, aims to reach out to the violence-affected students putting up in relief camps in the state.
As a part of the initiative, a school bus equipped with library, computers and sports items will travel to relief camps at different locations in the state, along with a teacher.
Speaking at the inauguration function, Governor Uikey commended Vidya Bharati Shiksha Vikash Samiti for its innovative and noble gesture to reach out to the displaced students in the relief camps.
While lamenting that the conflict which broke out on May 3 affected or is affecting thousands of people, especially students, she described as heartening the Vikas Samiti's School on Wheels project so as to ensure that the children living in the camps do not face any deficiency in education.
Mentioning that such initiative will help in reaching out to the displaced students staying in the relief camps, the Governor asked the chief secretary to take steps to extend support to the Samiti in increasing the number of such buses.
While acknowledging the pain and sorrow of the displaced people staying in the relief camps, Uikey confided that she had advised the chief minister and the chief secretary of the state to take to initiate process for proper accommodation of the displaced people in the relief camps.
Regarding the role of the Samiti, the Governor said Vidya Bharti Vikas Samiti started working in the held of education in Manipur in the year 1979 under the name of Vidya Bharti Shiksha Vikas Samiti Manipur.
It is informed that Vidya Bharati Shiksha Vikas Samiti is running 15 schools in six districts of Manipur while 36 Sanskar Kendras in eight districts are serving as formal primary education and free education to 150 displaced children of Moreh, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.
The Governor also commended Education Development Committee, Manipur for their efforts in providing free education along with arrangements for accommodation, food, etc., for the students.
The function was attended by Vidya Bharati Shikasha Vikash Samiti, Manipur president Yumnam Khogen Singh as the president with chief secretary Vineet Joshi and Vidya Bharati Purvottar Kshetra sanghathan mantri Pawan-kumar Tiwari as the guests of honour along with CAU vice-chancellors, MUC, teachers, parents and students among others.
Mention may be made that around 18,000 students are currently staying in 480 relief camps while over 219 people were killed and thousands displaced after ethnic clashes broke out on May 3 last year, when a Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest a court's ruling regarding the demand by Meetei community for grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.