Rally demands disturbance-free education zone
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 05 2025: Thousands of students and teachers held rallies across the valley districts on Saturday, calling for schools and colleges to be free from disturbances such as extortion, threats and political interference.

The protest marked the 18th Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand Day 2025, organised by the Coordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand, a coalition of 16 organisations including the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) .

In Imphal, the rally began from THAU Ground, Thangmeiband and concluded at Imphal College, Kwakeithel.

Simultaneous rallies were also held in Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts, drawing large participation from students, teachers and civil society groups.

On the occasion, DESAM president M Somorjit said that the protest has been held every year since July 5, 2008, to press for making education a disturbance-free zone.

This year, the committee submitted a seven-point demand in the form of a memorandum to the government.

One of the key demands is to stop extortion from educational institutions.

Somorjit said that another important proposal was to enact a law mandating at least 220 teaching days in an academic year.

Students at the rally expressed concern over forced collections and threats faced by schools and colleges.

"They call it a donation, but it's actually forced.

Some even threaten schools if they don't pay," a student said.

Another protester noted that despite arrests and the government's helpline for extortion complaints, threats continue to occur even in central Imphal.

Protesters also called for students not to be dragged into political protests and campaigns.

"We are students.

Our schools and colleges should be safe from these problems," one said.

For Kakching and Thoubal districts, the rally started from BASU Ground, Khangabok and ended at Thoubal College.

In Bishnupur, the rally began at DSA Bishnupur Ground and culminated at ECO Club community hall, Bishnupur Thiyam Leikai, after passing through Bishnupur police station, Bishnupur Keithel and forest gate.

A public meeting was also held at the ECO Club community hall.

Participants carried banners reading "Free education from corruption, favouritism and nepotism" and chanted slogans demanding education be made a free zone.

The committee reiterated several demands, including an appeal to all armed organisations to stop making unreasonable demands on educational institutions, and urged the government not to politicise education.

Other demands include appointment of directors of education (Schools) and (University) from within the teaching community, action against corruption and favouritism in education, and officially declaring education as a disturbance-free zone.

Protesters said that failure by the government to act in time should not be allowed to affect students' academic progress.

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