ATSUM rejects RIMS director's appeal, MoHFW directives
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 24 2023: The 12-hour total shutdown called by All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) crippled normal life in the hill districts even as ATSUM social and culture secretary Paul said that the state government had verbally approached ATSUM through some hill representatives for talks but it did not receive any official intimation or invitation through propdr channels so far.

ATSUM also considers talks without commitment as purposeless or inefficacious, so, the union went ahead with the proposed total shutdown to show disappointment over the RIMS authority's adamant attitude in honouring the MoA signed on April 3, he added.

Responding to a query regarding the RIMS Director's appeal to suspend the protest, Paul said that it was just an "appeasement policy" on the part of the RIMS authority.

He said that there was no official letter received at the office of ATSUM and the appeal of the director came through the media late when they had already prepared everything for the total shutdown.

He further said that there was no time for ATSUM to inform its subordinates and federating units to put on hold the proposed stir.

Therefore, the appeal of the RIMS Director at the eleventh hour has been considered as an "appeasement policy" by ATSUM, he added.

In connection with the di rective issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, North East Section to the RIMS authority, the ATSUM executive said that the ministry was just conveying the RIMS authority on the process initiated over the RIMS reservation imbroglio.

He contended that it was neither a solution nor to address the demands of ATSUM.

"The Ministry's directive has no clarity and it was very confusing for the union," Paul added.

Mention may be made that, RIMS director H Priyosakhi, on Sunday, appealed to ATSUM to put on hold its proposed bandh for the time being stating that RIMS authority has been awaiting clearance from the ministry.

A few hours after the RIMS director's appeal, the ministry invited attention of the director over the issue of reservation policy in Group C and D posts in RIMS, Imphal in the wake of the resumption of agitation by ATSUM.

The ministry also directed the RIMS director to furnish relevant details, especially those related to the tripartite agreement signed on April 3 to the ministry.

It also reminded the RIMS director that the matter of reservation policy for Group C and D posts in RIMS is already under examination in the ministry in light of DoPT guidelines and requested the RIMS authority not to take any precipitate decision at the level of the institute on such matters until a considered decision is conveyed by the ministry.

The ATSUM executive also said that no decision on the further course of action has been decided as ATSUM along with its subordinates and federating units will put its head together and decide the further course of action.

ATSUM in its press communique issued in late Monday afternoon stated that the total shutdown was a testament to how aggrieved the tribal people of Manipur are and it was the first phase of resentment shown by the tribal community.

It also stated that despite the tripartite agreement signed between the state government,.

ATSUM, and RIMS authority on April 3, wherein RIMS authority agreed to cancel the notice (3-3-2023) for appointment to post of LDC and declare fresh results with reservation as SC (3%), OBC (13%) and ST (34%) based on DPC already conducted, the RIMS authority remained adamant and failed to implement the MoA deliberately, it added.

In the meantime, ATSUM has appreciated the support and endorsement given by all tribal organisations of the hill districts in the course of this struggle to uphold the rights of the tribal people in the state while conveying regret for any inconveniences caused during the enforcement of the agitation.

The shutdown began at 6 am in Kangpokpi district like in other hill districts.

All business establishments in Kangpokpi town were closed for the day and educational institutions remained shut except those conducting examinations.

The National Highway-2 also wore a deserted look as vehicles were off the road except those exempted from the purview of the shutdown.

However, no untoward incidents have been reported till the time of filing this report.

NONEY: Normal life in Noney district was badly affected by the 12-hour total shutdown called by ATSUM as all types of vehicles including inter-state and inter-district passenger services and goods carriers ceased plying along the NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) while government offices and banks remained closed.

However, emergency services were exempted from the purview of the total bandh.

CHURACHANDPUR: The 12-hours hill district bandh called by ATSUM threw life out of gear in Churachandpur district as soon as the bandh was enforced from 6 am by Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and Hmar Students' Association (HSA).

During the bandh period, all business activities and establishment came to a grinding halt and shops within the town downed their shutters.

There was no vehicular movement except emergency services, which were exempted from the purview of the bandh and all the people stayed indoor.

All private and government schools, some computer and other small skills training centres remained closed and there was zero attendance in government offices.

Even banks like SBI, Punjab National Bank, ICICI bank and HDFC bank to name a few were closed.

The bandh was total and peaceful with no untoward incident reported during the shutdown call.

Normal activities resumed after it was over by 6 pm.

Meanwhile, Zomi Students' Federation general headquarters has conveyed gratitude to the tribal people in Manipur in general and Churachandpur in particular for making the shutdown call effective.

According to a statement, the students' body informed that the mass participation testified common frustration, dissatisfaction and displeasure at the step-motherly treatment by the majority government in Manipur against the tribals.

SENAPATI: The 12-hour total shutdown called by ATSUM ended peacefully in Senapati district at 6 pm Monday.

All transport and business establishments in Senapati district came to a halt on account of the shutdown.

Senapati District Students' Association and its federating units enforced the shutdown in Senapati district.

MOREH: With the support of KSO Moreh block, the total shutdown called by ATSUM was total in the Indo-Myanmar town of Moreh with normal life affected seriously.

Vehicles scheduled to return to Imphal remained stranded at Moreh town parking while shops downed shutters and the Super market wore a deserted look.

KSO Tengnoupal also supported the shutdown by blocking NH-102 Moreh road.

UKHRUL: Ukhrul town remained deserted on Monday in support of the total shutdown called by ATSUM against the failure of the RIMS authority to fulfil the tripartite agreement signed on April 3 last.

The shutdown affected normal activities in the town including business, banks and ATM, government offices, and transportation.

All government and private schools, colleges, and other educational institutions remained closed.

However, no untoward incidents were reported during the 12-hour shutdown.

People who had ventured out of their households were asked to return home by the volunteers who patrolled the streets since morning.

Police personnel could be seen keeping vigil at different locations in the main town areas.

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