Imphal, February 09 2009: Alleging the state government of failing to fulfill the commitment, regarding a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Thadou Students' Association (TSA) on October 27, 2007, the students' body on Monday informed to impose a 48-hour "Chakka Bandh" on both the National Highways leading to Manipur and close down government schools and offices from the midnight of February 11 to 13 in the Sadar Hills area.

According to a press statement released by Sominthang Haokip, the Information and Publicity Secretary of the students' body, the decision to impose the "chakka bandh" and the closure of government schools and offices, was taken during a meeting held at its head office at Motbung on Monday owing to the governments' failure to fulfill the commitment regarding a memorandum of understanding signed between the education minister and the TSA representatives in October last year.

In the statement, Sominthang, pointed out that the government gave its commitment to work on priority basis as per the memorandum which includes issuing of sufficient school infrastructure and teaching aids, construction of school buildings and rationalization of teachers as per the data of the TSA.

While appealing the vehicle owners to cooperate with the TSA in the interest of the students' community, Sominthang asserted that the TSA will not be responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the bandh.

The statement further revealed that the government agreed to initiate action for provision of sufficient furniture and teaching aids within 15 days for the eleven schools as prioritized by the TSA, that the government will take up action on top priority for construction of buildings as given by the students within a month, and also that plans to place sufficient teachers by 2008 session, to conduct spot enquiry by the concerned department to furnish factual reports within 7 days, endorsing the mentioned agreement the TSA called off its economic blockade then.

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