Imphal, July 20: The All Tribal Students� Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has taken its case concerning plight of tribal students in Manipur University to New Delhi and met Union Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh.

ATSUM president Dr John Pulamte is currently camping in New Delhi in this regard and has submitted a lengthy memorandum to the Union Minister.

The student body in its representation aired a number of cases which included details on continued progress/development of the University since establishment upto the upgradation to the status of a Central university.

ATSUM alleged that inspite of the tremendous advancement of the University since its inception tribal community in general and the students in particular have been consciously denied all benefits and shares one after another to the extent of mismanaging the whole component, mentioned the ATSUM memorandum formally handed over to Arjun Singh and jointly signed by its president Dr John Pulamte and general secretary Thomas Taishya.

Slashing of reservation in admission and employment for SC/ST candidates/students from 33 percent when the varsity was under the State Government to only 25 percent after the upgradation was also vividly highlighted in the ATSUM representation.

The reservation percentage with special regard to STs is not commensurate with the population strength of tribals as recorded in the latest census report.

The situation in the teaching faculty is more pathetic.

The University authorities have never made any attempt to address this situation in spite of the repeated direction and reminder from UGC, continued the memorandum adding, �tribals of the state would have understood and accepted the �central norms� if the University is wholeheartedly following it by having a national character in all respects.

Unfortunately, it is not so.

Taking the advantage of the changed reservation pattern, the majority community of the state has been manipulating the majority community of the state has been manipulating everything to their advantage by swallowing all benefits available in the University�.

ATSUM also alleged discrepancies in recruitment of faculties, non-adherence to UGC norms on posts reserved for ST candidates and embezzlement of development fund allotted by the Centre for infrastructure development of the university by those in the helm of affairs in addition to accusing majority community of swallowing shares meant for STs.

�In the situation that takes place at present and is about to takes place in the future, the only hope and aspirations for the tribal peoples of Manipur is the creation of a separate university for the hill peoples or extension of a hill campus under reputed central University like Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

It is therefore prayed that you would kindly initiate and look into all these matters so that the plight and problems of the tribal peoples of Manipur are addressed and their long cherished dreams is fulfilled�, apprised the ATSUM memorandum to Arjun Singh.

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