Imphal, November 21: The Unapproved Primary Teachers Association (UPTA), Chandel district is all set to launch more intense form of agitation over and above the ongoing indefinite Moreh-Pallel and Pallel-Chandel road bandh effected since the midnight of November 16 demanding post regularisations.

In connection with the ongoing agitation, UPTA members set aflame the effigies of TD Minister, DC Chandel and CEO of Autonomous District Council, Chandel near St Paul's High School, Komlathabi this afternoon along with blocking the Pallel-Chandel Road by litting fire at various points.

Owing to the agitation, normal life in the area remained affected for the last five consecutive days with Pallel Bazar remaining closed and all the shops and other business establishment downing their shutters.

However, since the educational institutions are exempted from the purview of the bandh, students attended their classes in schools and colleges as usual.

Talking to mediapersons, convenor of UPTA W Ng Kohring Victor informed that 231 primary teachers under the District Autonomous Council, Chandel were appointed through a DPC conducted in 1981.After years of exerting pressures on the Government and its relevant authorities the posts of the DPC successful primary teachers, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between All District Hill Council and the State Government in 1987.The main points of the MoU included putting a halt to new recruitment of primary teachers under the Autonomous District Councils for sometime and regularising the posts of the already DPC faced primary teachers in a phase wise manner.

However, despite the sustained movement being launched by UPTA which was formed jointly by 144 primary teachers out of the total 231 who have cleared the DPC, new candidates have been appointed on regular posts by conducted DPC twice in 1992 and 1997 respectively.

This was a wrong step of the Government, Victor contended.

To add to the confusion, he further informed, Chief Executive Office of Autonomous District Council, Chandel issued a notification in May this year for recruitment of new primary teachers.

But the said notification did not spell out clearly on the number of posts to be recruited and the procedure of the recruitment , thereby giving many scope for corrupt practices by the Government.

The Association has already filed a case in the Gauhati High Court in this connection, the convenor said, adding categorically that the Association would continue to launch its agitation until the posts of the unapproved primary teachers who have been working for the last 25 years have been regularised.

Apart from the ongoing road block, we are also prepared to launch various other intense agitations, he said, adding that the Government and its officials concerned should be held responsible for any consequences that might arise during the course of the agitation.

Meanwhile, Naga Students' Union, Chandel has reported assured all possible support to the cause of the unapproved primary teachers.

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