Imphal, April 29: In pursuit of its demands with regard to issues on the Manipur Autonomous District council, reservation in the Manipur University, shortage of teachers in hill district schools and forest matters the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur has decided to go ahead with the series of agitation programme from May 1 onwards.

At 6 pm of May 1 till 6 am of the next day 'protest general strike would be imposed while from May 2, 6 am till the same hour on May 7 economic blockade would come into force, said an ATSUM release.

The student's body had been demanding restoration of administrative machineries in the hill districts through the revival of Autonomous District Councils which the ATSUM had been alleging that State Government is deliberately delaying re-enactment of the Manipur Hill Area District Council Act.

Similarly, the State Government is being blamed for alleged lack of initiative to ensure reservation of tribal candidates in the Manipur University with regard to admission and employment in the varsity which had been upgraded to a Central University.

The ATSUM statement further demanded that Government of Manipur officially introduce a Bill in the next assembly session for either 'reconversion of MU from Central University to State University' or creation of a separate University exclusively for the tribals.

On shortage of teachers in the hill district schools, the ATSUM statement conveyed that inspite of 1332 teachers recruited in 2005 on contract basis their services had never been exercised following termination of services 'with the excuse that regular teachers had already been provided'.

In reality only 306 science and arts graduate teachers were provided for the vacant post of 1332 teachers, it added while questioning Government plan, if any, to address the shortage.

On the Forest matter, ATSUM said, "the issue raised by the Working Groups on Land & Natural Resources and student bodies particularly in Ukhrul district on Joint Forest Management and other related issues are genuine and is in the interest of the tribal people of Manipur".

Contending that State forest Department, rather than act swiftly to redress the problem is trying to justify the delay through make-belief tales and lame excuses, ATSUM cautioned that any further delay on the issue would compel the student body to chalk out and resort to recourse.

Comment