ZSF memo to union minister airs grievances, proposes projects
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Churachandpur, August 11 2024: Union minister for labour & employment, and youth affairs & sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya visited Churachandpur on Sunday and interacted with District Level Officers (DLOs) at the DC's mini-secretariat conference hall, Tuibong.

Churachandpur DC Dharun Kumar and ADC Thang-boi Gangte briefed the union minister on the activities and achievements of various departments in the district, including implementation of various schemes and current law and order situation.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya offered suggestions to enhance the effectiveness of scheme implementations in the district.

Later, the union minister distributed sports equipment to internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in various relief camps and also held discussions with representatives of various student bodies from the district.

Before his departure, Dr Mandaviya planted a tree sapling at the mini-secretariat campus as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan initiative.

Meanwhile, Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) apprised the Union minister on hardships besieging youth of the Zo ethnic tribes, including Kuki, Zomi and Mizo, and appealed for intervention from the Centre.

In a memorandum submitted to the minister at the DC's office, ZSF alleged long-standing discrimination citing violations of ST quota in admissions and employment, as well as concentration of developmental projects in the valley districts, which has forced many young people to migrate to Imphal, other valley districts, and even other states.

ZSF noted that these issues have only worsened since the onset of current crisis in the state.

ZSF also raised concerns about the plight of hundreds of students who, after fleeing Imphal due to the violence, are now left without their educational certificates and personal documents.

The federation expressed frustration that their request for an online portal to help reproduce and retrieve lost or burnt documents has so far been ignored, and they urged the minister to intervene.

The memorandum further pointed out the rejection of CBSE affiliation of 25 private schools in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, and expressed deep concern over this decision, which they believe is unfairly impacting students' education.

Regarding the Churachandpur Medical College (CMC), ZSF demanded that the college be made fully functional and called for the appointment of a new full-time director, who would stay and work in the district, as well as the establishment of a permanent Forensic Medical Faculty (FMF).

Additionally, they appealed for the minister's intervention to expedite the completion of the Medical College at its new site in Mata Village, where construction has been stalled since June 2023.On the issue of violations of ST reservation rights in admissions and employment, ZSF reiterated that this has been a cause of conflict for several decades.

They also highlighted lack of recruitment and examination centres in their district, calling it grave violation of their Fundamental Right to Equality in Matters of Public Employment (Article 16).The Federation also stated that they have repeatedly appealed to authorities for the establishment of such centres for various Central and state government recruitments and deplored challenges faced by candidates who have been allotted exam centres in distant districts like Senapati, which they argue is financially and physically burdensome.

Given that Churachandpur is the second-largest and fastest-growing town in the state, ZSF insisted that an exam centre for all recruitments should be established there ZSF further stated that No Objection Certificate for establishing an SSC examination centre in Churachandpur has been left pending.

While the DC has supported the issuance of the NoC, it remains pending at the level of the state government, they said and sought the minister's intervention.

Additionally, ZSF raised several other issues, including the need for more branches of government offices like Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) and regional offices of nationalised banks such as SBI.

They also called for the implementation of skill development-oriented schemes, establishment of sports facilities of international standards, construction of an integrated sports complex for indoor and outdoor sports, and the creation of a Sports Authority of India (SAI) sports training centre, Special Area Games (SAG), and a Centre of Excellence (COE).

ZSF further urged the minister to ensure the establishment of either a Greenfield Central University in the district or the upgrade of the Autonomous Churachandpur College into a full-fledged Central University.

They also requested the construction of hostels and residential facilities for school and college students, particularly those from remote and interior villages.

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