ATSUM alleges red-tapism
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, November 09 2019: The All Tribal Students' Union Mani-pur (ATSUM) alleged that "taking undue advantage of the prevailing fluid situation in Manipur, the BJP led coalition Government is now practising red-tapism in processing all developmental works" .

The apex tribal student body of Manipur further alleged that "while the commoners are oblivious of common issues, steps are often taken by the Govern-ment against the interest of the people either by way of diverting relevant issues or dumping common interest" .

Terming it as "very unfortunate" the ATSUM accused the present Government of not being able to implement the agreed terms laid down in black and white in an official discourse held on August 13, 2019 at the Chief Mminis-ter's official residence in matters pertinent to the "long pending" charter of demands of ATSUM.

"Being accountable and answerable to the people, the minutes of the meetings are made known through the print media in public interest," the ATSUM stated.

And thus, on the issues related to Education (S), the apex tribal student body claimed that representatives of Education (S) and the Chief Minister assured that the result of 688 lecturers on contract basis will be declared in the first week of September 2019.The concerned authorities also agreed to create 'district cadre' recruitment to do away with the problem of utilization of teachers.

The ATSUM also said that Education (S) Department "has been directed" by the Chief Minister to complete the process of regularisation of Contract Teachers 2006 Batch along with financial involvement within 2 months' time.

The student body also said that the case of Ad-hoc teachers 'being subjudice', the Education Department was asked by the Chief Minister to comply with the order of the High Court as and when it is issued.

The concerned authorities also agreed to recruit 46 MILs (Tribal dialects) teachers within 2 months, the student body further said.

The concerned authorities also assured that the government will identify schools for upgradation to Higher Secondary Schools at the earliest.

Regarding the Higher Education department, the concerned authorities agreed to fill up 166 number of backlog/Shortfall posts of Assistant Professors for ST within one month, said the ATSUM.

The concerned authorities also agreed to open Science stream in Tamenglong and Tadubi Hill Colleges, the student body also said.

It was reported that NCTE had approved opening B.ed Centers in Ukhrul and Churachandpur districts.

"However, academic year 2019-20 being considered as zero year by NCTE, representatives of Higher Education assured that B.ed centers in aforementioned districts will be opened from the next academic session, the ATSUM further said.

The concerned authorities also assured a delegation to Delhi comprising of representatives from three students' organisations and the chief minister-the Education minister to pressurize the demand for upgradation of IGNTU RCM to a full fledged university in the month of September 2019, the ATSUM added.

Regarding the Tribal Affairs & Hills, the ATSUM said that the state government agreed to fill up 32 vacant posts in Tribal Affairs & Hills and to obtain cabinet approval within one month.

The government also greed to recruit teaching and non teaching post on need basis under Autonomous District Councils out of 1450 post lying vacant in the councils, it further said.

On the Tribal Research Institute, Manipur (TRI), the ATSUM demanded to initiate for conversion of TRI into a separate directorate.

On the Medical Department/JINIMS, the ATSUM demanded to ascertain the total number of sanctioned post of all grades/groups, present strength of ST in all categories and vacancy/backlog in all grades as on 13 August 2019 in JNIMS within one month and initiate special recruitment drive for ST within 2 months.

The student body also demanded that "specialist doctors" be posted in the hill areas.

On the reservation in direct recruitment of Group C & D posts of central institutions, the ATSUM demanded to strictly monitor the reservation quantum i.e.34% in Group C & D posts in all Central Institutes Viz.

MU, CAU, NIT, RIMS, IGNTU, NELIT etc.

On the Reservation and recruitment, the ATSUM demanded that "piecemeal recruitment that distorts" the ST reservatio be done away with, and to entrust Manipur State Commission for ST in consultation with TA&Hills to monitor and evaluate reservation and recruitment.

Regarding the Tribal Sub-Plan/Scheme, the ATSUM demanded the formulation of Andra Pradesh Model while implementing policies, plans and annual state budget.

"Two and a half months have elapsed ever since the agreed term was reached between the government of Manipur and the ATSUM and there are certain issues which would have been implemented within a stipulated period of time but unfortunately nothing seems to be happening inspite of the agreed terms," the apex tribal student body of Manipur rued.

The ATSUM then said that it is time for the government to "wake up and respond" to the call of the tribal student body before the "situation turns ugly" .

The ATSUM then said that it had given enough time to the state government to implement the assurances "and now it is time to translate into action without any lame excuses".

It then cautioned, "If positive response is not given in due course of time, the ATSUM will be compelled to take up any course of democratic agitation in the entire districts of Manipur any time from now" .

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