Student activist slams Centre
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 13 2013: Accusing Government of India of deliberately scheming to dilute the indigenous population of the North Eastern region with outsiders, North East Students' Organisation (NESO) general secretary Sinam Prakash has claimed that unrestrained influx of foreign nationals into the region testifies that the Government is not concerned about the region's people.

speaking at the charge hand-over and oath taking ceremony of newly elected functionaries of All Manipur Students' Union at the Union's office in DM College campus today, Prakash observed that focus on developing other Indian States compared to development stagnation in the NE region is an indication that New Delhi's main concern is upholding interest of main India.

While infrastructure development in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata is being carried out in a vigorous manner people in the North East are fighting for living space with outsiders, said the NE executive who regretted that inspite of being well aware about the porous international boundaries numerous States of region are sharing with adjacent countries there has been no genuine sign of fencing the borders.

Due to absence of an effective infrastructure or mechanism to check influx of foreigners into the region increase in annual population of illegal immigrants are more than the combined birth rate of the NE States, said Prakash.

Claiming that about 3 lakh foreigners who entered Assam with visas and many of them fanning out to other States of the region are yet to return to their respective countries inspite of their documents no more valid, he alleged that lack of initiative to track the illegal settlers is a part of the Centre's ploy to dilute the indigenous population and suppress people of the region.

Substantiating on his claim, Prakash stated that the recent Assembly election in Assam had many individuals whose antecedents were suspicious and strongly suspected to be Bangladeshi immigrants.

He cautioned that Bangladesh is being used by many Pakistani nationals to reach NE States.

With regard to continuous migration of Manipuri students to bigger cities for pursuing higher education, Prakash cited lack of basic facilities for professional courses as one of the factors for the State's human and financial resources getting drained at an alarming rate.

He also suggested that AMSU should equal responsibility in ensuring better educational facilities in the State along with pursuing various other issues besetting the student community.

Speaking at the occasion, former AMSU president Leihaothabam Sharatchandra stressed on the need for regularly consulting former functionaries of the student body so as every serious issues could be tackled in an effective manner.

Noting that strong movement spearheaded by AMSU in between 1987 and 1992 actually led to the Government of India recognising Manipuri Language, Sharatchandra exhorted that there is still need for concerted movement to further enrich the indigenous dialect and script.

In his address, out-going AMSU president Thokchom Suresh pledged to sustain the campaign for a uniform fee structure of all educational institutions in the State.

He affirmed that the Government would be urged to enact a legislation to check excessive levying of fee by private schools.

Among others, AMSU advisor Kh Ratan and NIPCO president Sunil Karam also spoke on diverse issues afflicting the State, with specific emphasis on education and substance abuse by the younger generation.

Besides new AMSU president Thiyam Naresh and general secretary Leishangthem Romen Singh, 11 other executive members were also administered oath of office in today's event.

Comment