New Delhi, November 11 2008: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh along with Education Minister L Jayantakumar Singh and Tribal Development Minister D.D.Thaisii met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the Prime Minister's Office here this afternoon in connection with the reservation policy for recruitment of Scheduled Tribes in Manipur University and opening of a regional centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Manipur.

During the half an hour meeting, the Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that Manipur University , which was a State University, became a Central University in the year 2005.The All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) and Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) had been requesting the Central Government as well as the State Government seeking adoption of the State Government's reservation policy in matters of recruitment in Manipur University .

The Chief Minister further stated that based on the population composition of Manipur, the reservation policy of the State Government stipulated 31 pc reservation for Scheduled Tribes and 2 pc for the Scheduled Castes, as against 7.5 pc for Scheduled Tribes and 15 pc for Scheduled Castes in the Central Reservation Policy.

As such, the State Government had recommended to the Central Government the adoption of the State Reservation Policy by Manipur University as a special dispensation keeping in view the ethnic composition of Manipur.

O Ibobi Singh also referred to the establishment of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University at Amarkantak in Chattisgarh by a Central Act namely the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Act 2007.This Act empowered the University to make special provisions for the employment or admission of women, persons with disabilities or of persons belonging to the weaker sections of the society and, in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and scheduled Tribes.

The Chief Minister further expressed that Manipur had nine districts; out of which five districts were predominantly inhabited by the tribal communities.

The facilities for imparting education in hill districts were inadequate.

It would help a great deal in promoting education among the tribal communities of the State, if a Regional Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University is established in one of the hill districts of Manipur.

He demanded for setting up a Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in one of the hill districts of Manipur.

After a patient hearing, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed that the rectification of the Central Reservation Policy required an amendment of the policy and it would take time.

But the Centre would see the possible ways to rectify it.

With regards to the opening of a Regional Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Manipur, the Prime Minister nodded enthusiastically at the proposal.

He advised the Union Secretary of Higher Education Rameshwar Pal Agrawal who was also at the meeting to sit with the Ministers from Manipur tomorrow at 4 pm for working out the modality for opening of the Centre in Manipur.

Emphasizing the importance of scientific and technical subjects in solving the unemployment problem in Manipur, the Prime Minister asked the Chief Minister to submit a proposal to the Centre for opening of Polytechnic in every district of Manipur with the estimates at the tune of Rs 12 crores per polytechnic.

The Chief Minister responded to the Prime Minister for early submission of the Detailed Project Reports to the Centre.

After the meeting, the Education Minister L.Jayantakumar Singh instructed the Principal Secretary (Higher and Technical Education) of Manipur P.Sharat Chandra over phone to take up the matter for setting up Polytechnic in every district in Manipur.

Tomorrow, Education Minister L Jayantakumar Singh and the Tribal Development Minister D.D.Thaisii will sit with the Union Secretary (Higher Education) Shri R.P.Agrawal at Shastri Bhavan here to chalk out the modality for opening of the Regional Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in one of the hill districts of Manipur.

John Pulmate, President of ATSUM, Shri Ch.

Shangreipam, Secretary (Education) of ATSUM and Shri Lunsei Tothang, President of Kuki Students Organisation ,who arrived here from Manipur on the issue, will also attend the sitting.

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