Imphal, March 24: Accusing the SPF Government of not sincerely working to resolve the Meetei Mayek issue, DESAM today said that it has become more than clear that the Govt has still not thought about introducing any policy and programme to develop and make the indigenous script familiar to the people.

In a statement, the student body said that to promote Meetei Mayek, the Govt need to take up steps by stages and study where to make a beginning.

Implementing the script should not pose such a tough task to the Govt, said DESAM maintaining that implementing it does not necessarily mean that the script will be introduced immediately all over the place.

However a beginning has to be made and it is the duty of the Government to think where to make that starting point, said DESAM and added that it should be conducted under a well thought out process of policy and programme.

However the tragedy is the Govt still has not given any serious thought to the matter at hand, said the student body maintaining that this became clear during the meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday.

Addressing the student community, DESAM appealed to them to learn the indigenous script diligently and added that the Manipuri text books written in Bengali script will soon be replaced by Meetei Mayek in phases.

The student body also asked all parents, teachers and others concerned to ensure that their children and wards learn the Mayek sincerely.

DESAM admitted that students may face some trouble learning the new script initially but added that it should not pose any major problem for the students to learn the new script.

Setting the record straight, DESAM said that championing the cause of Meetei Mayek should not be interpreted as imposing the Meetei script on the hill people and reasoned that the indigenous script is easier to learn than Bengali script.

Moreover the introduction of Meetei Mayek will also go a long way in fostering unity.

The Govt on the advice of many IAS officers and other high ranking officers is reluctant to replace Bengali script with Meetei Mayek as it could inconvenience them, said DESAM.

This is one major factor, why the Govt has not thought out any policy and programme to implement the indigenous script, added DESAM.

The statement further questioned the wisdom of remanding DESAM volunteers including its president L Romesh.

It defies logic to treat the students like outlawed persons, said the student body and added that numerous agitators who have been sent to Sajiwa jail are living in miserable conditions.

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