Students protest over the delay in construction works of the school building
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 01, 2011: Expressing resentment over the delay in construction works of the school building following conflict between a UG group and the workers of an MLA over contract work, students of Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School, Uripok today staged a Wakat Meepham in front of their school gate.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, secretary of debate and extension of the School's Students' Union Haobijam Thaja Devi informed that work order for construction of two class rooms, one science laboratory and one toilet under the Centrally Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) had been issued on September 13 last year.

But the construction work has been delayed on account of the conflict over contract work between PREPAK Project-I and the workers of local MLA L Nandakumar.

If the construction work is not completed within the current month, release of further fund is likely to be stopped, she said.

She further informed that as per the guidelines, the work is to be executed by the School Management and Development Committee.

However, while PREPAK Project-I has insisted upon taking over the contract of the work, workers of MLA Nandakumar have opposed handing over the work to the UG group and have threatened the School Committee of effecting arrest under NSA if the work is handed over to the UG group.

Since January 28 last, the School Committee hired workers for the construction.

But some persons who identified themselves as members of PREPAK came to the school yesterday and said that an agreement should be arrived at soon.

One the other hand, a group of eight people including armed persons, who identified themselves as workers of the MLA descended today morning to threaten the workers who have all fled, Thaja added.

The protestors decried politics in school administration and demanded early completion of the construction work in the school.

Comment