Tribal students set to launch stir from today
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 10 2013:
The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) under the 'leadership' of its president Muan Tombing is all set to begin its second phase agitation under the code name 'Reckoning of the Other' (ROTO) from midnight of November 11 banning all the national projects in Manipur including the ongoing railway line construction in Tamenglong district.
According to ATSUM general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, the Chief Minister during the 4-hour long meeting with the student body on June 12 this year had given assurance to address the demands raised by the tribal student body but till date nothing concrete has been done.
"The frequent comments of the Chief Minister's "ching-tam amatani (hill and valley are one) is a mere lip-service and we realised it," lamented Muan and Vareiyo.
They alleged that there have been 'bureaucratic manipulations' of the Constitutional provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India.
"For instance, Article 371-C i.e the Hill Area Committee (HAC) has not been made functional by the Government of Manipur for fear of sharing more or less equal power (between the hill and the valley)," further alleged the ATSUM leaders.
ATSUM leaders then lauded the United Naga Council (UNC) movement against the holding of elections to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) in 2010 .
The UNC had declared the 3rd Amendment of the ADC Act, 2008 as null and void.
Regarding the notification of the State Government on certain appointments, the ATSUM asked as to why the Manipur Government is always infringing and manipulating the 'Principle Act' by issuing repeated order on June 12, 2013 which reads 'DPC for appointment of Grade III and IV should be obtained for approval of the Government.
"It is for every right thinking citizen, lawyer and bureaucrat to understand that ADC is not a department.
It is more or less a semi Government which
was instituted simultaneously with the inauguration of Statehood in 1971-72 and is therefore an autonomous institution having its own Act and rule," pointed out ATSUM.
Meanwhile, the ATSUM leaders reiterated their demands that the condition of educational atmosphere in the hill districts is improved by appointing or recruitmenting adequate teaching and non-teaching staff and necessary infrastructure for schools in the hill areas.
In this regard, ATSUM also demands for the setting up of B.ed centres in the hill districts.
It then demanded for the early solution to the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) crises.
Another demand of ATSUM is the improvement of healthcare in the hill districts by makeing all PHSC, PHC, CHC and DHC functional.
It demanded that proper equipments with required specislist doctors and nurses in the district hospitals of the hills be posted.
One prime demand of ATSUM has been to establish a separate state Commission for Scheduled Tribe (ST) in Manipur.
ATSUM also said ST reservation norms as per the latest roster be adhered.
It further demanded for encouraging equitable development through special economic package for the hill areas of Manipur.
Effective governance of the hill areas also another key demand of the tribal student body.
According to ATSUM, to have effective governance there are certain areas that should be revamped.
Securing the proper functioning of the Hill Area Committee (HAC) and requiring the Governor of Manipur to discharge his special responsibilities under 371-C of the Constitution on India is one area.
To bring the present Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Manipur at par with other ADCs in the North-Eastern states of India is also one of the areas.
ATSUM also said re-organisation (Delimitation) of assembly seats on the basis of the latest population census and sharing 30/30 seats between the hills and the valley is one area that should be done for the effective governance.
Lastly, ATSUM demands for the protection of tribal rights on land and natural resource.
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