DESAM urges
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 31 2025: Raising concerns about the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) possibly printing textbooks on substandard papers, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has pushed for the constitution of an enquiry committee to launch a probe against the Education (S) Commissioner and BOSEM Secretary and Chairman.

The student body has also sought Governor Ajay Bhalla's intervention in the matter.

Mayengbam Somorjit Meitei, president, DESAM made the appeals during the interaction session of "Meet the media fraternity" programme held at their Keishampat office today.

Responding to queries from the press regarding BOSEM printing textbooks on papers without watermarks, Somorjit stressed that the Board has been urged to use good quality papers for textbooks for a long period.

Many student bodies and concerned stakeholders have appealed for BOSEM textbooks to be of the same quality as NCERT textbooks and to ensure their availability prior to the commencement of 2026 academic session.

The All Manipur Private School Welfare Association has also demanded good quality textbooks from BOSEM and proclaimed that private schools will not accept textbooks printed on substandard papers.

Following the BOSEM Administrative Committee's December 13 (2025) meeting, 160 metric tonnes of paper were procured and sent to printing presses to produce textbooks.

In this regard, he said that DESAM takes the allegation of textbooks being printed on low quality paper very seriously.

If the textbooks are found to be printed on low grade papers without any watermarks, the student body will consider it as a scam perpetrated by the Education (S) Commissioner, BOSEM Secretary and Chairman, said the DESAM president.

Adding that use of such poor grade papers may lead to pirated textbooks flooding the market, he cautioned the issue might blow up if good quality textbooks are not made available by January 20, 2026 .

On another note, he conveyed New Year greetings to the gathering and called for concerted efforts to improve the State's education sector.

DESAM will also work on ensuring full implementation of NEP 2020 and necessary infrastructure upgradation across educational institutions, he added.

At the event, media persons were honoured with simple gifts.

Notable dignitaries present included Yumnam Rupachandra, general secretary, Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) as the chief guest and Khwairakpam Naoba, general secretary, AMWJU as the guest of honour.

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