Imphal, December 04: North East Student Co-ordinating Committee on Manipur Identity (NESCOCOMI) has announced its decision of launching sustained campaign from January next year in connection with the common programmes to be taken up for the welfare of Manipuri people settling in different parts of the North Eastern regions as well as those which should be taken up by the respective State Govts concerned States in this regard.

Addressing a press conference at AMSU Hqs here today, NESCOCOMI president Oinam Maniton said the campaign would be based on general as well as common programmes which should be taken up by the State Govts concerned for the welfare of the Manipuri people living in Manipur as well as in other parts of the North Eastern States.

Under the common programme, Maniton explained that NESCOCOMI would prevail upon the Govt of Manipur for formulating a National Manipuri Cultural Policy for all the Manipuri people settling in different parts of the North Eastern States.

Pressure would also be exerted on the Govts of the States in the North East region where Manipuri people are settling for implementing the provisions of the said policy.

Maniton further informed that memorandum would be submitted to all the relevant departments and Ministries concerned for airing/telecasting Manipuri programmes on AIR and Doordharshan channels in places outside Manipur like Silchar, Nagaon, Guwahati, Agartala, Silchar, etc where Manipuri people settled.

NESCOCOMI would also put pressure for extension that 30-minute long Manipuri programme being aired at AIR Silchar station to 1 hour.

More over, to resolve the Bishnupriya issue, Govt of Manipur would be urged to call a meeting of Committee Against the Claim of Bishnupriyas set up it, Maniton said.

Apart from this, Maniton disclosed a proposal would be placed for opening a special centre at Manipur University where any person irrespective of their academic years may pursue Manipuri study.

The Govt of Manipur would also be prevailed upon to upgrade of DM College into a State University.

On the programmes that should be taken up by the respective State Govts concerned, the State Govt should expedite the work on construction of Manipuri Rajbari in Meghalaya.

NESCOCOMI would also campaign for including a community hall and a State Guest House in the construction work of the Manipuri Rajbari.

About the campaign to be launched in Tripur, Maniton said although it has been agreed to introduce teaching of Manipur subject from primary stage in Tripura in 1998, there has been no further scope for learning nor inclusion of the marks obtained in Manipuri subjects in the total mark aggregate for promotion to the next class.

In this regard, Government of Tripura would be prevailed upon to do the needful as well as for setting up Manipuri Dept in Tripura University.

Another agenda to be pursued by NESCOCOMI is the proposal for construction of Manipuri Bhavan at Silchar which has not yet be implemented despite the required land had been allocated by Assam Government, he said adding that for total scrapping of AFSPA from entire North East region, student bodies of other communities would also be mobilised.

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