By : A Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 9: The All Tribal Students Union Manipur, ATSUM, has threatened to launch a series of agitations in the state against the prolonged failure on the part of the state government to fulfill their commitments on various issues related to the tribal people of the state.
The ATSUM in its press statement signed by Joshep H Hmar, secretary, information and publicity of the union mentioned that the union had no choice other than to call a 12-hour protest starting from 6 am till 6 pm on May 1 followed by a 120 hours, i.e. five days economic blockade.
The statement said that there would be ceasework in all the hill districts of the state during the protest on May 1, and from the next day transportation of all commodities on all national highways in the state would be disallowed till 6 pm of May 6.
The main issues include commitments made on the Manipur Autonomous District Council Bill which the state government failed to pass in the recently concluded Assembly session clearly indicating neglect of tribal rights in the state, it said.
The statement further said that the problem of tribal students in Manipur University is far from resolved. Taking a ministerial team along with some tribal student representatives to a meeting with the Prime Minister is not the solution, it said adding that if the state government was serious to resolve the impasse it should boldly ask for a return to the earlier status quo of a state university as this would be more beneficial for the tribals.
Mentioning the problem of shortage of teachers in the hill districts, the statement further mentioned that the ATSUM and other like-minded bodies had repeatedly pointed out this problem and after much persuasion and pressure the state government in 2005 had recruited some 1332 teachers on contract basis only to terminate their services with the excuse that regular teachers were already provided.
In reality, only 306 science and arts graduate teachers were provided in the hill districts to replace those 1332 teachers of all grades, graduate, matriculate and Hindi, the union said.
Regarding forests, the issue raised by the Working Group on Land and Natural Resources (WGLNR) and students bodies particularly in Ukhrul district on Joint Forest Management and other forest related issues is genuine and in the interest of the tribal people of the state, it said. The state forest department instead of trying to justify itself with concocted stories and other excuses should immediately do something to address these issues immediatley, the union added.
The statement also further mentioned that the extreme steps of the union may hurt the common man but someone had to pay the price in the larger interest. The ATSUM would hold a consultation meeting on April 15 at the District Council House at Chingmeirong in Imphal to deliberate on these issues, it said while inviting all interested civil society leaders, bureaucrats, legislators and individuals to share their ideas and opinions.
IFP
IMPHAL, Apr 9: The All Tribal Students Union Manipur, ATSUM, has threatened to launch a series of agitations in the state against the prolonged failure on the part of the state government to fulfill their commitments on various issues related to the tribal people of the state.
The ATSUM in its press statement signed by Joshep H Hmar, secretary, information and publicity of the union mentioned that the union had no choice other than to call a 12-hour protest starting from 6 am till 6 pm on May 1 followed by a 120 hours, i.e. five days economic blockade.
The statement said that there would be ceasework in all the hill districts of the state during the protest on May 1, and from the next day transportation of all commodities on all national highways in the state would be disallowed till 6 pm of May 6.
The main issues include commitments made on the Manipur Autonomous District Council Bill which the state government failed to pass in the recently concluded Assembly session clearly indicating neglect of tribal rights in the state, it said.
The statement further said that the problem of tribal students in Manipur University is far from resolved. Taking a ministerial team along with some tribal student representatives to a meeting with the Prime Minister is not the solution, it said adding that if the state government was serious to resolve the impasse it should boldly ask for a return to the earlier status quo of a state university as this would be more beneficial for the tribals.
Mentioning the problem of shortage of teachers in the hill districts, the statement further mentioned that the ATSUM and other like-minded bodies had repeatedly pointed out this problem and after much persuasion and pressure the state government in 2005 had recruited some 1332 teachers on contract basis only to terminate their services with the excuse that regular teachers were already provided.
In reality, only 306 science and arts graduate teachers were provided in the hill districts to replace those 1332 teachers of all grades, graduate, matriculate and Hindi, the union said.
Regarding forests, the issue raised by the Working Group on Land and Natural Resources (WGLNR) and students bodies particularly in Ukhrul district on Joint Forest Management and other forest related issues is genuine and in the interest of the tribal people of the state, it said. The state forest department instead of trying to justify itself with concocted stories and other excuses should immediately do something to address these issues immediatley, the union added.
The statement also further mentioned that the extreme steps of the union may hurt the common man but someone had to pay the price in the larger interest. The ATSUM would hold a consultation meeting on April 15 at the District Council House at Chingmeirong in Imphal to deliberate on these issues, it said while inviting all interested civil society leaders, bureaucrats, legislators and individuals to share their ideas and opinions.
IFP
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