Imphal Feb 18 UNA : A 72-hour bandh in hill districts of Manipur called by the All Tribal Disabled Union, Manipur (ATDUM) over the alleged failure of the state government to give any positive response to their demands has commenced last midnight amidst controversy over supports by its district branches.
The bandh had no impact on its first day on Monday as reports from the five hill districts said that no impact could be given to the normal life in these districts except non arrival of inter-district buses from Imphal for the day in some of the district headquarter.
Reports from Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati said that all kinds of vehicles including commercial ones were seen moving on the streets at the district headquarters. All shops, business establishments, government and private institutions including educational institutions were opened as usual.
Alleging that state government failed to give positive response to its demands, ATDUM has imposed the 72-hour bandh with effect from February 17 midnight in the hill districts of Manipur. It will be continued till February 20 midnight.
ATDUM alleged that the union failed to get a positive response to a memorandum submitted to the chief minister on January 22 last highlighting their demands and also an appointment with the Chief Minister to discuss the matter related with their demand on February 2.
The demands of ATDUM include establishment of a special school with hostel facilities at a tribal district for the differently able tribal people; setting up of a special vocational training centre with hostel facilities; decentralization of the issue of disability certificate; appointment of differently abled ST candidates as graduate teachers under RMSA; increase of disability scholarship, giving unemployment allowance, financial assistance and conveyance allowance to disabled government employees; appointment of state channelizing agency of National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC); constitution of a State Co-ordination Committee under the provision of PWD, Act, 1995 and allocation of at least 3% of total State Plan budget for the persons with disabilities, etc.
ATDUM got support from the Churachandpur District Disabled Union (CDDU) after it declared it would extend moral support to the 72 hours hill areas bandh called by ATDUM. However, All Tribal Disables’ Union, Sadar Hills asserted that it would not endorse the agitation call.
Thadou Students’ Association, Sadar Hills District Committee and Ukhrul Disables’ Federation have also pledged to extend moral and physical support to the bandh.
Contrary to the bodies’ support, All Tribal Disables’ Union, Sadar Hills said its has taken a strong resolution not to endorse the hill districts bandh after the Union executive meeting at Kangpokpi.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/all-tribal-disable-union-manipur-72-hour-bandh-commences/
