IMPHAL, Oct 2 NNN : Saying that the government of Manipur is not taking seriously on the issue of Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET), the Joint Committee of Hill Districts Student Organisation (JCHDSO) has announced an indefinite economic blockade beginning midnight of October 15 on all the National Highways leading to Manipur.
JCHDSO is adamant on its demand for separate TET form distribution centres and TET exam centres for the five hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur. As of now, the test is being held in Imphal only.
Announcing the decision to impose the indefinite economic blockade, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) president Yangmi informed this afternoon that JCHDSO has taken the decision following repeated failure of the State Government in fulfilling the demand of the tribal student joint committee despite imposition of a 48-hour bandh last month, closing down of Zonal Education Office buildings in all the hill district headquarters, apart from serving an ultimatum over the issue.
The attempt of the State Government and JCHDSO to reach the crucial agreement on the issue has remained inconclusive since the first round of talks. The JCHDSO comprises Zeliarong Student’s Union, Manipur (ZSUM), Churachandpur District Student’s Union (CDSU), Senapati District Student’s Association (SDSA), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) and Naga Student’s Union, Chandel (NSUC).
Asking the State Government whether the tribals are not citizens of the State, Yangmi expressed unhappiness over the indifferent attitude of the Government which is not willing to open TET exam centres in the hill district headquarters.
He cited regular exams which are held in the hill districts under Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM) and Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM) and questioned the technical problem cited by the Government in conducting TET exam in the hill districts.
The TKS president on behalf of the hill students’ joint body also appealed the general public particularly the hill people to lend support to the proposed economic blockade.
Naga People’s Organization (NPO), the apex body of the Nagas in Senapati district decided to endorse the hill based students’ bodies on the issue of Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET).
It has also expressed its resentment over the way the State Government has treated the student’s issue on TET.
The NPO said such treatment to the tribal people is not new to anyone and that; the TET issue movement initiated by Joint Committee of Hill Districts Students Organisation ( JCHDSO) is genuine and appreciable.
Stating it as one of the many examples, it stated that, “the indifferent attitude of the State Government towards the Tribals in Manipur has been manifested by denying the justice of conducting exams and recruitments in the hills”, we cannot continue to tolerate such unjustifiable designs of the Government but react accordingly. The NPO advised the State government to consider the genuine demand of the Tribal students at the earliest before the issue escalates.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/indefinite-blockade-from-oct-15-on-tet-issue/
