IMPHAL, Dec 18: Perturbed by the injudicious attitude of the state Government, the All Manipur Tribal Students’ Union (ATSUM) today threatened to launch a series of agitations if the Government shows negligence on the union’s demands in the winter session of Manipur Legislative Assembly slated for December 19-20.
ATSUM general secretary Vareiro Shatsang was addressing a press meet at the office premises of Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur (ZSU) at Namdalong in Imphal. He said the seven demands made by ATSUM to the state Government are legitimate.
The demands include institution of a Manipur state commission for the Scheduled Tribes, setting up of B Ed centres in all the five hill districts, adequate staff and infrastructures for the hill areas, reservation for the SCs and STs in recruitment of Junior MCS and protection of indigenous village authority elections.
ATSUM had submitted a memorandum enclosed with the above seven demands to the Chief Minister on November 27.
Shatsang said the union has been persistently pushing for the demands to the state Government with serious contemplation while alleging that the tribal ministers and MLAs are too sitting idle in their chairs neglecting the plight of the tribal people.
“We have already urged both the ruling and opposition parties to bring up the matter in the upcoming session of Manipur assembly. If they fail to discuss the matter in the assembly, we might take up a series of intense agitations if not in the form of bandh or blockade,” he warned.
He, however, said ATSUM is still looking forward for a positive response from the side of the state Government, he added.
Last month, ATSUM in its lengthy memorandum submitted to the chief minister of Manipur had demanded Manipur State Commission for the Scheduled Tribes. ATSUM also demanded for the setting up of B.Ed centres in the hill districts. It also demanded that adequate teaching and non-teaching staff in the education institutions in the hill districts with better infrastructure.
President Maun Tombing and general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, in its memorandum said, “It has been our long standing aspiration to find a State Commission of the ST in Manipur under the Article 338A of the Indian Constitution which would usher in all round Development and progress in respect of thee Tribal people in this eastern most part of the Indian Union. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes which came in to force on 19th February, 2004 has failed to provide adequate service to the state of Manipur a it is based on the distant centre in Shillong”.
Karnataka in 2002 had established the State Commission for SC/ST under the name and style.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tribal-students-on-hill-issues/
