Imphal, Aug 07: The Centre has reacted positively to the stand adopted by the State Government with regard to the demands raised by some organisations to affiliate 160 private schools located in four hill districts of Manipur to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education.

The Centre's gesture came after the State Government submitted a written report on the matter to Union Human Resources Development Minister today.

A team from Manipur led by Education Minister L Nandakumar met the Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh today and made the stand of the State on the matter clear.

The State team made it clear that any infringement on the jurisdiction of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur by the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education is unacceptable.

It was made clear to Arjun Singh that the State Government will not recognise the certificates of any students who pass out from schools located in Manipur but which are affiliated to the boards of other States.

However this stand will not apply to schools affiliated to either the CBSE or ICSE.

Talking to The Sangai Express an official source informed that the State team made it clear that the Government of Manipur will also not extend any entitlements to students of schools which are affiliated to boards or councils of other States.

Such entitlements include scholarships, admission reservation for ST students and other benefits.

Moreover if private schools continue to adopt the text books prescribed by NBSE in Manipur, then the Govt will cancel the affiliations of the schools to BSEM.

The written representation submitted to Arjun Singh also made it clear that the move to affiliate to NBSE was done at the behest of the NSCN (IM), which is presently engaged in a peace talk with the Government of India.

Education Minister L Nandakumar who led the State representatives in the meeting with the Union HRD Minister informed The Sangai Express that Arjun Singh admitted to meeting Naga student leaders on the issue.

However the Union Minister categorically rejected the report that he had given commitments to the Naga students.

Arjun Singh was also amenable to the stand of the State Government that no boards of another State should infringe on the jurisdiction of the boards or councils of another State, said Nandakumar.

A State official who was among the representatives to meet Arjun Singh affirmed the statement of Nandakumar and added that the Union Minister did not give any assurance to Naga students on the issue.

On the other hand, Arjun Singh indicated that the demand to affiliate to NBSE will not be possible.

It was also made clear to the HRD Minister that question of imposing Meitei Mayek on the hill students does not arise, said the official.

The HRD Minister was also informed that the allegations that the history of the Naga people have been distorted in the books prescribed by BSEM are wrong and baseless, said the official further.

This was made clear not only in the written submission made to the Union Minister but also verbally during the meeting.

Other than L Nandakumar the State representatives included Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Inner Manipur Parliamentary MP Dr T Meinya, Education Commissioner who is also in charge as the Chairman of BSEM Buddhachandra and Secretary of BSEM Ph Nandakumar were present during today's meeting which was held at 4.50 pm.

A copy of the written report of the State Government was also submitted to the Secretary of the Council of Board of School Education, DV Sharma.

The text book issue was also discussed during the North East zonal meeting of the Council of Board of School Education which was held at Guwahati last month.

The issue will again be discussed with the Education Secretary of the HRD on August 9.BSEM Chairman in charge Buddhachandra and Secretary Ph Nandakumar will represent the State at the meeting.