Imphal, October 17, 2008: In pursuance of demand fpr providing 34.2 percent reservation of seats for ST candidates' in Manipur University, All Colleges Tribal Students' Organisation, Manipur (ACTSOM) organised a sit-in demonstration in front of DM College gate today.

Talking to mediapersons on the sideline of the protest demonstration, president of ACTSOM RN Koireng demanded that Manipur University Act, 2005 be amended so that the number of seats reserved for ST in the University may be increased from the present 7.5 percent to 34.2 percent.

Pointing out that the reservation of seats for ST in the University should be made in accordance to the population of ST in the State, Koireng categorically stated that until and unless, necessary amendment in this regard has been made in the Act, no new appointment would be allowed in the University.

He also demanded that Vice Chancellor of the University and the Registrar should be removed from their posts if they could not fulfil the rightful demand of the tribal people in the State.

He further pointed out that before conversion of Manipur University into a Central University, the number of seats reserved for the ST was 31 percent.

But it has come down to only 7.5 percent after becoming a Central University.

This is not proportionate to population of tribals in the State and reduction in number of reserved seats deprived rights of the tribal people in education as well as in appointment to posts in the University, Koireng lamented.