Closure Of Schools In Manipur
and Benevolence Of UGs to Schools in Burma

A D Sithlou *

As a retired Primary School teacher of Beheng (Churachandpur District ), I am totally saddened and disillusioned by the closure of schools in Manipur. As a responsible citizen of this great country I also have my own opinion and to be heard.

Residents of Manipur - hills or in the Valley admit that state is becoming a lawless region with both the state and non state actors wreaking havoc; militants pulling down hospital, killing & abducting for ransom government officials, killing migrant labourers, extorting money from educational institutions and religious places while fake encounter and killings continue to rock the region.

In the month of September, militants descended on Nongpok Sekmai Village in Thoubal district in trucks and used a hijacked excavator to pull down a government hospital. The bizarre reason given for razing the structure was that 'the hospital' was a symbol of the government'.

Just a few days ago a school in Thoubal was burnt down. By who ? No one knows. But where are we leading to? – back to medieval age ?

While I sympathise with the agitation in Manipur spearheaded by 'Apunba Lup' and Students' organisations in the aftermath of the killing of Sanjit in broad daylight by police commandos in July this year, I am not to sure whether they have taken the correct recourse by closure of schools.

As a teacher, father and grandfather my belief and opinion is otherwise. But I believe, it is never too late by those spearheading the agitation to reconsider their decision in the interest of our children. A good decision need not be taken as a loss of face. Even some of our militant outfits have retracted their diktat in the face of public outburst!

Hailing from a remote village of Churachandpur district I only know the difficulties of going to schools & college four decades ago. I could not manage even full meals a day during my graduation in DM College.

Thanks to a grand old landlady who shared her meals and even at times condone the rental for my room. The situation hasn't changed much even after so many years.

Most children in remote villages do their schooling in private / private aided schools. But unfortunately schools have been closed for more than 4 months due to the 'ban' and fear for reprisals if opened.

Recently I had to visit my folks across the border in Burma (now Myanmar ) in a remote village called 'Chikka'. There I had a chance opportunity to meet some village elders and teachers, who invited me to their school. I was more than anxious to visit a school across the border.

Not surprisingly, the conditions of the school on the other side was no better! But I was astounded when the villagers told me that the PLA, PREPAK & UNLF have agreed to contribute around 73,000 and 57,000 kyats for development of their school.

Indeed a benevolent act by UNLF & PREPAK/PLA for the Myanmarese children!

While I was totally confounded, I silently wished if 'they' could do the same for my village too! To add salt to the injury they mention that these 'groups' are also contributing one lakh kyats each for construction of a tarmac road from 'Mualpi' to 'Senam' villages.

What intrigues me is that these so called 'patriotic' militant outfits extortour hard earned money, burn down schools & hospitals in our country but become good-doers in Myanmar. What an irony ?

Today the hapless students are trapped in tussle between Ibobi's government and those spearheading the agitation for no fault of theirs.

So also the private schools teachers & students who are caught between the devil and the deep sea. The fate of almost 4 lakhs students is in a quagmire situation with the possibility of losing an academic session.

I earnestly implore to all and sundry including the militant outfits to avoid using education and students as their 'tools'. The Ibobi's government should, without any delay, make a sincere effort to end the impasse before it goes out of hand.

It's better late than never.