blockade begins from midnight today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 14 2009:
The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has announced to launch indefinite economic blockade from midnight of July 15 on National Highways 39 and 53 demanding redressal of their grievances.
Announcing this in a statement, assistant general secretary of ATSUM, Robert Leivon stated that the prayers and petitions of ATSUM had not bore the desire outcome and left them with no other options but go for the agitation.
It also alleged the government of Manipur and its departments of continuing to deny the rights to development of the tribal by manipulating the tribal reservation in the state.
The reasons for imposition of indefinite economic blockade by the ATSUM, as stated in the statement, include failure to propose suitable site for Manipur Tribal University and the non-response by the government to set a date for the visit of committee of academicians and experts headed by the Vice-Chancellor.
The tribal students' body has also been demanding the amendment of Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in post and services (for SC/ST) Act, 2007 with points suggested by the ATSUM and framing of Rules of the Act in order to facilitate its operation.
ATSUM has also demanded that both the Act and the Rules to be passed in the ongoing Assembly session.
According to the statement, the students' body has also been demanding the invalidation of all advertisement for employment without proper specification of tribal reserve quota.
All inter-state goods carriers, empty or loaded will not be allowed to ply on the National Highways, the statement cautioned.
Seeking the cooperation of all goods ferrying vehicles, the ATSUM statement also appealed all concerned unions and associations to assist and support the blockade.