Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 22:
All Tribal Students� Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has decided to go ahead with more intense agitation than the ongoing economic blockade on the National Highways if the State Government does not implement all agendum already passed by the State Cabinet within November 26. The student body has also come out strongly against the move allegedly being made to impose Meetei Mayek on the tribal people living in the hills.
Addressing a press conference at the Hall of the District Council located at Paomei Colony, Sangakpham today, AT-SUM assistant secretary Apao Haokip said apart from demand for a reservation policy for tribals for admission in RIMS, MU, CAU and other Central Educational Institutions, the other demands like service extension of the District Council employees along with pension facilities, conversion of all the 13 grant-in-aid schools in the hills to full-fledged Government institutions and extension of the service period of the contract teachers have already been cleared by the State Cabinet on November 9. But none of these points which the Cabinet has already passed have been implemented so far.
So if the Government fails to do the needful for implementing them within November 26, ATSUM will go ahead with more intense form of agitation than the ongoing economic blockade along the National Highways passing through Manipur, he said, while informing that a decision to this effect was arrived at during a joint meeting of various hill-based organisations today.
While asserting that the demand for the reservation policy should be taken up for discussion in the next Assembly session, Apao further made it clear that the student body would relentlessly continue with its agitation until all the demands have been fulfilled.
On the issue of Meetei Mayek, Apao said ATSUM would condemn any attempt to impose the script in the hill districts.
ATSUM would also extend its support to Churachandpur District Students� Union (CDSU) in its ongoing agitation against imposition of Meetei Mayek, he added.