Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 07:
Serving a 10 day time-frame on the State Government to implement the assurances to take up developmental works in Senapati district, the Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) has threatened to launch 'rigid' agitation in case the Govt fails to comply to its 'legitimate' demands.
To remind the State Govt of its earlier assurances, the SDSA will submit memoranda to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Ministers concerned and officials on April 9 with an earnest appeal to fulfil the demands and failure to reciprocate positively within 15 days would constrain the student body to go ahead with the agitation, cautioned SDSA's officiating president NG Spuni while speaking to newspersons at the district headquarters today.
"Our demands for addressing the deplorable state of affairs pertaining to health, education, sports among others are all legitimate and basic requirements," he said while conveying that the Government had already promised to fulfil most of the demands.
Ruling out backtracking from its current position, Souni said, "Come the time and we will take our own course of action to teach the Government a fitting lesson, if they fail to reciprocate positively".
Expressing strong resentment over the inaction of the Government till date inspite of assurances given earlier, he said that proposal for opening an SDO office at the district headquarters is yet to be fulfilled.
Justifying the demands placed by the SDSA, Souni maintained that inspite of the district headquarters serving as a strategic point and life line of Manipur as NH-39 weaves through the whole district, no motor vehicle office is established thereby compelling the people to go to Imphal regarding official procedures on any matter concerning motor vehicles.
Moreover, the Government has failed to expedite the construction works for the assured multi-purpose indoor stadium and a mini stadium with spectator gallery which is a necessity for every district.
Such negligence on the part of the Government had resulted on the district sportspersons being deprived of the opportunity to explore their talent in the sports arena, highlighted the SDSA president.
Another bone of contention is the absence of full fledged Government schools and colleges in the district headquarters even as the district denizens regularly faces shortages of drinking water owing to outdated water supply scheme.
Terming denial of educational rights as gross human rights violation he prevailed upon the Government plight of the student community representing the MAO, Maram, Poumai, Zeliangrong and Thangal tribes who are normally incurs huge expenditure in pursuing studies at private institutions located up in the area.
Due to ever growing density of vehicular traffic at the heart of the district headquarters in contrast to absence of a bus terminus and traffic point chaotic scenes has inconvenienced the public as traffic congestion and vulnerability to accidents had become an everyday affair, Souni observed.
Touching a sentimental note, he expressed that despite essential supplies passing through the district there is no Food Civil Supplies office to address emergency situations regarding shortage ot food supply with the irony being reloading rice quota for the district from Imphal which ultimately cause loss of money and time.
Setting up of a Food and Civil Supplies office, therefore, is necessary at any cost to minimise loss of money besides reducing threat of essential supply shortages, he asserted while insisting that compliance to SDSA's demand for construction of a new 100 hospital is of utmost importance to cater to the medical requirements of the people of the district.
Leaders of all the constituent bodies of SDSA were also present at the press briefing.
Later in the day, when a team of news persons visited the Senapati District Hospital it came to light that most beds were without mattresses and other requisite accessories with the operation theatre reported to be dysfunctional for the last 15 years and provision for foods to the patients non existent.