Imphal, November 01 2009: A public meeting held today at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT) to deliberate on the issue of closure of educational institutions in the aftermath of ongoing movement against the July 23 BT road firing has resolved that classes should resume with immediate effect.

The meeting hosted by the student body Democratic Students' alliance of Manipur (DESAM) extensively debated on the issue of the ongoing movement for protection of right to life infringing upon the right to education and culminated with the adoption of four resolutions.

The first resolution concerns immediate restoration of normal academic activities with the assertion that owing to prolonged closure of educational institutions would stunt advancement of the Manipuri society.

Reaffirmation of the July 5, 2004 public rally and consequent resolution to make education a free zone as well as exempting educational activities from the purview of any public movement was the central point in the second resolution while the third decision taken at the meeting approved formation of 'committee for resumption of classes'.

The committee, that will oversee implementation of the decision to resume academic activities, will comprise representatives of 20 different organisations that participated at the meeting.

The last, but not the least, resolution taken today was to cooperate and extend support to civil society organisations that are spea-rheading ongoing movement for protection of human rights.

Manipur University's Prof (Retd) N Tombi, social worker RV Minthing, former Additional Director of Education (S) MA Janab Khan and DESAM president LC Santosh were the dais members of the meeting.

While about 14 individuals and representatives of various organisations expressed their respective viewpoints in the meeting theme, ACOAM Lup advisor H Kula expressed that the class boycott agitation is being enforced by a handful of individuals.

Apparently pointing out that the class boycott agitation do not reflect the people's wish, Kula questioned whether AMSU had consulted the people or organised public meeting before proclamation of the class boycott call.

Expressing that the agitation spearhead Apunba Lup has run of manpower and that the class boycott call is against the wish of the masses, he insisted that irrespective of whether or not the Chief Minister resigns and the State comes under President's Rule students should return to the classrooms without any further delay.

Among other speakers, Superintendent of RIMS Dr Y Mohen pointed out that the class boycott agitation is confined to only pockets of the valley districts with no sign of such a movement effecting academic activities in the hills.

He reminded that the ongoing movement having limited impact mostly in the valley areas would have severe fallout as students of the hill district schools are certain to stiffly oppose in case demands are raised to postpone annual examinations.

Dr Mohen also cautioned that those who are advocating closure of educational institutions today would have embarrassing memories upon realising that their decision had actually denied education to a generation.

Highlighting that throttling of right to education as enshrined in the Constitution of India will bring more harm to the society, many other speakers fervently appealed to sponsors of class boycott agitation to call off their movement in the interest of the student community.

In his address, Prof (Retd) N Tombi suggested that before any agitation is launched in pursuit of certain demands there is urgent need for close scrutiny on how to approach a specific issue.

Implying that enforcing closure of educational institutions in pursuit of their demands is in contravention of the Indian Constitution that enshrines right to education as one of the fundamental rights of the citizens, he reiterated the appeal for calling off class boycott agitation.

Similar sentiments were highlighted in the addresses of MA Janab Khan and RV Minthing who too made fervent appeals for ensuring return of the students to their classrooms.

Comment