Hill students seething with anger over TET fiasco
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 30 2012: Within the next few days, student organisations based in the hill districts of Manipur are likely to resort to further course of agitation over their demand for issuing Teacher's Eligibility Test (TET) forms and setting up examination centres at the respective district headquarters.

The hill based student bodies will convene a meeting on October 1 (Monday) in this connection to chalk out the course of action or agitation to be taken up.

Under the aegis of Joint Committee of Hill Districts Student Organisation (JCHDSO), the hill based student comprising Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM), Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU), Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) and Naga Students Union, Chandel (NSUC) had already called a 48-hour hill districts bandh on September 24 and 25 in protest against the non-issuing of TET forms and opening of exam centres in the hill districts.

However, following an invitation for talk from the side of the State government, a joint meeting between the State Government led by Education Minister M Okendro, Agriculture Minister Md Nasir and other MLAs namely Kikhonbou, Preshaw, Yamthong Haokip, Valte Vungjagin, etc and JCHDSO led by its convenor and members was held on September 26 .

In that said meeting, the Ministers and MLAs representing the government reportedly gave an assurance that the matter will be discussed with the Chief Minister.

Subsequently, JCHDSO issued an ultimatum to the state government through a press conference on September 27 in which it was declared to the public that further steps would be taken up after the expiry of 3 days' time.

"Now, three days have been lapsed without any positive step from the state government," JCHDSO convenor D Stephen Zeme said, while pointing out that denial of TET exam centres in the hill districts is in total violation of Article 16(1) of the Indian Constitution wherein it is clearly stated that there shall be equality of opportunity in matters of public employment for all the citizens.

"It is also further provided that no citizen shall be discriminated against any citizen on ground of religion, race, caste, sex, etc.

So, the state government's denial of TET exam centres in the hill districts amounts to discrimination of tribal people in Manipur," Stephen contended.

"There is no justifiable ground that the TET exam should not be conducted in the hill districts when other national level examinations such as UPSC, SSC, NDA, CDS, NET etc are conducted in Manipur as being one of the State of Indian Union.

The State government's claim that TET exam cannot be conducted in the hill districts due to lack of infrastructures and some technical problems is totally baseless as examinations such as HSLS, CHSEM and even graduate degree exam under Manipur University are smoothly being conducted in the hill districts.

The decision of the State government reflects total biasness and impartiality which is a clear manipulation," JCHDSO fumed.

Comment