Imphal, May 11: Appealing to the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur to retract its decision to impose an indefinite economic blockade on the from Sunday midnight, Chief Minister O Ibobi has assured that the Manipur Reservation Bill will be re-introduced in the ongoing Assembly session. Ibobi, however, did not divulge the break up figure of the specific reservation figures and other points saying that it would be spelt when it is re-introduced in the House.

The student body on Wednesday had threatened to go ahead with the blockade in protest against the State�s failure to comply with its demands which re-introduction of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for SC and ST) Bill in the ongoing State Assembly. Responding to a call attention motion raised by O Joy and N Bijoy of MPP, the CM said some of Atsum�s demands have already been fulfilled while the rest are being considered for compliance.

He said the same Bill had already been introduced in the Assembly last year but when it was put before the Governor for his assent the latter turned it down suggesting a re-consideration.

Subsequently the matter was discussed and approved by the State Cabinet for its re-introduction and now �we are all prepared to re-introduce it in the ongoing Assembly session.

Cross checking it is underway in consultation with the Hill Area Committee Chairman�, Ibobi stated. On the other hand, the demand to release a panel list of over 10 percent of the total number of graduate teachers, who have already been appointed, the Chief Minister said it couldn�t be complied with as it would serve as a bad precedent. If there is requirement of more teachers then the Government would immediately lift the ban on appointment and do the needful, he assured the House. Nevertheless, as demanded by Atsum the Government would clear the pending salaries of contract graduate teachers very soon, he said. On the demand of decentralization of Tribal Department and giving more powers to its district level officers, the CM said the matter has already been discussed and added �if necessary we will table it in the Cabinet for implementation.� Commenting on the reservation issue, Ibobi said in all recruitment process initiated through employment exchange the Government is following the 100-point roster. However there were some discrepancies in following the rules during the appointment of adhoc, part time and contract basis teachers and taking over of schools by the State, admitted the Chief Minister while clarifying that the Government has made a check on it and detected certain reservation backlogs. Manipur University, which has now been upgraded to a Central varsity, is following the central rules in the recruitment of its employees as well as enrolment of students.

Ibobi said that the State has no authority to intervene in such matters of the University. On Atsum�s demand to reintroduce a special cell for ST/SC in Manipur University, he clarified that it is still functioning there. Stating that the Government has already implemented some demands, the rest would also be complied with, the Chief Minister appealed to the agitating student body to call off its proposed economic blockade. O Joy while taking into account of the severe hardships likely to be faced by the public during the proposed economic blockade, urged the Government to bring about an amicable settlement with Atsum.

Bijoy also urged the Government to do the needful to ensure the student body retract its stance.

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