Imphal, April 07 2009: The All Manipur Recognised Private School Welfare Association (AMRPSWA) has struck the chord that situation has come to such a pass� that some private institutions of the state may be closed down due to monetary demand from various militant groups of the state while also lining up various agitations against the backdrop of demanding to educational institutions.

Speaking to reporters today, the Secretary of the All Manipur Recognised Private School Welfare Association, Rajbihari Chongtham said that the Association has been striving all out efforts to make education a free zone.

But now a sense of resignation has gripped the minds of the teachers due to the continuous disturbances in educational institutions.

Rajbihari said that the Association has also launched various steps against the intolerable demands to educational institutions so as to make education a free zone.

He said that in 2007, sit in protests had been launched for a month at various schools in the valley area demanding to make education a free zone.

In February 2008, a huge mass rally participated by around 20,000 students was taken out from Young Learners School, Chingamathak ground to THAU ground.

Another mass rally was taken out in July 2008 from THAU ground to Khuman Lampak by the Association in collaboration with DESAM which was joined by around 1lakhs rallyists comprising students and teachers with the same objective to make education a free zone, Rajbihari said.

A symposium was also organised on 'Education a free zone' on May 10 last year at the LCM High School, Moirang Lamkhai, Rajbihari recalled.

He further reminisces that a sit in protest was held on March 25 last at the Leimarol Arts Centre, Chinga Makha by various students and teachers with the theme 'Protection against the disturbances in educational institutions'.

If the agitations launched with the intention to make education a free zone have not been heard, we have lined up several form of protests in days to come, the Secretary of the Association, Rajbihari cautioned.

According to the secretary, putting black badges by students and teachers, staging sit in protest for two periods, observing five days half holiday, canceling classes for two days, to submit a representation to the Chief Minister, to call 24 hours general strike, and to close down all schools which are served demands for one whole month are the next course of agitations in line.

While addressing the media persons, a member of the Association on ground of anonymity said that the militant groups which have served demands to educational institutions are Lamyanba Khuman of the KCP (MC), RPF and PREPAK.

The anonymous speaker said that the KCP (MC)'s demands range from Rs 5lakhs to ten lakhs.

The RPF's demand ranges from Rs 1000 to 3000 per month as 'tax,' while the PREPAK demands' range from Rs 5000 to 10,000 .

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