Imphal, March 25: Even as ATSUM has announced imposition of indefinite economic blockade along the two lifelines of Manipur from midnight today to protest State Government's alleged indifferent attitude to demands placed by the student body Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa has appealed to the agitators to soften their stand.

"We acknowledge ATSUM's demands but the same could not be translated into action at one go," said the Minister referring to demands for a functional office of Additional director of Education (Hills) and provision of adequate infrastructures in all the hill area schools.

Conversion of grant-in-aid schools in the hills into full-fledged Government institutions and furnishing a white paper on verification of teachers in the hill districts are the other demands being pursued by ATSUM.

Conveying SPF Government's willingness to implement some of the demands in short notice contrary to some that requires more time as they pertains to policy matters, he nevertheless pledged to look into all aspects of the demands sympathetically for expeditious implementation.

Prevailing upon the agitators that imposing econo- mic blockade would make general public endure untold hardships and reiterating his appeal for calm, Francis mooted dialogue to thrash out any differences with ATSUM cautioning that resorting to extreme steps would only lead to suffering of the people.

On the otherhand, Superintendents of Police of Senapati and Tamenglong districts through which major length of NH 39 and 53 passes, have reportedly enhanced security measures to ensure unhindered flow of goods laden vehicles in their respective area of jurisdiction.

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