Imphal, December 29: Against the alleged unilateral withdrawal by the State Government from all the agreements it signed with the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) concerning recruitment of graduate teachers in the reserved seats of ST candidates, the student body has called a State wide general strike with effect from midnight of January 3 till the midnight of the next day which would be followed by an indefinite economic blockade along all the highways of the State.

A statement issued by ATSUM quoted the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the State Government on September 20 which said, "Whenever there is a backlog of ST reservation exceeding 50 percent of the vacancies taken together with the normal percentage of reservation for ST available in the current recruitment, the ST vacancies will be filled up to 50 percent of the advertised vacancies".

As against 50 percent assured by the State Government, the recent graduate teachers recruitment filled up only 31 percent of the total seats entitled to the tribal people.

The student body noted that out of more than 14000 employees in Education Department, more than 800 posts reserved for tribes are currently lying vacant.

ATSUM said that it would have reconsidered its stand point had the officials concerned come out frankly with their side of story and their practical difficulties, if any, in an accommodating manner.

As things stand now, the State Government, particularly the Chief Minister, Education Minister, Commissioner Education and other officials concerned as well as the ATSUM is answerable to the public, maintained the student body.

It also flayed the high handed conduct of IRB personnel against ATSUM/TKS volunteers during the written test for recruitment of primary teachers in Ukhrul.

During the whole course of the proposed agitation, no Government related functions will be allowed in the tribal areas besides boycotting the SPF Ministers and MLAs.

Moreover, all offices of the Education Department and its subsidiary offices including the Board of Secondary Education Manipur will not be allowed to function smoothly, disclosed the statement.

Appealing to the people to take note of the grievances of tribal people, it sought cooperation from all quarters while warning those defying the student body.

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