Imphal, May 22: The agitating All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has expressed its appreciation to the SPF Government but has reiterated to go ahead with its proposed 24 hours Manipur bandh on May 24.However, the tribal students body "whose main concern is education and students will exempt all educational institutions and offices from the purview of our agitation.

So students, teachers and Education Department staff using private vehicles are requested to paste either the word Education or School on the front of the vehicles".

The ATSUM while lauding the O Ibobi Singh Government for the latter's effort to pass a Bill on the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (SC/ST) Bill, has put forth the remaining issues raised by the students' body to be addressed by the State Government.

ATSUM said that it wishes the Bill to become a living legal document rather than a decorative and pacifying Act.

ATSUM's information and publicity secretary Joseph R Hmar informed NNN that issues of the Tribal Development department, Panel List and Backlog for Scheduled Tribes, the administration of Education department and Manipur University should be attended as raised by the tribal students' body of Manipur.

It said that the administration of the State's Tribal Development Department is in complete disorder.

Many suggestions have been given by ATSUM regarding decentralization of powers.

Till now authority is delegated to the district offices.

"We demand that these District Officers be given more powers as per the suggestions given without fail," it added.

ATSUM further stated that the State Cabinet had already agreed to increase Panel List of the recently conducted recruitment for Graduate Teachers beyond the normal 10% limit more than one month back.

It also said that appointment of teachers needs to be done in the beginning of the academic year and not randomly.

"Why is the Education department or DPC Committee taking so long to come out with that list? Is it because there are 2/3 lists and there is differences of opinion in it? Again, the state government has also accepted that there are 6 backlog vacancies for ST in graduate (bio-science), though at the ground level.

Tribal constitute a mere 24% in the total employee figure of the department.

These two issues must be address immediately", said the ATSUM.

It then said that the State Govt in order to streamline the working system of the Directorate of Education (S) and to improve the deteriorating condition of Education, appoint powers and function including appointment, transfer & postings, sanction of leave & GPF, etc.

within their areas of jurisdiction.

The post of Director, Education (S) was also abolished and the Commissioner was made the Ex-Officio Director.

Unfortunately, the Additional Director (Hills) was not given the opportunity to perform his assigned duties.

The DDO appointed in his office was made take care of only the remuneration of teachers appointed on contract basis, said the ATSUM statement.

On the Manipur University the tribal students body stated that the long cherished dream of the people of Manipur (hills and valleys) has been fulfilled with the conversion of Manipur University from State to Central.

Unexpectedly however, this conversion has brought the position of the tribal in matters of admission and appointment to a pity situation.

The State Govt as a welfare state must without delay looks into this ma-tter and solve it satisfactorily, said ATSUM in a statement.

Meanwhile, Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur (ZSUM) has announced its decision of supporting the total bandh being called by All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATS UM) on May 24. Chairman of the student boy GH Newneh further informed that it would continue with its ongoing agitation against the Government in Tamenglong district until an understanding has been reached with the Government.

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