IMPHAL, March 20 (NNN): Series of agitations have lined up in Manipur in the next few days including that of the All Tribal Sudents Union, Manipur (ATSUM).
On Wednesday, the All Tribal Sudents Union, Manipur (ATSUM) is set to intensify its agitations as the state government of Manipur has failed to act upon its commitment to implement the demands of the ATSUM. This was stated by ATSUM General Secretary, Vareiyo Shatshang.
“We will convene a meeting and announce our course and mode of agitation on March 23 ,” said Vareiyo Shatshang .
On November 27 last year, ATSUM had apprised the government of Manipur to address issues pertaining to tribal people of Manipur and the hill districts.
The tribal students` body of Manipur in its lengthy memorandum submitted to the chief minister of Manipur had demanded Manipur State Commission for the Scheduled Tribes. ATSUM also demanded for the setting up of B.Ed centres in the hill districts. It also demanded that adequate teaching and non-teaching staff in the education institutions in the hill districts with better infrastructure.
Signed by its president Maun Tombing and its general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, ATSUM in its memorandum said, “It has been our long standing aspiration to find a State Commission of the Scheduled Tribes in Manipur under the Article 338A of the Indian Constitution which would usher in all round Development and progress in respect of thee Tribal people in this eastern most part of the Indian Union. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes which came in to force on 19th February, 2004 has failed to provide adequate service to the state of Manipur a it is based on the distant centre in Shillong”.
The tribal students` body had also called for a Manipur State Commission for the ST be set up and for setting up of B.Ed centres in hill districts of Manipur.
One point of the ATSUM memorandum said, “We demand adequate number of both teaching and non-teaching staff in the educational institutions in the hill areas of Manipur state. We also demand that proper infrastructures for the educational institutions in the five hill districts be provided promptly as to facilitate smooth functioning of the academic sessions”.