IMPHAL, May 17(NNN): The Kuki Students Organisation, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) has announced its call for a 24-hour bandh on May 21 in protest against the state government`s alleged non-implementation of reservation in certain areas.
The KSO said it had apprised the state government of Manipur on the alleged discrepancies which came to light in the recruitment process of the state police department.
According to the KSO, on May 7 it had sought an appointment for an audience with the the Chief Minister to discuss the issue.
“Unfortunately, the appointment could not be granted. So, on May 14, it had submitted a memorandum to the chief minister to set right the presence of quota backlog of 474 posts of constables in the police department. And on May 16, it had also sought the attention of the hon’ble Deputy CM. But to this day, nothing tangible that may help clear up doubts or straighten out the wrongs has come up. What the KSO wants was a consultation with the state government, not a confrontation,” it said.
“It is hard to believe that there was no suitable tribal candidate to fill up the 474 constable posts meant for STs during the 2008 recruitment. And to integrate such a huge backlog of post in subsequent recruitment would be a colossal loss for the tribal community of the state. This is not an issue which can be put aside. All the tribal communities have a stake in this,” the KSO-GHQ said.
The KSO is of the opinion that tribal people are not given their due share in job recruitments in the state. The tribal student organizations have always opposed the practice of the 200 point post-based roster in job recruitment in the state. The 200 point-based roster is very unfavourable to the tribal community taking into consideration the limited number of post vacancies in the state. As such, the 100 point post-based roster that was practice in the past is being advocated by the tribal student bodies, it pointed out.
Reiterating its appeals to the state government, the KSO has said that the police department should substantiate its claim that the 474 constable posts could not be filled up due to non-availability of suitable and eligible ST candidates. It should also clarify whether it has subsequently tried to fill up the 474 constable posts in Manipur Police Department, after 2008.
The Kuki students` body also said it does not want confrontation of any sort with the state administration, but if its pleas remain unheeded it will be forced to initiate a 24-hours general strike w.e.f. 5 a.m of May 21. It has also requested other students’ bodies and civil organizations to support its stand.