IMPHAL, June 2 (NNN): Inspite of the strong opposition from Kuki Students` Organisation (KSO) and those with the `Interim Body` of ATSUM, the other factions of the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) sponsored “Intense agitation` for 38 hours under the code name ROTO (Reckoning of the Others) is all set to begin from 5 am of Monday.
By `intense agitation for 38 hours` ATSUM means total bandh in tribal dominated areas.
Talking to some reporters this evening, ATSUM leaders said their volunteers are now stationed in all the tribal dominated areas of Manipur to enforce the total bandh.
However, media, medical services, power/electricity service, water supply and security forces will be exempted from the purview of the bandh, according to ATSUM.
After the “38 hours intense agitation”, it will be followed immediately by “38 days sustained agitation”.
By “sustained agitation” ATSUM here means no more imposition of bandh but by way of sudden resorting of any action at any available opportunity and at any place to draw the attention of the government, especially against the government properties.
The number “38 hours” or “38 days” denotes the number of tribes in Manipur.
ATSUM reiterated today that there has been ATSUM`s 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 the tribal people in this eastern most part of the Indian Union.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes which came in to force on February 19, 2004 has failed to provide adequate service to the state of Manipur as it is based on the distant centre in Shillong, they stated.