JIRIBAM, November 18: Students today locked down the main gate of the Jiribam Government Higher Secondary School around 10:30 am, in continuation of their series of agitation against the government’s inaction in looking into their list of demands.
Jiribam units of four student bodies had resumed their agitation over the government inaction, even after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between them and the related government officials earlier regarding their demands.
Meanwhile, considering the upcoming examination of Class IX and X of the school which was to start from November 21, study leave from October 18 to 20 has been announced.
Speaking to media persons, a student body representative said that the action has been undertaken as part of their agitation which was resumed since November 15 with total blockade of the National Highway 37 and closure of all educational institutes in the sub-division against the government’s failure to translate its own assurance to look into their demands.
He further appealed to the civil society organizations, meira paibi associations, teachers and the general public to support the students’ movement.
The vehicles plying along the NH 37 under security escort should also cease their service considering the plights of the student community, the student bodies’ representative appealed before announcing that the vehicles and the state government should be fully responsible for any untoward incident resulting from the continuation of their services under security escort.
He further warned that the student bodies have the regd numbers of vehicles that has been stealthily ferrying passengers just to earn some profits; and further added that the student bodies are all geared up to take stringent action against all such vehicles.
Meanwhile, the agitation of the student bodies has also paralyzed most educational institutes in the sub-division including both private and government paralyzed. The Zonal Education Office which was working behind locked doors was also closed down today.
On the other hand, the total blockade of the NH 37 has left the local population inhabiting in between Imphal and Jiribam in a quandary. The blockade has especially affected the populations of Makru, Oinamlong, Civilong and Barak areas.
It may be mentioned that the four student bodies- AMSU District Committee Jiribam; Manipur Students Federation Special Branch; Desam local council and the KSA, Jiri unit- had been spearheading a movement seeking the government’s attention to the needs of the schools in the sub-division from the lower level to the higher level.
However, following assurance from the state Education minister himself and the signing of a MoU with government officials and representatives of the student bodies inside the minister’s office on October 25, the student bodies had suspended their agitations.
The government officials had assured to look into the demands by November 12, however, following the government’s failure to translate its own assurance to meet their demands by November 12, the student bodies resumed their total blockade call of National Highway 37 and closure of all education related offices in the sub-division.
