IMPHAL, February 9: The Manipur University Tribal Students’ Union (MUTSU) on Tuesday staged sit in protest inside the university campus demanding “immediate removal” of Manipur University Vice-Chancellor Prof HNK Sharma and to restore transparency in the administration and bring justice to all in the university.
If the responsible authorities fail to translate its demands, MUTSU will be compelled to launch various agitations, said MUTSU president Bosco Jaiche Kharam.
Speaking to media persons in the sideline of the protest, Kharam alleged that the Vice Chancellor has committed “gross discriminations” against the tribals.
The Tribal Students Union has been demanding the opening of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Hostel (Boys) which was supposed to be opened from the academic session 2015-2016, he said.
However, despite repeated requests, it is yet to be opened, he claimed, and further urged the concerned authorities to open the hostel immediately.
He further demanded the concerned authorities to properly follow reservation norms and fair conduct in granting admission for Ph.D programmes.
The MUTSU has also demanded revoking an earlier order dated January 28 of the Manipur University Office regarding the assigning of duties of the Coordinator and Research Associate of the Centre for Human Rights and Duties Education.
According to the order, he said Coordinator Dr Gaikhamsin Riamei has been assign the duties to promote regular conduct of classes, working on the course work of the six months/ one year PG courses on human rights and duties education; to assign dissertation/ project work to the six months/one year PG students in consultation with all other teachers and to monitor progress of the courses as well as the attendance of the students and other duties as desired by the centre in consultation with the other teachers, while, Research Associate Dr M Sureshkumar Singh has been assigned the duties to coordinate in preparation of project proposal, to conduct workshop/seminar and to apply for funding to various agencies and to coordinate the field work/extension activities.
Meanwhile, the students of Centre of Human Rights and Duties Education, Manipur University continue class boycotting indefinitely from January 28 demanding to revoke the said order.