DIMAPUR — Against the backdrop of the ongoing unrest in Manipur, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has drawn the attention of the state government on the grievances faced by the students at large.
While expressing discontentment against the central and state governments for their failure to end the mayhem in the state, ATSUM in a press release urged the administration, authorities concerned and educational institutions to facilitate one-time exemption of admission fees, transfer of students’ names from one school to other in BOSEM/COHSEM, transfer from state board to central board and vice-versa.
The union maintained that it been passive “on issues ever since this crisis began” to prevent disunity and misunderstanding among different communities.
“However, ATSUM is obligated to raise important concerns affecting the student’s community of the state for prompt redressal during this time of grief and pain that is relentlessly affecting the state,” it stated.
“As the madness of violence and unrest remains unabated in the state for the past 74 days, the students’ community bore the brunt of the situation where thousands had to flee their respective educational institutions in both valley and hills for want of safety,” ATSUM said.
It also pointed out that while students and families are running pillar to post for readmission in educational institutions in safe areas for continuation of their academic courses, the students are facing myriads of difficulties.
The union went on to state that since the onset of the prevailing unrest in the state, the state government ordered closure of internet services in the state to curb the turmoil.
The continuous closure of internet services in the state instead has brought more suffering to the people, especially the students who are denied of access to information and other academic materials, it stated.
“This is tantamount to deprivation of human rights. The students pursuing higher studies in the state and students preparing for competitive exams are left in the lurch as they could not access to information. If this trend of closing internet services in the state is not reviewed promptly, the future of the students appears grim,” the union stated.
Further, ATSUM contended that the decision of the state administration to resort to ‘No work, no pay’ policy has only served to aggravate the wounds of government employees across all communities who had fled their posting place as they feel unsafe due to the prevailing strife.
“Rather than imposing tyranny on its innocent employees, the state administration should give more effort on building confidence and bridging the gap between communities,” the union added.
