NNN
IMPHAL, February 24
The education sector in Manipur is in crisis – functioning in two universities and colleges were paralyzed after teachers and students went on strikes pressing concern authorities to fulfill their demands.
Classes in government colleges remained suspended since February 18 last after teachers went on a cease-work strike of government colleges under the All Manipur College Teachers Association (AMCTA).Students of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University today staged a rally as a part of their ongoing agitation pressing the state government to translate into action the assurances it has kept to the students
Students of Manipur University too rose up today and demonstrated inside the varsity campus against inadequate infrastructures.
At the same time, striking students of three colleges of DM College Imphal today torched an effigy of the state education minister at the college campus after the state government failed to fulfill their demands.
Teachers of the colleges under the banner of the AMCTA launched the cease-work strike after the state government failed to their demands which include among others government cancellation of appointment orders of principals appointed and issue of a fresh notification for appointment of regular principals of all government colleges.
With the strike entered its sixth day today, Coordination Committee of Colleges Student Union Manipur (COCOCSUM) today highlighted their plights while drawing the attention of the government to bring the striking teachers to the negotiating table.
If failed the student body will launch a series of agitations. Michael Abujam, the convener of the apex body of various student bodies of the state threatened in a press conference held today at DESAM office, Imphal.
He set a three-day deadline to the state government to resolve of the AMCTA. “If the government fails to do so,” we will surrender our books to the government,” he added.
A decision in this regard was passed in a meeting convened by COCOCSUM today in which representatives of all the 25 colleges in valley region attended, he informed.
Amidst the unrest situation prevailing in the colleges, students of three colleges, DM College of Science, DM College of Arts and DM College of Commerce today burnt down the effigy of state education minister M Okendro as part of intensification of its ongoing protest.
The students of these colleges were closing all the entrance gates to the college campus while boycotting their classes since yesterday pressing the authority of the state government to repair the roads within the college campus which were in deplorable condition.
They poured their angers to the education minister alleging that hehad, on Feb 16, assured to to look into the matter. However, no action was initiated, they alleged.
On the other hand, students of Manipur University rose up and demonstrated against varsity authorities reiterating their demands which include among others completion of improvement works of the approach roads of the varsity campus.
Students of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU) alsocarried out a protest rally reiterating their demands for completion of infrastructure development being undertaken by the state government at its permanent campus at Makhan village of Senapati district.
The rally that was marched towards the state Legislative Assembly complex was a part of their ongoing agitation protesting to address their demands, said a representative of student union of varsity.
