AAMSU presents grievances of Manipuri community to CM

Special Correspondent

Silchar, July 3: All Assam Manipuri Students’ Union (AAMSU) based at Silchar presented their certain specific demands related to basic issues of their community to Sarbanda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam, during his recent visit to Barak Valley. The issues at stake have taken a myriad shape due to the indifferent attitude of the Gogoi Government, it has been alleged. Despite their high percentage of literacy, job opportunities for them are limited. This has led to rising number of unemployment among the educated youths in particular.

 It has been pointed out that the Manipuri community is categorized as OBC only for the sake of me. Employment for them is a challenging task. Many graduates and post graduates remain jobless. In order to resolve such unemployment problem, the state government should take initiative to resolve it. There is a long standing demand for inclusion of Manipuri language in the APSC examition as an optiol subject which needs to be given serious consideration. It is also most unfortute that most of the sanctioned posts in the Manipuri medium schools are lying vacant.

 AAMSU has stressed for the appointment of qualified teachers against these posts. In the past, it has been seen that in lower primary, upper primary and high school level institutions, appointment of TET teachers have not been fair. Non Manipuri teachers have been appointed in Manipuri medium schools, leading to a communication gap between students and teachers. This kind of gross injustice towards the Manipuri community is most painful which needs to be rectified.

 Another grievance highlighted in the representation relates to the interview for appointment of clerks or other jobs for the Manipuri medium schools which is conducted in Bengali. As a consequence, Manipuri candidates are deprived of jobs since they do not comprehend properly the questions. It is their request to the Chief Minister to see that this does not take place in future. The plight of a good number of Manipuri sports men and athletes who have glorified the country in the tiol and intertiol are are at great socio-economic condition as they have been deprived of employment and other facilities.

 The hub of their cultural activities here known as Assam Manipuri Kala Academy and the only Manipuri Boys’ Hostel are in dire straits due to lack of enough fincial and administrative support from the state government. In order to bring about visible change in the socio-economic condition of the Manipuri community, the existing Manipuri Development Council should be revamped. Besides, in the absence of their any representation in the Assembly or Parliament, their voices cannot be reflected. This also calls for the reorientation of the Council. The representation was signed by P Nilkanta Singha, president, and Santosh Rajkumar, former president, AAMSU.