NSF mission to NE states, Delhi

Dimapur | June 10 : The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) is confirmed to be on what was stated to be  a “reaching out” mission to Nagaland’s neighboring North-East states and Delhi  to “let them know of the ground reality.”
It is confirmed that the Naga students  are meeting with Mizoram students’ organizations and even reportedly Meghalaya students’ communities ‘to apprise them’ of the “current impasse.” They have also met the All Assam Students Union (AASU)  in  Guwahati, it was informed.
Nagaland and Manipur state are currently locked in an intricate socio-political situation from a myriad and conflicting turn of events  since May 3 and one that was heightened by the May 6 killings at Mao Gate. On May 6, Manipur police forces gunned down two students and  left scores  in a protest rally, injured, at the Nagaland-Manipur border  outpost.
It is learned that a delegation of the NSF led by its president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu is in Delhi and another, in Mizoram. It was informed that the NSF leaders in Delhi have met with Interlocutor of the Government of India to the Indo-Naga dialogue, RS Pandey. Pandey, also former chief secretary of Nagaland, met with the students’ leaders June 8. Sources said that the ‘one agenda’ that Pandey and the NSF leaders discussed was on matter  related to lifting  the ongoing economic blockade imposed on Manipur state in the aftermath of the May 6 killings. 
No lifting of blockade yet, Pandey told
According to NSF chief Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, Pandey requested that the economic blockade on Manipur  state be lifted. Yhobu interacted with The Morung Express from Delhi  tonight.
However, it is understood that the students’ organization made clear that the blockade on Manipur would stand. The students’ leader said Pandey was explained the turn of events that led to the current imbroglio and the Naga organizations’ refusal to budge.
No further information on the proceedings of the meeting with Pandey was divulged. The NSF chief however, assured to go public on the matter later.  Yhobu said the NSF’s Delhi itinerary was to meet with Indian “political leaders” including  with former Interlocutor to the Indo-Naga political talks, Swaraj Kaushal. The students’ leaders refused to say who the “political leaders” in Delhi they planned to meet with.
Appointments have been made and schedule waited, at the time of filing this news report, it is learned.   Also, the delegation was scheduled to meet with former Interlocutor to the Indo-Naga political talks, Swaraj Kaushal, on June 11, at 11 AM.
“The purpose is to reach out to the Indian leaders and our neighboring states and explain to them the ground reality,’ explained Yhobu. He said that many Indian leaders have still yet to know about the ground situations associated with the Indo-Naga political conflict. ‘Many don’t know the reality,’ said Yhobu without elaborating. He said to inform with details about the ‘reach out mission’ and meetings with Indian leaders.
The NSF leaders confirmed that another delegation of the Naga students is in Mizoram state. Details to the reported meeting could not be made available at this time. It is unknown for the moment if the NSF leaders would be meeting with Assam and Manipur students’ organizations. Sources said the NSF has even been meeting with Meghalaya students leaders, in Shillong. This information was confirmed through reliable sources.

 
 

KSO condemns

Imphal, June 8 : The Kuki Students' Organisation, Sadar Hills has strongly condemned the reported acts of torching Kangchup Junior High School, Veterinary dispensary and attempt to torch SDC office yesterday.

A press release issued by the student body refuted the claim that Kangchup areas are included in Imphal West district as unfounded.

It contended that villagers of these areas have been paying hill house tax to Saitu-Gamphazol SDO.

Saying that the situation can be solved at the local level, the KSO maintained that the issue should not be blown out of proportion.

It also called upon all to promote peace.

The KSO Sadar Hills further condemned the arrest warrant issued by Gauhati High Court against ANSAM president David Choro.

The student also congratulated all successful candidates particularly from Sadar Hills in the HSSLCE and HSLCE 2010 conducted by COHSEM and BSEM.

 
 

Grade hurdle for Assam colleges

Students and their guardians wait to collect the admission forms for HS courses from Handique Girls’ College. File picture

Guwahati, June 8: The state’s leading colleges confront a major hassle in calculating the exact cut-off marks for admission into the higher secondary classes because of the introduction of the grading system by the CBSE.

“While the CBSE has introduced the grading system in Class X examinations from this year, the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) continues the old system of giving marks. Under the grading system it would be impossible to calculate the exact total aggregate marks or percentage of candidates who have applied for admission in the science and arts streams of HS classes in my college,” the principal of Cotton College, Indra Kumar Bhattacharyya, told this correspondent.
Under the new system of the CBSE, students were awarded grades, ranging from A1 (91-100), A2 (81-90), B1 (71-80), B2 (61-70), C1 (51-60), C2 (41-50), D (33-40), E1 (21-32) and E2 (20 and below).
The grades have equivalent points, which start from 10 for A1 to 4 for D.
As the exact marks will not be revealed by the CBSE, the colleges will have to multiply total points or cumulative grade point average (CGPA) secured by students who had applied for admission, by 9.5 to get the average marks/percentage represented by the grades.
Thus, A1 will be equal to 95, A2 — 85.5, B1 — 76, B2 — 66.5, C1 — 57, C2 — 47.5 and D will be equal to 38 average marks.
Many senior teachers of B. Borooah College and Handique Girls’ College were of the opinion the formula held out by the CBSE to convert grades into marks and percentage was only an approximation and not exact.
“For example, all candidates with A1 might not have secured exactly 95 per cent. The percentage will vary between 91 and 100. But if colleges follow the rule set by the CBSE, the former would have to keep the percentage of all A1 admission-seekers at 95, while percentage of marks of candidates under SEBA will be accurate and exact. Under such circumstances colleges are in a fix as to whether they would fix the cut-off marks for admission on the basis of the percentage-calculating formula of the CBSE or SEBA,” a senior teacher at B. Borooah College said.
Principal of B. Borooah College Dinesh Baishya said the Assam College Principals’ Council held a meeting on Saturday evening to discuss the issue and many members were apprehensive that there might be confusion during admission. He, however, said the principals would use their discretionary powers to do away with the confusion at the time of admission.
SEBA secretary Dhanadev Mahanta said at a time there is a mad rush among students to get themselves enrolled in the institutions, the grade system would create confusion and might deprive many brilliant students who passed the Class X exam under SEBA, seats in leading colleges.
Sanjib Das, the assistant secretary and regional officer in charge of the CBSE (Guwahati region) said the colleges would have to go with the approximate marks of the CBSE candidates.

 
 

MUTSU peeved

Imphal, June 6 : The Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) has expressed serious annoyance over the failure of Manipur University authority to distribute the Dr TS Gangte Memorial Gold Medal Award in Social and Cultural Anthropology (Department of Anthropology) while other awards were distributed today on the occasion of MU's 30th foundation day.

In a press release, MUTSU asked the MU authority as to why it ignored the award instituted since 2007 .

"Who has taken the money which has been deposited since December 2007", it questioned.

Saying that this year's award is supposed to be conferred to Laishram Sumati of Anthropology, the MUTSU wondered if this was the way MU authorities encourage students.

When contacted to explain the reason for not conferring the particular award this year, the authorities reportedly replied that 'it is because of the long name of Dr Thangkhomang Selpo Gangte (Dr TS Gangte)', the student body conveyed while asserting that it has never come across such a silly excuse.

Saying that it is observing and waiting responses and solutions from all organisations, civil societies and also from MU authorities, MUTSU iterated that it would not hesitate to apprise the Union Minister of the nefarious environment of the university, if necessary.