Imphal, Feb 1 : The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has decried the sudden change of academic calendar of Manipur.
A press release issued by the student body said that for many years student organisations worked hard to maintain academic calendar in the State which has been witnessing bandhs and strikes quite frequently.
It was only in the past 4/5 years that the Education Department and educational institutions of Manipur could maintain some sort of academic calendar.
Asserting that following the new academic calendar would jeopardise of career of many students who wish of pursuing higher studies outside the State, ATSUM appealed to the State Government and Education Department to ponder again on the decision to change the academic calendar in sync with the national calendar.
The academic session/calendar should be ahead of the national calendar/session and those of other states.
It further exhorted all educational institutions in the hill districts to start their session immediately as usual and not wait for announcement of the new academic calendar.
Imphal, October 31 : An emergency federal assembly of the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), which was held today at its office located at Old Lambulane, endorsed the recommendations of the Public Meeting convened by the students' body on October 24 on the indefinite closure of educational institutions in some valley districts of the state.
Sharing the pains and sorrows of all bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones caused by state and non-state actors especially those of July 23 at BT Road, the federal assembly of ATSUM appealed both the government and the agitating students' bodies (AMSU, MSF and KSA) to lift the 'ban' imposed on all educational institutions, including institutions under CBSE/ICSSE by October 2009, according to a statement issued by the assembly secretary of ATSUM, Ningthou Kamei and its speaker Tonghen Kipgen.
"We justified the agitations launched under the banner of Apunba Lup in protest against the July 23 incident of BT Road.
However, the indefinite closure of all educational institutions in some valley districts as a part of the agitation is uncalled for and is taking the issue beyond the limit," the ATSUM statement noted.
Appealing for allowing private schools to collect their normal school fees so that ttheir teachers continue to get their meager salaries, the ATSUM demanded that the government to treat the ongoing impasse as 'calamity' and compensate the private school teachers if their appeal is not heeded.
"If these two terms are not accepted, ATSUM will use all its might and resources to make a 'token' payment to these teachers even if it is just Rs 1 for a teacher," it asserted.
The TASUM also requested that exams conducted by BSEM, COHSEM and MU be held on normal scheduled.
In case normal classes were not resumed by November, ATSUM will organise 'residential coaching class' at selected centres across the state especially for HSLC and Class XII candidates.
All interested students - tribal and non-tribal - will be welcome for the coaching classes, it added.
The ATSUM also requested the state government to intervene so that any student who is desirous of shifting their institutions within one Board can do it freely.
It further added that ATSUM will be compelled to think of 'alternative options' if the present impasse continues beyond the limit.
IMPHAL, Oct 25 : The All Tribal students` Union Manipur, ATSUM in a public meeting held today at the auditorium of the Tribal Research Institute, Adimjati, in connection with the closure of educational institutes, adopted many resolutions after a detailed discussion.
Spokepersons from different organizations and individuals, including KSO, UNC, CNPO, ZSUM, Zelianrong Baudi, Poumei Union, Kuki Inpi Manipur bodies, ex-MP Holkhomang Haokip, Samuel Jendai, gave their views and opinions.
After the discussions, recommendations were adopted by the organizing committee of the ATSUM for further discussion in their federal assembly to chalk out further stands.
In the recommendations the dignitaries, parents and guardians agreed to share the pain and sorrow of the victims of July 23, as a mark of solidarity and also resolved that such discussion was being organized by ATSUM irrespective of community affiliations solely for the benefit of the future generation.
The gathering also agreed to endorse the agitation against fake encounters in the state including the July 23 incident but opposed the boycotting of educational institutions saying this was to much, considering the general loss.
The meet however agreed to ban or boycott government offices and other programme in the state.
It also resolved to appeal to both the state Government and Apunba Lup for bringing an amicable solution before October 30, failing which the students bodies would pressurise the government for conducting compulsory classes for Class X and XII examination as per government schedule.
Recommendations also underscored the necessity for private schools to pay salaries to the private teachers and for parents and guardians to pay fees including to coaching centers and school van services.
It also adopted to appeal the state government to treat the current impasse as natural calamity and rightly compensate the helpless teachers.
It was also agreed that if a negative outcome arises despite the points adopted today the ATSUM would in an effort to save the academic atmosphere starts a free residential coaching programme especially for the Class X and XII for minimum of two months with contribution form the general public and also noted about the apprehension of the centrally sponsored school examinations probably be effected by the boycott stand of the three students` bodies.
While sharing their opinions during the open discussion David Adani, president of the ANSAM urged for a joint fight together in connection with the July 23 incident however he expressed that it was not right to give hindrances to education.
According to L.C Santosh, president of the DESAM, if the present agitation of class boycott continues the loss may be irreversable adding that the DESAM has been contributing its mite to ensure right to education and making education a free zone.
He requested the concerned organizations to repeal the boycott stance and instead adopt other means.
While delivering his key note address during the meet, Thomas Taishya, president of the ATSUM, revealed that the union is deeply pained and distressed by the BT Road incident and asserted they condemn the incident terming it as barbarous act of the state police leadinh to loss of precious human lives.
While stating that the ATSUM shares all the pain and loss of the victim families inflicted by both state and non-state actor, it asserted the agitation launched to protest the July 23 incident under the banner of Apunba Lup and the two JAC formed in connection with the said incident was justifiable in all respect.
He further held that the accusation hurled at the state police, commandos and IRB personnel by individuals and civil society seems to hold water as with even the media have come out with it openly and to the point of boycotting the state government and it is also the responsibility of the government to find a ways and means to resolve the impasse to restore normal life functioning of education in the state.
Churachandpur, August 19 : All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has urged the Education Minister to declare the conduct of counseling to BE/B Tech/B Arch/B Pharm, etc which was conducted yesterday as null and void.
A representation submitted to the Education Minister by the Education secretary of ATSUM, Kakam Haokip pointed out the unreasonable manner in the allocation of Institution for the tribal.
The ATSUM memorandum contrast the norms followed by the education department and the medical department.
It pointed out that two out of five seats allotted for Manipur in Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi are reserved for the STs while the same has not been followed in BE/B Tech/B Arch/B Pharm courses.
The ATSUM representation urged the concerned authority to come out with government order and notification on the same in due course of time.
Imphal, August 8 : Following a congenial discussion of the various issues it raised, the ATSUM has suspended the ongoing economic blockade from today.
Three advisors of ATSUM along with presidents of CDSU and ZSUM met the Chief Minister, Tribal Development Minister and RD and PR Minister at the CM's chamber at 3 pm today.
According to a press release issued by ATSUM, the meeting agreed that temporary building for running the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University and arrangement of necessary infrastructure and formal inauguration would be done before September 15 this year.
It was agreed that the Education Minister and the TD Minister would lead a joint team of Government and tribal student leaders to meet the HRD Minister at New Delhi on August 12 and apprise him of the plights of tribal students in Manipur University.
The Chief Minister assured that rules for the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Services (for SC a& ST) Act 2007 would be passed in the next Cabinet meeting.
The State Government also agreed to intervene on the issue raised by ATSUM with regard to the recruitment conducted by the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat and see that reservation norms are followed properly.
Regarding recruitment under MSRRDA, the RD and PR Commissioner said that the present recruitment was done to formally approve those employees who were already working in different districts on contract basis and not for fresh candidates.
On diversion of funds meant for hill areas in Health Department, the Commissioner claimed that 'there was no diversion of funds meant for construction of health centres and institutions in the hill districts'.
Conveying gratitude to all those who stood by ATSUM during the course of its agitation, ATSUM intimated all those individuals and parties who need to settle certain matters to approach its office within seven days.
Imphal, July 20: The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) today said that the State Government, politicians, bureaucrats, civil society organisations, NGOs and individuals, who are requesting the student body to reconsider their ongoing agitation, must convince them why the Government is taking so long in preparing the rules for the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for SC and ST) Act 2007 .
No concrete step has been shown from the side of the State Government in this regard after the Bill was introduced and passed in the State Legislative Assembly on May 19, 2007, a press release of the students body alleged.
Maintaining that 50 percent of the total seats are reserved for SCs/STs in NEHU, Mizoram University and Nagaland University with the wholehearted support from the respective State Governments and University authorities, ATSUM questioned why such reservations are not possible in Manipur University.
It further said that 80 percent of its total open seats are reserved for tribals of the State in Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal Pradesh.
Ukhrul, May 20 : Taking stong exception to the 'indecent attitude' of the ITI officers and the authority concerned over keeping the important institution of the hills in completejeopardy, the fact finding team of ATSUM has today taken first hand report of the ITI centre at Ukhrul.
The ATSUM team lead by its executive secretary CH.
Shangreipam was also accompanied by president TKS and KHL executive members during the inspection and interacted with the superintendent, instructor and the students union members of ITI Ukhrul centre.
In the presence of the visting team and the supervisor instructor, the members of trainees union were made to open the store room.
It came to light that although four sets of computer s are to be installed only three have been provided.
Besides, the computer sets which are 21inches on the cartoon box are found be only only 17 inches and all the CPUs assembled ones only.
Terming the visit of the joint director and his team on 15th May last was nothing but eyewash, ATSUM has alleged that it was just delaying tactics.
Imphal, May 12 : FEDERAL ASSEMBLY of the All Tribals Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) held today at its office at Old Lambulane approved office functionaries and conduct of education survey covering the entire hill districts of the state among others.
Other matters endorsed in the Assembly included endorsement of ATSUM executive's statement on the matter involving the recruitment of 33 senior residents (MBBS/Doctors) in JNIMS, Imphal, to give more and consistent pressure to the state government for the introduction of the reservation rules in the next session of the state Assembly, opposition to the scheduled Class VIII examination for all school in the five hill district of Manipur.
With the regard to the matter of recruitment of 33 senior residents (MBBS/Docotrs) in JNIMS, the statement of the ATSUM stated "All federating and constituent units representing the entire hill districts and tribal peoples of the state pledge to support whatever decision taken by ATSUM after the expiry of deadline of May 16, 2009 for the government to review its order".
The assembly also approved appointment of Ch Apam as secretary (finance), HL Leklei as secretary (Arts and Culture), ginlalian as secretary (Rights and Reservation), Emboi Serto as deputy speaker, Joseph R Hmar as official spokesperson.