Tribal students associations demand 31 per cent reservation in MU admission

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 25

Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU) and All Tribal Student Union, Manipur (ATSUM) urged the authority concerned to review the Manipur University entrance examination, 2017 and adopt the 31 per cent reservation as per the High Court order and UGC clarification.

Speaking to media persons today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, MUTSU, president, Duigaipao said that the tribal students are shocked to learn that the authority of MU did not follow the 31 per cent reservation norm for tribal students in the result of MU entrance examination which was declared on August 23.

The High Court of Manipur had directed the university to follow the reservation norm of 31 per cent for scheduled tribes on August 21, 2017 and moreover the University Grants Commission had also given a clarification advising adoption of the 31 per cent reservation, he added.

He charged that the authority of MU is misleading the tribal students’ community by trying to divert reserved seats of tribal students in the interest of the general students.

“Where is the meaning of the slogan “people of hills and valley are one” if the tribal students are not given their rightful reservation,” asked the president.  

ATSUM general secretary Seiboi Haokip endorsed this point of view, adding that the same issue come up every year but is never resolved, demonstrating that the authority of MU has never cared about tribal students.

He asked, “What is the agenda behind for increasing the percentage of reservation for other categories and decreasing the percentage of reservation for the tribal students.”

The students associations warned that if the authority of MU failed to give the 31 per cent reservation for the tribal students, the authority has to face the consequences.