Imphal, Sept 22 (MNS\/NNN):Five tribal students\u2019 organisations in Manipur have on Saturday announced for a total 48-hour bandh in the five hill districts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul that will begin from midnight of September 23 to show strong reaction against the apathetic attitude of the state Government towards setting up of Teacher\u2019s Eligibility Test (TET) form distribution centres as well as exam centres in all the hill district headquarters.
\nThe Joint Committee of Hill District Students\u2019 Organisation (JCHDSO) of the Zeliangrong Students\u2019 Union, Manipur (ZSUM), Senapati District Students\u2019 Association (SDSA), Churachandpur District Students\u2019 Union (CDSU), Naga Students\u2019 Union of Chandel (NSUC) and Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) are showing nervously tense and angry against the state Government which is yet to meet the demand raised by them pertaining to the TET.
\nThey said they will never in the future accept further assurances from the Government saying the issurance given by the state Education Minister to the five student bodies earlier regarding opening of TET form distribution centres and exam centres in the hill district headquarters has turned out be as \u201cnothingness\u201d because the minister has not yet taken up any step to implement the demand. They also said the Government lacks seriousness, particularly over tribal issues.
\nThe Joint Committee addressed a press conference at the ZSU Manipur branch office, Namdullong near Khuman Lampak here. JCHDSO convenor Disuang Stephen said the state Government has not taken the TET issue seriously and announced that from now onwards, the hill student bodies will never accept further assurances from the Government except fulfilling of demands with immediacy.
\nThe Government is not responding to the demand despite the assurance given to the student bodies in the earlier occasion and also the ultimatum served by the committee over the demand, the tribal student leader lamented.
\nHe said the proposed 48-hour strike may be followed up by a serious of agitations in case the Government fails to initiate the right course of action so as to end the standoff.
\nTKS education secretary Ashung, who was also speaking at the press conference, warned any untoward incidents that may take place during the course of the shutdown in the five hill districts have to own up only by the state Government calling the demand a \u201cserious matter\u201d for the simple reason that they are demanding their rights.
\n\u201cWe are pushing for our rights to the Government. It is nothing if only the state Government works it out,\u201d Ashung asserted.
\nDuring the proposed bandh, barring the media, there will be no any relaxation to any kind of activity, CHDSO informed.
\nIt is worthwhile to note that the Kuki Students Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHqs) had called off its proposed 48-hour Manipur bandh on September 18 following the assurance from the state government to avail the forms of Teacher\u2019s Eligibility Test (TET) in the hill districts within two days\u2019 time.
\nThe state government representatives in a meeting with the student leaders on September 18 had assured the latter that the TET forms would be made available in the hill districts from September 20 onwards.
\nAccording tp Peter Mate, the examiniation of TET would also be held in the hill districts from next year onwards. \u201cThe state government has assured us this in written,\u201d disclosed the KSO chief.
\nEducation minister M Oken, Principal Secretary in charge of Education Suresh Babu and tribal MLAs including Preshow Shimray, Z Kikhonbou Newmai, Alexander Pao, Victor Nunglung, G Varte and Memcha Kipgen and KSO leaders had participated in the September 18 meeting.
\nThe KSO\u2019s 48-hour Manipur bandh was to begin from 5am of last Wednesday in protest against the non-issuing of TET forms in the hill districts.<\/p>\n\n