IMPHAL, Sept 24 NNN : Irked by the non-compliance of the state government of Manipur towards its demands, the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has decided to resume its suspended agitation under the code name ROTO (Reckoning of Others) after October 12.
\nIn its marathon meeting today at its office here participated by ATSUM executive council, its members of assembly affairs and the students\u2019 body advisory members, the tribal students\u2019 body said on October 12 it will hold its first assembly sitting and obtain endorsements from its units officially to resume the suspended agitation.
\n\u201cToday\u2019s meeting was held at the backdrop of all the happenings including the pandemonium over border fencing issue, rampant killings, the demand to include the Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list etc., etc.,\u201d said ATSUM leaders. \u201cWe have discussed these issues too in our today\u2019s meeting,\u201d added the ATSUM leaders.
\nHowever, the proposed agitation of the tribal students\u2019 body will be on the issues of the setting up of setting up of a separate commission for the Scheduled Tribe in Manipur which was demanded by the tribal students\u2019 body and assured by the state government; securing the proper functioning of Hill Area Committee (HAC) under Article 371(C); healthcare and education.
\n\u201cThis time our agitation will be strong enough to spilt over to New Delhi and elsewhere in the country,\u201d warned the ATSUM leaders, adding, \u201cIt is going to be the peoples\u2019 movement.\u201d
\nAccording to the tribal student leaders, Article 371 (C) exists but it has not been implemented in letter and spirit in the five hill districts of Manipur. \u201cIt has been systematically suppressed by the state through bureaucratic manipulations,\u201d alleged the ATSUM leaders.
\nCiting an example, the ATSUM leaders said that the Village Authority Act under the Hill areas\u2019 Autinomous District Council (ADC) Act of 1971, has not been in use.\u201cIn modern society we need to have rule of law and for that we have been steadfastly demanding administrative autonomy,\u201d they said.
\nATSUM demands the setting up of a separate state Commission for the Scheduled Tribe in Manipur. It also demands that the reservation policy is strictly maintained.
\n\u201cIt will be in the best interest of all that the issues be raised by ATSUM, are addressed sonner than later. It is the universal desire,\u201d the tribal student leaders added.<\/p>\n\n