Students withdraw proposed economic blockade

Newmai News Network Imphal | October 8   The tribal student bodies have withdrawn the proposed economic blockade along the national highways following an understanding reached with the State Government of Manipur this afternoon.   In another development, a committee has been formed by the State Government to “look into all pending demands” of the All Tribal Student Union, Manipur (ATSUM), the Kuki Student Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM).   It can be mentioned here that "charter of demands" on various issues was submitted to the State Government by the ATSUM, the KSO-GHQ and the ANSAM last year.   According to the order of the State Government, MH Khan, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, will head the 5-member committee that will look into the demands of the hill based student bodies. The other four members of the committee are Rakesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary (Government of Manipur), Vumlunmang Vualnam, Principal Secretary (Government of Manipur), H Deleep Singh, Commissioner (Government of Manipur) and Athem Muivah, Secretary (Government of Manipur).   The order also states that the committee “will examine the feasibility of implementation of charter of demands raised by above organisations and submit a report within one month's time after due consultation with concerned departments".   The leaders of the hill based student bodies, during the dialogue this afternoon said that the State Government had requested them not to go ahead with the proposed economic blockade saying the “government is trying its best to resolve the Manipur University impasse”. The tribal student leaders said the State Government requested them to give another “small time period” more to address the issue. The hill based student leaders further said that the State Government told them that the latter was seriously noting the issues raised by the former.