Newmai News Network
Imphal | January 11
Asserting that the notification issued by Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) on January 8 pertaining to the recruitment of government college principals is a direct affront to the tribal community of Manipur, the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) said and that the concerned department should “immediately” rollback the recruitment process or “be prepared to face the storm of angst that is building up.”
According to ATSUM, it had enunciated its “serious misgiving” when a notification for the recruitment of the 13 backlog posts for government college principals was issued on November 14, 2018 on the ground that there will be serious attempts to usurp the 7 posts meant for the “hill colleges” and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. The ATSUM further said that the notification had mentioned that out of the 13 posts to be “recruited, 7 seats are to be for the ST, 2 seats for unreserved categories, 3 seats for OBC Meitei and 1 seat for OBC Meitei-pangal. “It should be noted that 11 principal posts had already been recruited by MPSC during the early part of 2018 wherein all selected candidates belong to the Meitei community,” the ATSUM pointed out.
“Our fear has come true as only one ST candidate could make the cut out of the 11 shortlisted candidates eligible to sit in the interview. Now, it can be assumed that the 6 remaining ST posts would be declared unreserved seats and given to those persons who fit the description. This is the crux of ATSUM dissatisfaction,” the apex tribal student body stated.
ATSUM further alleged that rules are framed in such manner that the reserved seats meant for the ST people are beyond their reach. It pledged to continue protecting the tribal people from external elements inimical to their interest when situation was demanded.
ATSUM further expressed displeasure with the “stark disparity” over the distribution of the educational institutions and man-power between the valley and the hill districts of Manipur. It pointed out that there are 28 colleges in the valley districts whereas hill districts are given only seven colleges, with ratio difference of 4:1 in favor of the valley people. Out of the ten hill districts four districts are yet to have college whereas every valley district is endowed with at least four colleges.
“Living together will find little meaning if the valley people do not stop their habit of trying to grab whatever that is deserved for the hill people”. Fraternity will become a reality only when there is equitable distribution of the state's income, wealth, resources, jobs, sobs and largesse, the tribal student body asserted.
“Sanctity of the ST reservation policy should not be diluted under any circumstance,” ATSUM stated and further demanded for a rollback in recruitment of the government college principals. Any attempt to usurp the seven ST seats will invite serious repercussion,” the apex tribal student body warned.
