Newmai News Network
Imphal | September 30
The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has demanded “immediate” halt of the ongoing recruitment process of posts under Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Manipur.
“In continuation of the ATSUM's representation submitted to the Minister, Tribal Affairs and Hills, Government of Manipur dated July 10, 2020 demanding for consideration of mother tongue/local language as an essential criteria for recruitment of primary teachers in all Autonomous District Councils of Manipur, and as recommended by the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) for deferring the recruitment process till the 6 Autonomous District Council elections are held and constituted vide Resolution No. 43/2021- (HAC) dated 21st September 2021, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) demands for immediate halt of the ongoing direct recruitment process of 750 posts including 506 posts of primary Teachers in 6 (Six) Autonomous District Councils,” the apex tribal student body of Manipur said.
According to ATSUM, in consonance with the provisions of the Right to Education Act 2009, the National Curriculum Framework 2005 of NCERT, the New Education Policy 2020 and Article 350A of Indian Constitution which envisaged for facilitating Mother Tongue/Local Language of children as medium of instruction in primary schools, the tribal student body had submitted representation to the Minister of Tribal Affairs and Hills, Government of Manipur on July 10, 2020 demanding for consideration of Mother Tongue/Local Language as essential criteria for recruitment of primary teachers in all Autonomous District Councils of Manipur. “However, the representation of the ATSUM to adhere to constitutional provision was deliberately sidelined by the Secretariat: Hills Department, Government of Manipur,” the ATSUM alleged.
It then said that the state government’s decision to conduct recruitment in the absence of a popular elected body “shows the desperate attempt of the state government to degrade the Autonomous District Councils”. The ATSUM added, “Therefore, the state government should immediately halt the ongoing recruitment process of 750 posts in the 6 Autonomous District Councils until and unless the ADC election is held, and knowledge of the local language/dialect of children is included as an essential criteria for recruitment of the primary teachers”.
