ATSUM to go on indefinite strike from Aug 12

Imphal, Aug 7: The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has announced that it will go ahead with the indefinite agitation from August 12 if their demands are not fulfilled.

Assistant general secretary of the ATSUM Apao Haokip here said the agitation will be launched as the government had allegedly failed to protect the rights of the SCs and STs.

Earlier, the ATSUM had called several economic blockades on the National Highways in Manipur to meet the same demands.

Mr Haokip alleged that the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) had not complied with the rules and procedures with regard to reservation for SCs and STs in the recently held recruitment for state civil services and other allied services. He also alleged that the reservation policy was not strictly followed in the promotion procedure of the state home department.

''The same problem plagues Manipur University where proper provision for reservation has not been made,'' he said.

''The government is concerned only in developing the capital, ignoring the remaining districts. We had demanded that the National Institute of Technology be constructed at the hill areas, which was not heeded,'' the general secretary added.

UNI