ATSUM calls 96-hour bandh in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 1 (UNI) The All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) has called a 96-hour bandh in the state from August 11 to 14 to demand adequate faculty for educational institutes.

However, the union exempted essential services and academic institutions from the purview of the bandh.

The ATSUM will also picket government offices in hill areas from Aug 18 to 23 while all education offices will be closed down in hill areas from August 25.

On August 30, a rally will be taken out, ATSUM information and publicity secretary Joseph R Hmar said.

The ATSUM is also demanding more reservation for tribals in Manipur University (MU) on the basis of the tribal population in the state.

However, MU officials clarified that since it is a central University, it has to follow the all-India guideline of providing 7.5 per cent reservation for tribals.

The ATSUM is demanding 34 per cent reservation in the varsity according to the proportion of the tribal population in Manipur.

There is also a shortage of 576 teachers in various schools, the ATSUM said.

Besides, the state government has decided to cancel grants-in-aid to 171 schools out of the total 608 schools, which will seriously affect the education system in tribal areas, it was stated.

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