IMPHAL, June 25: Adhering to its earlier decision not to entertain any room to give in to the ‘Alternative Arrangement’ demand of the United Naga Council, UNC, Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh, has stated that there is no question on the issue as the government has already expressed its decision on it and the government still holds firm with its previous decision.
The Chief Minister was responding to queries from media persons regarding whether the UNC has submitted its agenda since the government has declared to participate in the talk after it had previously ruled out any forms of talks with the UNC until it submits its agenda of the talk, during a press conference held today at the conference hall of his official bungalow.
In his response he clarified that the state government is informed that the agenda of the UNC talk has been submitted to the Government of India in the form of a memorandum.
He asserted that as a democratic approach the UNC are making its demand to the Government of India but the Manipur government will not accept with the ‘Alternative Arrangement’ demand and asserted that questioned does not arises on the issue for they had made its stand clear to the public.
Further during the conference, the Chief Minister in connection with that selection of candidates for Graduate Teachers of the Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), maintained that the Government is targeting to complete the recruitment process by July.
He pointed out that altogether 536 graduate post will be selected for which 1917 are eligible for the interview and has been published in the local dailies. In order to maintain complete transparency the full criteria on the selection process will soon be published in the local dailies, he said and asserted that selection basic will purely be merit base.
Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh further briefed that only B.ed candidates will be eligible for the regular post and all candidates will be assed by their past performances in their matriculation, 12 standard, graduation and B.Ed exams, while only five marks will be given to viva voice which will help in avoiding manipulation during the selection process.
He further informed that after the viva voce of the shortlisted candidates, a teacher eligibility test will be conducted as the final recruitment test.
He further added that as per the wish of the Human Resource Development ministry as regard to some technical feasibility, the recruited teachers will be on regular basis.
Education Minister DD. Thaisii, who was also present during the press conference, responding to queries in connection with the failure of some private schools to comply with the Right to Compulsory Education in the state, informed that the department is in the monitoring stage and assured visible action very soon.
In the meantime, in an attempt to placate the aggrieved residents of Kabo Leikai who are on the radar of the government’s eviction plan for the proposed 5 star hotel, the Chief Minister conceded that the situation of Kabo Leikai residents are somewhat different from eviction at other locations as it involves displacement of many homes. However he conveyed that the government is in serious consideration to reallocate the affected and looking for an alternative site for the relocation.
While pertaining to the matter of intervention of a cabinet minister during the assessment of properties of the Kabo Leikai area recently, the Chief Minister clarified that the minister as an elected representative of the constituency could have been showing his obligation to his people.
The press conference was also attended by tourism and IPR ministerTN Haokip, law minister Th Debendro, works minister K Ranjit and IFCD minister N Biren.
