KANGPOKPI, February 3: The All Tribal Students` Union Manipur (ATSUM) led by its president Emboi Serto today kicked off a poster campaign at Senapati and Sadar Hills in connection with its proposed indefinite economic blockade in tribal-settled areas of Manipur beginning February 16.
The tribal student body also conducted an interaction program with various civil society organizations on the same issue.
Mentioned may be made that the apex body of all tribal students of the state ATSUM had recently declared an indefinite economic blockade in all tribal settled areas of the state if its long pending demands are not met at the earliest after the student body held a sit-in protest in front of MBC Church, Chingmeirong on Saturday.
The tribal student body led by its president Emboi Serto today begins its poster campaign and interaction with CSOs of Senapati and Sadar Hills and declared its position as well.
At Senapati, various tribal civil body leaders show their concerned over the student body’s efforts and struggles for the cause of tribal people in the state and declared to announced sooner or later their supports and endorsement of ATSUM`s proposed agitation.
In the meantime, the student body received same responses at Kangpokpi from several civil bodies including Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills who assured to render its fullest cooperation while terming the student body’s demands “genuine as well as reasonable” in the interest of all tribal community in the state.
While declaring the position statement of the student body Emboi Serto asserted that ATSUM has been trying our best to convince the government to look in the affairs of the tribal communities on various issues and waited patiently for the Government to act and fulfilled its promises but rather the government has taken us for granted and has neglected our proposals for too long.
With regards to their demands the position statement issued by publicity wing of the student body said that ATSUM is seriously concern over the Government adamant denial of not making the Rules for Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post & Services (for SC & ST) Amendment Act 2007 while mentioning that PK Singh, commissioner DP and secretary to CM, in 2009 had promised the student body that rules will be pass in the next assembly but after several sessions, the government is yet to present the same for the assembly to discuss and pass the bill.