IMPHAL, September 29: A 24 hour general strike has been called from 6 pm of September 30 by the schedule caste students in and around SC populated areas. The strike has been called against the failure of the State government to issue scholarship money to the SC students for the last three years.
A sit-in protest was organised today in this regard at IbudhouNao-Hallao temple area of Kakching Bazar. Students, meira paibees and women vendors of Kakching Bazar took part in the protest.
Later a committee was formed to further their demand and to launch various movements with Sana Devi as president, while general secretary of Kha Manipur College, M Pravinkumar as co-convener.
Pravinkumar, speaking to the media said that the government of Manipur has not issued scholarship money for the last three years. He continued that the total amount of the pending scholarship money would be around Rs. 10 crores.
He further said that repeated appeals had been made to the Chief Minister and deputy CM, but there has been no response till today, adding that the government has been discriminatory towards SC students.
The strike has been called because of the government`™s failure to listen to the rightful demand of the SC students, he added. Religious ceremonies, essential services including water supply, electricity and health, along with media will be, however, exempted from the strike.