Roads deserted, businesses shut, transportation halted as ATSUM’s 12 hours bandh in Manipur hill districts begin

As the 12 hours bandh called by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the hill districts of Manipur began at 6 AM this morning, the hill districts such as–Senapati, Churachandpur wore a deserted look with empty streets, business establishments shut and no vehicles on the streets. The bandh will continue till 6 PM today.

The bandh that began at 6 AM has been peaceful with no untoward incidents reported so far.

ATSUM went ahead with its bandh call even as RIMS authorities requested them to put the bandh call on hold stating that the Union Health Ministry is considering the matter and they would soon hear from the Centre.

ATSUM has called for the bandh to protest the failure of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) to implement the reservation policy in jobs.

While the bandh call received support from several tribal and student organizations such as– All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Student’s Organisation (KSO), and Senapati District Student’s Association (SDSA), as many as six student bodies–All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK), and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) have opposed the bandh.

ATSUM called for the 12-hour shutdown today demanding:

*Befitting action against the “erring” RIMS authority
*Implementation of Memorandum of Agreement signed between the RIMS, ATSUM and the State government on April 3.

The tripartite agreement was signed between ATSUM, RIMS and Manipur state government on April 3, 2023, pertaining to:
(i) Cancelation of the RIMS notice dated 03-03-2023 for declaration of results for appointment to posts of LDC
(ii) Fresh declaration of LDC appointment results with reservation as SC(3%), ST(34%) and OBC 13%) within one week time and
(iii) to follow existing rules and DoPT guidelines in matters of all recruitment to Group C and Group D posts.

ATSUM believes that the RIMS authorities have failed to turn the agreed terms of the tripartite agreement into reality.

Meanwhile, RIMS Director H. Priyosakhi on Sunday evening appealed to ATSUM to put on hold its proposed bandh call as it is just a matter of time, the medical institute will hear from the Union Health Ministry regarding the cancellation of the LDC (Lower Division Clerks) recruitment results and declaring fresh results adhering to the reservation norms of SCs, STs and OBCs.

Director H. Priyosakhi said that the ministry has replied to RIMS saying that they are discussing the issue and a final instruction on the matter will be given in the coming days.

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