The Coordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand, comprising as many as 15 bodies, on Wednesday began its awareness campaign and protests demanding not to create any form of disturbances at the educational institutions.
The committee along with students and teachers of St Joseph Higher Secondary School, Sangaiprou; Sagolmang Higher Secondary School, Sagolmang and Success School, Salanthong demonstrated protests and formed human chains, chanting slogans and demanding for a conducive and academic atmosphere in all schools and colleges.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, secretary general of Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) M Somorjit said that the committee has been spearheading protests against disturbances created in educational zones since 2008.
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He said that disturbances such as monetary demands, seeking unwarranted admission quota followed by boycott and threats by planting bombs on failure to fulfil their demands have been stumbling blocks in the educational atmosphere in the state. Besides, such instances have been causing unrest, fear and panic among the students and school authorities, he added.
He asserted that educational institutions are exempted from being attacked even during wartime, and remarked that it is extremely unfortunate that outfits are resorting to boycotting of catholic schools and planting of bombs.
He appealed to all concerned not to transform educational institutions into battlefields and to exempt the education sector from various prohibitions.
The DESAM secretary general further pointed out that even the lack of basic infrastructures, paucity of teachers and frequent transfer of teachers from schools cause mental disturbances directly or indirectly to the students.
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Besides, poor road connectivity and lack of basic amenities especially in the hill and remote areas also cause disturbances, he further said, and drew attention of the government to solve such issues at the earliest.
Somorjit maintained that the committee welcomed the government’s assurance to initiate rationalisation of government schools across the state and appealed to translate the same into action without further delay.
He also sought support and cooperation from all sections of the people towards the movement for achieving disturbance-free educational zones.
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