Exploring Negative Effects of Manipur Violence on Displaced Kuki-Zo Students and the Impact on Education

Education is one of the most important parts of development and is necessary for uplifting society and a country. That is why it is one of the fundamental rights that is bestowed upon every citizen of India by the Indian Constitution. Students play an important role in shaping the status of a country therefore, education is the backbone of any country. It plays a very crucial role in technological development and imparts various skills, values, and awareness.

However, due to the recent conflict that has been going on in Manipur, many students have lost the opportunity to continue their education keeping a gap in their academic year and eventually putting a chokehold in the process of pursuing their dreams. Among the 40 thousand-plus Kuki-Zo people, there are thousands of students that have also been displaced.

Medical students have also not been spared and they have also been suffering the consequences of this ethnic violence that has escalated over the past two months. It has caused great distress and uncertainty to many aspiring students that have no choice but to wait for a solution.

Targeting of schools or students is considered a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law but the recent conflict has created a devastating impact. The state has re-opened schools and colleges resuming classes however, the thousands of displaced students have no choice or alternative. Going back to join classes is a far-fetched dream for them. Although undergraduate medical students were transferred to different districts for the continuation of their classes there are still a large number of displaced Kuki-Zo medical interns who have also kept their professional careers on hold with no means to continue their practice in another institute without a proper NOC certificate given by their parent medical college while their peers have continued their internships back in Manipur with no problem.

This has caused stagnation of continuing training and learning and has become a roadblock for their career as medical practitioners. The only thing they can do is hope that the National Medical Council to come up with a solution to solve the dilemma that is keeping the careers of the medical interns at stake.

Many postgraduate students from Manipur University are also unable to continue their classes which will affect their degrees in the end. Kuki-Zo students in Lamka have protested against the disregard for the education of displaced students by the state government and the state education board and councils.

This is a huge problem because for students’ the academic year is very crucial. The conflict has brought enough trauma and mental stress to the many displaced Kuki-Zo people, it has now given another major setback and obstacle regarding the education and careers of many students.

Education is the most important aspect of a person’s life and it also guarantees the betterment and development of a person as well as a society at large. Therefore, hindering or blocking the path of education and career for thousands of students is outright unfair and must be considered a very important issue that must be tackled as soon as possible. It is only fair for the many aspiring students irrespective of their fields be they graduates, post-graduates, medical interns, engineering students, research scholars, etc. to be given priority and a proper elucidation for their educational and career paths.

Last, but not least, this conflict may have caused emotional trauma, mental and emotional stress. This conflict may have caused us to lose our homes, properties, assets, etc. but it must not take away our education and our academic accomplishments, our careers, and our intellectual capabilities too.

“Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.” – Edward Everett.

(Views expressed are personal)