KSO Churachandpur Condemns Discrimination in Assistant Professor Recruitment at CMC

The Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO) Churachandpur has issued a strong condemnation of the recent Assistant Professor recruitment results at Churachandpur Medical College (CMC), citing systemic discrimination against qualified candidates from the Kuki-Zo community. The organization argues that the recruitment process has failed to acknowledge the challenges faced by medical practitioners displaced from Imphal and has resulted in the marginalization of Kuki-Zo candidates.

According to the KSO, the selection process revealed a clear bias favoring the Meitei community, with many Kuki-Zo candidates allegedly more qualified than those chosen. The KSO highlighted that only one Kuki candidate was selected, for the Dermatology position, where there were no competitors. They expressed concern that the Meitei candidates selected are unlikely to physically teach at CMC, compromising the integrity of medical education, as it cannot be delivered virtually.

The KSO criticized the lack of representation on the recruitment board, which did not include any tribal members, and pointed out that CMC’s Director, Dr. Iboyaima Singh, was absent from the process. They also condemned the decision to conduct online interviews for Kuki-Zo candidates, while others had the opportunity for in-person interviews in Imphal, labeling this disparity as pure discrimination.

Statistics from the KSO reveal a troubling trend across Manipur’s medical colleges, with only 11.26% of Assistant Professors at RIMS and 17.6% at JNIMS coming from tribal backgrounds. At CMC, only 6 out of 21 Assistant Professors are from tribal communities. Alarmingly, Kuki-Zo representation in these institutions stands at just 5.08%.

The KSO also highlighted the significant barriers that have hindered Kuki-Zo students from accessing medical education, leading to a decrease in representation in postgraduate courses. They view this as a reflection of broader political alienation under the Meitei government.

In response to these injustices, the KSO is demanding an unbiased review of the recruitment process, the availability of interview recordings, and the establishment of a neutral selection committee to oversee re-interviews. The organization emphasized its commitment to advocating for equality and fairness in educational opportunities for the Kuki-Zo community.