Kuki-Zo medical students, guardians stage sit-in-protest, demanding alternative arrangement

Concerned with the uncertain future of Kuki-Zo medical students and in demand for alternate solutions, the Kuki-Zo medical students from different medical institutes across the state the guardians of the students have staged a sit in protest at the campus of Churachandpur Medical College on Saturday.

The students and guardians were seen holding several placards and shouting slogans expressing their discontentment over the inaction of the authorities concerned and the central government.

Various placards displayed in the protest read: ‘Enough of structural injustice, how much longer must we wait, its either our lives or our carriers, don’t our education matter too, we need a solution, we demand justice, hear our grievances, save Kuki-Zo medical students, amongst others.

One of the guardians told the media that the future of the Kuki-Zo medical students were at stake and their educational rights were being denied after the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the state government.

The lady appealed to the government of India to make alternative arrangements for the Kuki-Zo medical students as soon as possible so that they could complete their educational courses.

When the Home Minister declared for opening of the medical college, he promised to the people that the medical students of the colleges would be given equal opportunities at par with other Indian students. However, at present situation, the Kuki-Zo medical students were denied of their educational rights and they were not in a position to continue their education even though the students in the valley are resuming their classes and even conducting their exams, she said.

Stating that the guardians believe in the central government and not the ‘communal’ Manipur government, the lady also appealed to the central government to see how the state government is discriminating the Kuki-Zo community.

Speaking to the media, one of the students said they are the medical students of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Regional institute of Medical Sciences,  Shija Hospital and from Medical Directorates, Imphal, and they had earlier made several demands and also raised their concerns to the Governor and other authorities concerned. However, he said there are no proper plans or a way forward till today which has to be chalked out for the students so that they could continue their studies.

The student further said that they may even resort to other forms of protest if their demands are not met and their grievances not resolve in the near future.

Mentioned may be made that in an interaction with the media on June 1, the students had made an appealed to the central government to provide alternative arrangement so that they could continue with their academic studies.

The Kuki Students' Organization, Delhi and NCR, had also demanded that Kuki Zo affected students from medical institutes  should be provided chances for re-allocation to a convenient institute of their choice, considering the prevailing communal tension in the state.