Kuki-Zo students of MU stage protest, demand alternative arrangement

Disappointed with the notification that normal classes and examinations for higher education has to continue in Manipur University, Imphal, the affected students from the Kuki Zo community have staged a protest at Churchandpur College and submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey, through the District Commissioner of Churachandpur, on Thursday.

As the affected students from the Kuki Zo community are internally displaced or forced to flee, and a large number of them are in different relief centres, the students demanded that an 'alternative arrangement' should be made so as to continue their higher studies.

During the protest, the students displayed placards which read as, "MU ongoing class clearly shows discrimination and unjust, Centre intervention needed, oppressed educational right is a discrimination, Transfer Kuki Zo MU students as soon as possible, UGC please take action, Kuki Zo students career matters, we want university in hill areas immediately," etc., among others.

The demands placed by the students to Governor included the transfer of all Kuki-Zomi students, in general; and 2nd Semester Students to other Central Universities, in particular; arrangement of physical (offline) classes for Master-degree students in Lamka and other Hill districts; arrangement of examination facilities for 4" Semester students in Lamka and the other hill districts, and transfer of Doctorate level students to other Central Universities.

The memorandum stated that the students' community has become one of the most affected sections of society due to the ongoing conflict in the State.

"While all students belonging to the Kuki-Zomi community have been forced to flee, the news that normal classes and examinations to continue in Imphal is deeply distressing and it testifies the discriminatory treatment the tribals students are being subjected to," it said.

The affected students sought immediate intervention of the Governor so that the future of students from Kuki-Zo community in higher education is not jeopardized.