UKHRUL, NOVEMBER 14: School transport was disrupted across Imphal on Thursday (November 13). Members from the All Manipur School Students’ Transporters Association (AMSSTA) staged a sit-in protest at eight locations Porompat, Changangei, Samushang, Mantripukhri Bazar, Nambol, Chachipur, Lamphel and Kongba.
The coordinated action exposed systemic extortion by different organizations. Recently, a school van driver’s mobile phone was snatched and destroyed for not answering phone calls from the miscreants; the action was described as excessive and unacceptable.
There are nearly 4,000 van drivers in Imphal East and Imphal West. This has caused uneasiness and fear among the drivers, who are self-employed people making a living through meager income generated from transporting students.
One of the protestors, Naorem Meghachandra spoke to the media alleging that certain unlawful organizations have been imposing monetary demands on van drivers, which the association finds unjust and exploitive.
Meghachandra added that despite the government directing only 12 students per school van, AMSSTA had unanimously agreed to allow 15 students per vehicle to maintain economic feasibility, “Even with this adjustment, the income is barely enough to support our families. In such a situation, additional monetary demands from any group are unacceptable,” he stated.
AMSSTA representatives urged authorities to look into the matter swiftly and stop such coercive demands. The association further urged the public and educational institutions to support efforts to safeguard the safety and dignity of school van drivers, who are essential to the daily operation of schools across Imphal.