TYCM Defers Agitation Till March 26

UKHRUL: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), Council Headquarters on Tuesday announced that it has decided to defer the intensification of the democratic agitation till March 26.  

The decision was taken following the government’s invitation for a meeting on March 26. TYCM-CHQ convened a  Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting on Tuesday wherein the invitation was discussed and it was decided to defer the intensification of the democratic agitation till March 26.

The meeting between TYCM-CHQ and the state government is scheduled on Thursday at 1 pm.

TYCM-CHQ had earlier announced its decision to intensify democratic agitation on March 24,  against the alleged failure of the Manipur government to materialise the ultimatum served on January 28, 2025, regarding the demand for the commencement of functioning of the Tribal Girls’ Hostel at Old Lambulane, Imphal.

Also Read | TYCM to Intensify Stir Against Non-Functioning of Tribal Girls’ Hostel

Following are the demands of TYCM-CHQ:  

1.To issue an order prohibiting the awarding of tender works in the hill tribal areas of Manipur at bid rates below 5% (minus) of the estimated cost: In Manipur, government departments are awarding tender works in the hill tribal areas at excessively low (minus) bid rates. As a result, the quality of work in these areas is not maintained.

2. To transfer 937 schools up to Class VIII in the hill areas of Manipur to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), which remain untransferred: In accordance with the 8th Amendment to Section 29 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Third Amendment) Act, 2008 (Manipur Act No. 7 of 2008), as published in the Manipur Gazette Extraordinary dated October 27, 2008, it is provided that the district councils shall be responsible for the establishment, maintenance, and management of schools up to Class VIII.

Also Read | Minor Irrigation Neglected in Hill Areas: TYCM Appeals to Governor

However, some schools up to Class VIII in the hill districts of Manipur have not been transferred to the ADCs and are continuously maintained and managed directly by the Education (S) Department, Government of Manipur, till date. Such action is a direct violation of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Third Amendment) Act, 2008 (Manipur Act No. 7 of 2008). 

3. To change the word “may” to “shall” in the notification dated 14/11/2014, Notification No. 9/6/2007-SC/ST/OBC/DPP(Pt), issued by the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (Personnel Division), regarding the ST reservation rules in service/employment: In the said notification, the use of the word “may” is not accurate and can be manipulated in the reservation of Scheduled Tribe (ST) seats. Moreover, the use of the word “may” instead of “shall” makes the provision discretionary rather than mandatory, creating ambiguity and potentially leading to the denial of rightful reservations for ST candidates.

4. To cancel the previous nomination/appointment of the chairperson and members of the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (MSCST) and to issue a fresh notification inviting applications from eligible candidates of the tribal communities of Manipur: The Tribal Affairs & Hills Department, Government of Manipur, nominated/appointed the chairperson and members of the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (MSCST) on 26/12/2024 and 11/08/2025 without issuing a notification and without inviting applications from eligible candidates belonging to the tribal communities of Manipur.

5. To fill up the vacant posts/seats to address the acute shortage of manpower in the Directorate of Tribal Affairs  & Hills Department, Manipur: The Directorate of Tribal Affairs & Hills Department has a sanctioned strength of 138 staff/employees; however, only 38 are currently in position, and 100 posts remain vacant till date. Moreover, the remaining 38 employees of the directorate are not attending the office in full strength. Some employees, particularly from the Kuki community, have been absent due to the ethnic violence outbreak in the state since May 3, 2023. The acute shortage of manpower in the directorate is causing delays in the development process and progress.

Also Read | Manipur: TYCM Writes to CM Khemchand 

6. To fill up the vacant posts/seats to address the acute shortage of manpower in the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Manipur: The Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Manipur has a sanctioned strength of 33 staff/employees; however, only 13 are currently in position, and 20 posts remain vacant till date. Moreover, the remaining 13 employees of the TRI are not attending the office in full strength. Some employees, particularly from the Kuki community, have been absent due to the ethnic violence outbreak in the state since 3rd May 2023. The acute shortage of manpower in the TRI is causing delays in the development process and progress.

7. To allocate/earmark funds in the state budget under the Tribal Affairs & Hills Department for the promotion and development of tribal entrepreneurs in the state: A large number of tribal youths are compelled to work outside Manipur for their livelihood and to support their families due to the lack of employment opportunities in the state. In order to address the unemployment crisis in the state and to boost the local economy, it is essential for the government to create employment opportunities and promote tribal entrepreneurs through grant-in-aid, schemes, and financial assistance. Such measures will help minimize migration outside the state, ensure the safety, security, and sustainable livelihood of the youths, and further enhance the economy of the state. 

8. To construct new school buildings for villages with no school and to reconstruct the dilapidated and deteriorated school buildings in the hill districts of Manipur: Most of the school buildings in the hill districts are in a dilapidated and deteriorated condition, adversely affecting the quality of education and the learning environment.

Also Read | TYCM Urges Retired Judges over Objection to Separate Hills Budget

9. To ensure full teacher strength in schools lacking adequate teaching staff in the hill districts of Manipur: Most schools in the hill districts of Manipur do not have full teacher strength. The shortage of teachers is negatively affecting the learning environment and the overall education system, causing loss of students’ academic opportunities and future career prospects, and constitutes a violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

10. To construct teachers’ quarters at all villages in the hill districts of Manipur: In the Hill Districts of Manipur, there are no teachers’ quarters for posted teachers. The absence of teachers’ quarters in the villages causes inconvenience and problems for the teachers, leading to irregular class attendance and negatively affecting the learning environment and overall education system. Moreover, most of the posted teachers have appointed substitute teachers in the locality due to the lack of teachers’ quarters.

11. To establish fire brigades at the sub-divisional headquarters of the hill districts: At present, fire brigades exist only at the district headquarters of the hill districts. In the hill areas, due to the long geographical distances between villages and the district headquarters, timely safety measures cannot be taken. When fire incidents occur in the villages, houses and properties are completely destroyed before the fire brigades reach the site. 

12. To construct MLAs’ offices at the respective ST/hill constituency headquarters of Manipur and to frame an Act/Rules, or issue an order mandating MLAs to station at their respective constituency offices for one week in every month: Tribal people from far-flung and remote areas have to travel to the Imphal to meet their respective MLAs. Traveling to Imphal entails significant expenditure and makes it difficult for them to meet their MLAs at convenient times due to long distances and financial constraints. The MLAs’ stationing only in Imphal is also a major reason for the gap in awareness of local problems, limited interaction with the people of their respective constituencies, and the underdevelopment faced by the communities in the hill areas of Manipur.