MANIPUR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON VISITS LAMKA; INTERACTS WITH STUDENTS AND ZOMI CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS.
The Chairperson of Manipur State Human Rights Commissioner (MHRC) Shri Justice UB Saha visited Lamka and interacted with student bodies and civil society organisations including the Zomi Council, ZCSC Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Zomi Mothers Association, Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights and others. The meeting took place at the Conference Hall, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Tuibuang. Three memorandums were placed before the Chairperson during his visit. The Chairperson assures the meeting that he will be working on the grievances placed before him as soon as he heads back to Imphal. The Chairperson takes minutes of all the grievances, though he does not let any grievances be shared uninterrupted.
The Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF) Legal Support and Advocacy Group, in their memorandum submitted through the President of the Federation, requested an investigation into Complaint No. 13621 which was filed on July, 2023 by the President of ZSF Delhi Cell on behalf of Mr. Lalkhumlien, father of the late Mr. David Tuolor (also known as David Thiek Hmar). The case, which was initially filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was transferred to MHRC for further investigation. However, the MHRC, to this day, has not initiated any investigation, nor has any information been received by the family regarding the status of the case. The ZSF urges the MHRC to take swift measures and investigate the case thoroughly.
The Eimi Medicos Union (EMU), a union of tribal medical students from Churachandpur (Lamka) Medical College (CMC) submitted a memorandum regarding the inaccessibility of MBBS seats at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science (JNIMS) and Shija Academy of Health Sciences (SAHS). The memorandum highlights that about 75 seats in the medical colleges at Imphal, namely RIMS (10 seats), JNIMS (40 seats) and SHIJA (25 seats) remained inaccessible to aspirants from the Zomi, Kuki and Hmar communities since the outbreak of the ethnic violence. The student union also unequivocally stated that this deprivation amounts to a gross violation of their Fundamental Rights (Right to Equality and Equality of Opportunity).
The EMU further appealed to the concerned authorities to explore means of enabling candidates from Zomi, Kuki and Hmar communities to access the seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates of Manipur in RIMS, JNIMS and SHIJA, so as not to deprive them of availing educational opportunities. They requested the intervention of the MHRC for a readjustment or relocation of the ST seats to the CMC for the benefit of tribal students and aspirants. Regarding this request, tribal medical aspirants also sought immediate intervention from the MHRC, as the NEET first round of counseling will commence on August 27, 2024. The CMC is the only medical college in the hill districts of Manipur, an area constituting about 90% of the State.
The displaced dental students also submitted a memorandum regarding the transfer of the 16 displaced Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students. After months of uncertainty and hardship, the BDS students were relieved when the Dental Council of India (DCI) allowed them to transfer to colleges in Assam. However, when the students approached both the dental colleges in Assam, they were informed that, in the absence of approval from the Government of Assam (H & FW Dept. or DWE), the dental colleges are not in a position to entertain their admission. The student union requested the MHRC's intervention in making the necessary arrangements. In addition to submitting a memorandum, the BDS student union also shared their plight during the interaction with the Chairperson Shri UB Saha. During the meeting, the Chairperson verbally assured them that the problem is a simple matter and could be easily resolved. Taking the example of the Home Minister's sound assurance without any materialization, the chairperson assured that he would only be giving assurance on the things he could work on.
During the meeting, civil society leaders also highlighted the discrimination and human rights violations faced by the Zomi community and its cognates, the Kuki and Mizo tribes, in the hill districts. The various issues raised in the meeting include the obstruction of food and essential supplies by the Meitei in the valley district, the politicisation of education and the deliberate failing of students in the Manipur Board and Manipur University examinations, the limited or no supply of medical goods from the State government, and the issue of setting up examination centers for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) examinations.
More than a year after the ethnic violence erupted, tribal students remained one of the most vulnerable and affected. The fight for their Fundamental Rights, including Right to Education and Right to Equality, has been a long and arduous task under the current political dispensation of the State.