Kuki Students Ask Manipur Governor To Open State Civil Service Exam Centre In Churachandpur
State civil service aspirants in Manipur's Churachandpur district have requested Governor AK Bhalla to hold the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) mains exam in the southern hill district too, considering the situation in the state where members of the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes are unable to visit each other's areas with safety guarantees.
An MPSC notification on July 11 said the mains exam will be held in two centres - state capital Imphal, and Guwahati in neighbouring Assam.
"...However, this arrangement imposes undue physical, psychological, and financial hardship on aspirants from the Kuki community. So, we earnestly request your kind intervention to facilitate the conduct of the mains examination in Churachandpur district," the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) said in a letter to Mr Bhalla.
The KSO said holding the exam in Churachandpur will ensure inclusivity and equal opportunity for all aspirants, while also addressing the logistical and psychological challenges posed by long-distance travel.
Several national-level exams such as UGC-NET, NEET, Agniveer, SSC, and banking services have been "successfully and smoothly conducted in Churachandpur in recent times", the KSO said, adding they are confident the state-level MPSC exams can also be conducted in the district efficiently in the same conducive environment.
"Your timely and compassionate intervention will not only ensure fairness and justice for all aspirants but will also go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic institutions of the state. It will reaffirm the commitment that no deserving youth is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control," the KSO said.
The Kuki tribes have refrained from going toward the valley area where the airport is located, citing security concerns. The better paved National Highway also passes through the valley to the east in central Manipur and goes toward Nagaland and Assam.
To get out of Churachandpur, the Kuki tribes have been taking National Highway 102B - known for its bad patches and large potholes - that goes to Mizoram's capital Aizawl to the west. Aizawl has an airport.
Members of the Meitei community can only take flights out of Imphal as all the highways pass through Kuki settlements. The Kuki tribes say they will not allow Meiteis to pass through their areas until their demand for a separate administration is met.
A civil service aspirant in Churachandpur told NDTV it would be helpful if the MPSC mains exam can also be held in her district. Going to Guwahati will take a minimum of three days, and not every candidate has barely enough to survive, let alone travel, she said.
"If the exam centre is in Guwahati, we have to be ready more than a week in advance to prepare for travel. We will waste many days on the road. It will be physically and financially draining," the civil service aspirant said, requesting anonymity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Shibu Soren, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM founder, dies
3:43 MP Kamal Haasan has stated that the NEET examination is responsible for taking education away from children, claiming that since 2017, it has prevented poor children from aspiring to a medical education. The comments were made at an event for the Aagaram Foundation, an educational organisation founded by actor Surya. Haasan asserted, "education is the only way to break dictatorial and sanatana shackles." The foundation, which works to provide education to underprivileged children, has reportedly been unable to create new batches of medical aspirants since 2017 due to the examination. This statement highlights the ongoing opposition to the NEET exam in Tamil Nadu, with critics arguing it hinders access to medical studies for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Education only weapon to break shackles of dictatorship, Sanatan: Kamal Hassan
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday described education as the only weapon capable of dismantling 'the shackles of dictatorship and Sanatan'. He was addressing a gathering at the Agaram Foundation event in Chennai, organised by actor Suriya's education charity.'Don't take anything else in your hands, only education. We cannot win without it, because the majority can make you lose. Majority fools (Moodargal) will make you lose; knowledge alone will seem defeated. That's why we must hold on to it (education) firmly,' the Makkal Needhi Maiam chief said, while calling for deeper public investment in knowledge systems and social the work of Agaram Foundation, which has supported thousands of underprivileged children in Tamil Nadu, Haasan said, 'True education and unconditional love are hard to come by. Apart from our mothers, institutions like Agaram Foundation are among the few places where we can still find them.' Reflecting on the difference between cinema and social service, he added, 'In cinema, we are crowned for our performances. But in social work, we are given a crown of thorns. It takes a strong heart to accept that crown. No one else will do this for us, we have to do it ourselves.' Taking a direct swipe at the NEET policy implemented since 2017, Haasan argued that the law had effectively crushed the dreams of medical aspirants from poor and marginalised backgrounds. 'You can't see doctors of such a batch next year. There is a reason for what I'm saying, as after 2017, they are unable to continue their efforts. Now do you understand why we oppose NEET? Since 2017, that law has made such children unable to get education,' he said. He further pointed out that 'only education can provide the strength to change that law'.Citing a recent conversation with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, the Rajya Sabha MP said, 'Yesterday, I told the Chief Minister that NGOs were not asking for anything like money — they're only asking for permission to work. He assured me that steps are being taken in that direction. I am proud to be involved in this cause.'Haasan concluded his address with a reflection on leadership and legacy. 'Leadership is that which disappears (with time) into the society and not that stands and rules. It took me 70 years to understand this,' he said.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
‘Denied Education To Many': Kamal Haasan Slams NEET, Talks About Breaking ‘Sanatana' Ideology
Last Updated: Kamal Haasan's remarks come as the Tamil Nadu government continues to oppose the NEET system, arguing that it disadvantages rural and government school students Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan issued a strong critique of the NEET medical entrance examination, saying that it has denied education to many children. Speaking at the 15th anniversary celebration of actor Suriya's Agaram Foundation on Sunday, he noted the transformative power of education, describing it as the only force capable of challenging what he termed 'dictatorship and Sanatana ideology." 'Since 2017, this has denied education to so many children," Haasan said, referring to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). 'Even Agaram Foundation can't do anything about it. Only education can give the strength to change the law. Education is not just a weapon in this war; it is the chisel that can sculpt the nation." The MNM leader also issued a caution against reactionary politics. 'Don't take anything else in your hands. You will not win that way. Majoritarian idiots will defeat you. Knowledge will lose. We need to collectively hold together," he said. Haasan's remarks come as the Tamil Nadu government continues to oppose the NEET system, arguing that it disadvantages rural and government school students—particularly those from marginalised communities—who often cannot afford private coaching. The state government contends that NEET has undermined social justice and equitable access to medical education. Meanwhile, the Centre, led by the BJP, maintains that the exam standardises admissions and curbs the sale of medical seats. During the same event, actor Suriya spoke about the Agaram Foundation's work over the years. 'More than 6,000 students from extremely humble backgrounds have received an education and gone on to achieve great things. Many were orphans. Today, our former students are running the programme with empathy and social awareness," he said. Tamil Nadu had abolished entrance examinations for medical courses for nearly a decade, relying instead on Class 12 marks. During the UPA tenure, the state received an exemption from NEET with the assent of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. That exemption was withdrawn after the BJP-led government at the Centre took over. 'Sanatana' Row Haasan's reference to 'Sanatana" aligns with an ongoing political row in the state. In 2023, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin sparked national controversy after calling for the eradication of 'Sanatana Dharma', equating it with caste-based discrimination. His comments led to multiple legal complaints across the country before the Supreme Court intervened to prevent further FIRs. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
