The future of thousands of schoolchildren of Catholic Missionary-run schools in Manipur’s Imphal valley have become uncertain after the authorities of at least seven schools decided to close down following a threat from an underground outfit — Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC).
The Congress-led Government in Manipur has, however, become a mute spectator of the whole incident even as the schools have started closing down since April 1.
It is pertinent to mention here that the KCP-MC had stated that it had launched an operation Mangal against the prevalent system of admission, tuition fee, selection of students and reservation norms in all schools with the objective of shaping a ‘fabulous society’.
Although several sections of the society — including the civil society groups and NGOs — have appealed the underground outfit to withdraw the diktat considering the future of about 12,000 schoolchildren, yet there has been no response from the outfit.
“We are not taking any chances and have decided to close the school. There have been repeated appeals from different sections of the society to the militants to open the schools. However, there is no response from the militants and hence it has become difficult for the school authorities to take a decision and open the school,” said principal of one of the seven Catholic Missionary-run schools on condition of anonymity.
All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) has condemned the militants’ diktat and said they would form human chains in front of the schools on Friday to ensure security to the schoolchildren.
“The role played by the State Government in the whole episode is frustrating. It seems the Government has bowed down to the militants. The future of more than 12,000 schoolchildren is at stake and the Government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is silent,” said AMSU president Sanasam Subhachandra.
“As far as we know, the militants have claimed that the operation Mangal aims to fulfil the right to compulsory education. But then why the militants have selected the Missionary-run schools aloneIJ Their diktat should have covered other private schools as well,” Subhachandra said.
Although the guardians of the students had recently staged a sit-in demanding education for their children free of disturbances and urged the Government to provide security at the school but no steps have been taken by the Government so far.