DIMAPUR, JULY 21 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) delegation met the Union Minister, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Mr. Arjun Singh today at his office and apprised him of the affiliation of Private Schools of the four Naga Hill Districts (Chamdil, Tahamzam, Inriangluang, Hunphun) of the present state of Manipur to Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).
He assured the delegation that he would immediately look into the matter, as the educational careers of many children are at stake. The delegation also apprised the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil of the gravity of the problem that can get out of control if the matter is not addressed exigently.
The Home Minister assured that all possible means would be explored to settle the matter at the earliest.
The delegation also met the Minister of State, PMO Prithiviraj Chavan at his official residence on 20th July 2006. The Minister expressed his serious concern and that he will personally discuss the matter with the Prime Minister. He further stated that this matter requires ‘an immediate amicable solution and the academic career of the boys and girls (students) should not be affected at any cost’. The delegation also called on Mr. George Fernandes, the Convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) who assured to raise the matter with the Minister of MHRD
The delegation further met Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities and Joint Secretaries of University & Higher Education, Department of Secondary and Higher Education, MHRD, informed K. Elu Ndang, General Secretary, NSF.
Earlier, the NSF also submitted a memorandum to Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh. The memorandum stated that “the four Naga Hill districts” i.e. Tahamzam (Senapati), Chamdil (Chandel), Hunphun (Ukhrul) and Inriangluang (Tamenglong) of the present state of Manipur are part of the contiguous Naga ancestral homeland. The Nagas occupy about 70% of the geographical area of the present state of Manipur but they are a minority community. In complete disregard to the sentiments and rights of the minorities, the Govt. of Manipur has been propagating discriminatory policies against the minorities, especially the Nagas, the memo stated.
The imposition of Meitei Mayek (Meitei Script) through the Ordinance of State Legislation in 2005 by the Government of Manipur upon the minorities of the state was one such case, the NSF informed.
In the light of such discriminations and discontentment, the Naga people resolved on August 9, 2001 and November 4, 2005 to launch a non-cooperation movement and dissociate from the state of Manipur, said the memorandum of the NSF.
It mentioned that the student community too resolved to severe affiliations with the State’s educational system and has denounced the imposed syllabus prescribed by the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BoSEM). Subsequently, one hundred sixty-three (163) private schools of the “four Naga Hill Districts (see Annexure I) on the 25th of March 2006” have introduced the syllabus prescribed by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) and the process of affiliation has been initiated as well, claimed the NSF memorandum.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation where the educational career of thousands of Naga students are at stake, the State Cabinet of Nagaland on June 12, 2006 has seriously deliberated on this matter. Subsequently, the state government has referred the matter to the Ministry of Human Resources Development for urgent intervention and necessary approval/clearance. As a follow up of the Cabinet decision, the Minister of School & Technical Education and SCERT, Government of Nagaland has also written to your competent authority for kind consideration and necessary action, the memorandum to the HRD Minister added.
Considering the seriousness of the matter, we urge upon your good office to immediately intervene and take necessary steps from your end, and not delay the affiliation of the schools in the “Naga Hills” of Manipur to the NBSE, it stated.
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