UKHRUL: The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has urged the vice-chancellor of Manipur University to address what it called long-pending issues affecting tribal students, including the operationalisation of the ST/SC Cell, changes to the postgraduate admission process and the establishment of Common University Entrance Test (CUET) examination centres in the hill districts.
In a memorandum submitted to the vice-chancellor on Wednesday, ANSAM said the university’s ST/SC Cell continues to function only in a nominal capacity despite University Grants Commission (UGC)provisions. It urged the university to make the cell fully functional to monitor reservation in admissions and recruitment, oversee the welfare of ST and SC students and staff, and serve as a grievance redressal mechanism.
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The apex Naga students’ body also raised concerns over the university’s decision to admit postgraduate students solely through the CUET. It said the present system places students from remote hill districts at a disadvantage as they are compelled to travel long distances to appear for the examination, often amid security concerns and at considerable expense.
According to ANSAM, the absence of CUET centres in districts such as Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Chandel has created a structural barrier for tribal students. It urged the university to take up the matter with the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the University Grants Commission so that examination centres are established in all major hill districts.
The memorandum further called for a review of the practice of converting unfilled Scheduled Tribe (ST) seats to Scheduled Caste (SC) seats. Citing the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act, 2012, ANSAM said the reservation policy should be implemented in accordance with the law and sought greater transparency in seat conversion.
It also proposed that Manipur University consider holding a separate entrance examination within the state for postgraduate admissions as a special measure until the issues relating to CUET centres are resolved.
