Manipur (Rajeev Sharma): Educational institutions across Manipur will remain closed from August 20 to 23 following a government decision taken against the backdrop of continuing law and order concerns in the state.
The closure covers a wide range of institutions, including schools affiliated with the state education boards, CBSE and other recognised systems. Government and private colleges, higher education institutions and universities have also been brought under the order.
The education department has asked officials at the district and zonal levels to ensure that the directive reaches institutions operating within their respective areas.
The move comes as several valley areas continued to witness disruptions during a 48-hour shutdown called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation. The Meitei group is demanding that the Census exercise be preceded by an NRC aimed at identifying undocumented migrants.
The issue has generated sharp differences between community organisations in the state. Meitei groups have argued that an NRC is necessary to identify people who allegedly entered Manipur from neighbouring countries after 1951. Kuki organisations have rejected the claim that their community should be portrayed as being made up of undocumented migrants.
The agitation has increasingly affected Census-related activities in the state. Members of the JFD’s student wing have held protests at the Directorate of Census Operations office in Imphal East and disrupted training sessions for personnel assigned to the Census exercise.
Authorities have also taken separate action regarding Census preparations. An order issued by the Lilong subdivision stated that appointments of supervisors, enumerators and field trainers associated with the Census Training Programme had been cancelled.
With tensions continuing in parts of the state, the temporary suspension of educational activities is intended to minimise disruptions and provide greater security for students, teachers and other staff members.
