Manipur university teachers stage protest

IMPHAL: The teachers of Manipur University (MU), in pursuit of their charter of demands, including the appointment of a pro vice-chancellor, finance officer and controller of examinations, on Tuesday staged a protest on the varsity's Canchipur complex here.

A meeting convened in December last year by members of the Manipur University Teachers' Association (MUTA) decided to launch a ceasework stir from Saturday as the varsity authorities failed to comply with the demands of the association.

The meeting noted that MU vice-chancellor HNK Sarma failed to fulfill the demands of MUTA and "it appears that he is incapable of running the institution effectively or, otherwise, he doesn't give any importance to the demands of the Teachers' Association."

"As resolved in our last meeting, we have ceased work since February 1 and will continue to do so till February 7," said MUTA president M Ranjit Singh. "However, considering the loss of academic activities in the varsity owing to our agitation, we will hold a general body meeting on February 10 to decide what other modes of stir would be taken up," Ranjit added.

Other demands of the MUTA include appointment of non-statutory posts, implementation of higher academic grade scales, strengthening of the existing department.