ANSAM Petitions PM on Education, Health and Roads in Naga Areas`
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency September 13: *The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, seeking urgent intervention to address grievances pertaining to educational institutions, medical facilities, and road connectivity in Naga areas, along with a charter of demands.*
*The memorandum stated that the Office of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), representing the voice and conscience of Naga youths and students, implored the Prime Minister’s leadership for the immediate revocation of the order scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and imposing border fencing construction in Naga homeland.*
*While reiterating their support for the Indo-Naga peace process and praying for its logical conclusion based on the Framework Agreement recognizing flag, constitution and integration as the inalienable rights of the Naga people, the student body drew attention to the factual grievances of people in the hill areas and sought redressal of the basic infrastructural drawbacks faced in their daily lives.*
*The body highlighted that education is of vital importance, yet Naga areas, a tribal belt in the hill districts of Manipur, are relatively deprived of educational rights legally guaranteed by the Constitution of India. It is a herculean challenge for most parents in the Naga hills to afford their wards’ studies in private institutions or outside their respective villages and districts, given that only a few government institutions exist in proportion to the population and area. The memorandum said the state government has failed to take corrective measures to ease this plight.*
*It further stated that the few existing government institutions are deteriorating day by day, resulting in increasing dropout rates and frustrated youths in the hill areas. Most institutions are in a pathetic condition, lacking even basic requirements. The absolute absence of a state or central university in the hill districts, despite covering 80% of Manipur’s geography, amounts to social discrimination, the memorandum added. It also pointed out the lack of vocational and sports institutions to skill and nurture young talents, which remains a serious deficit in youth development.*
*On healthcare, ANSAM stated that the situation in Naga hill areas is alarming.*
*Successive governments have neglected the healthcare sector for decades, leaving poor communities, 70% of the population, to struggle with untold hardships in affording treatment from the private sector. District hospitals and community health centres lack adequate manpower, specialist doctors, and basic facilities.*
*Remote villages remain without proper hospitals, trained doctors, nurses, and emergency care. Expectant mothers, children, and critically ill patients face immense hardships, with many compelled to travel hours, even days, over rough terrain to access basic treatment*
*Regarding road connectivity, the memorandum noted that the region remains neglected, with a lack of all-weather roads connecting villages and district headquarters. State and National Highways are substandard and face frequent disruptions year-round.*
*In view of these conditions, the apex Naga student body placed its charter of demands, including:*
*a) Establishment of central sponsored institutions and universities, along with more schools like JNV, KVS, EMRS, and KGBV in various blocks and ranges.*
*b) Establishment of IIT, IIM, Agriculture University, and a Central Hill University in the Naga hill areas.*
*c) Establishment of primary sports institutions under the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and upgradation of district sports complexes in Naga hill districts.*
*d) Special educational scholarships for students below the poverty line.*
*In terms of medical infrastructure, ANSAM demanded the upgradation of district hospitals from 100 to 200-bed facilities, the opening of medical colleges in the Naga hill districts, adequate manpower and equipment for existing hospitals, provision of mobile health units, and ambulance services for interior villages.*
*On road connectivity, it demanded construction of all-weather roads to connect villages with district headquarters, upgradation and completion of ongoing National and State Highway projects in hill districts, and regular maintenance of rural roads using modern engineering practices to ensure durability.*
*ANSAM fervently urged the Prime Minister to look into these matters and translate their demands into reality, stating that prompt action would be a symbol of justice fostering equality and development in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Manipur’s hill areas.*