Kukis mull protest over MPSC exam venue
The commission has earmarked only Imphal in Manipur as the venue of the examination, while Assam's capital Guwahati, has been announced as the other venue.
The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) stated that under the present conflict between Kukis and Meiteis, the Kuki candidates cannot go to Imphal to appear in the examination. They are also reluctant to come to Guwahati since it involves a long journey to Mizoram by road and then by air to Guwahati, with a travel cost of not less than Rs 30,000.
In a recent memorandum sent to Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, KSO-General Headquarters, on behalf of the affected Kuki aspirants from the conflict-affected districts of Manipur, urged the governor to intervene and ensure that the MPSC Mains Examination is conducted in Churachandpur district as a special case. Previously, the MPSC conducted civil service examinations in Imphal since there was no such Meitei-Kuki divide.
Since the plea by KSO before the Manipur governor on July 29, no reply has come to the student body. Mang Khongsai, vice-president of the Kuki Students Organisation (general headquarters), said, "Transportation is a big issue. Travelling through Aizawl is a long route, and flights may get cancelled in case of adverse weather conditions. Secondly, it does not make sense at all if a state civil service examination is conducted in another state.
For the govt, it is like shooting itself in the foot."
Some national-level examinations such as UGC-NET, NEET, Agniveer, SSC, and Banking exams have been conducted in Churachandpur in recent times. Thus, KSO expressed confidence that the MPSC examinations can also be conducted in Churachandpur efficiently in the same conducive environment. "After two years of the conflict, even today Kukis cannot go to Imphal. Can students risk their lives?" he said.
KSO, in its memorandum sent to the governor, stated that this arrangement imposes undue physical, psychological, and financial hardship on aspirants from the Kuki community. One of the candidates who cleared the prelims, which was held in April 2023 just before the conflict, said that when she cleared the prelims, there was a mixed feeling with concerns regarding the fairness of the Mains examination and happiness at clearing one step before becoming a civil servant.
"Travelling to Guwahati will be a tiresome experience. It will be mentally exhausting and financially difficult to go to Guwahati, but at the comfort of their home, the Meitei candidates will be appearing in the exam in Imphal," said a Kuki student, on condition of anonymity. She was apprehensive that many of the candidates from poor financial backgrounds may not afford to come to Guwahati from the hill districts of Manipur to appear in the MPSC Mains.
"Also, since the outbreak of the ethnic conflict in Manipur in May 2023, Kuki youths, particularly job seekers, have been significantly affected. Although several state govt job notifications have been released since then, the examination centres have been predominantly located in Imphal, thereby placing aspirants from the hill districts, especially from the Kuki community, at a severe disadvantage. Consequently, many capable candidates have been unable to appear for these examinations and thus missed crucial employment opportunities," KSO wrote to the governor recently.
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