Imphal: Reacting against continuous and ‘unbearable’ monetary demands, employees of the Manipur Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS) department staged a one-day sit-in at Khuman Lampak, here, on Monday.
Speaking on the sidelines, Taekwondo coach L. Meghabarna told reporters that, despite the YAS department being small with a limited budget, it takes on major responsibilities in supporting the state’s upcoming talented youth in sports.
He said that since the Meitei-Kuki conflict erupted on May 3 last year, many people have been displaced and are currently taking temporary shelter at various relief camps. In light of the challenges faced by the internally displaced persons and to support village volunteers, who are playing a major role in defending Meitei villages from attacks, employees of the YAS department have been providing various forms of assistance, including monetary and other support.
Meghabarna mentioned that the department’s employees are willing to offer voluntary donations, but not the unbearable monetary demands.
Niranjana Heikrujam, a UDC in the YAS department, said excessive monetary demands would negatively impact the future of many sports persons in Manipur. She appealed for the sports department to be designated as a free zone, exempt from such unreasonable demands.
Pressure for monetary demand will hinder the department’s employees from working effectively, she added.
Students have also carried out various forms of protests in Imphal, demanding a free zone education sector. The protests call for an end to the politicization of educational institutions and the unreasonable demands placed on them by armed groups.
The students on demonstration expressed that the administration and examination blocks of Manipur University have been unable to function properly due to such excessive demands.
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