In view of the prevailing ethnic conflict in Manipur, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal has urged the Union Health Ministry to make alternative arrangements for 29 medical students in under-graduate and postgraduate classes of RIMS to study in Meghalaya and Assam.
Stating that these 29 tribal students fled Imphal during the violence and feared returning, RIMS also informed the Health Ministry that alternate arrangement of classes in the institute or in other institutes in Manipur may not be feasible since the situation was not conducive for them to return to class in the violence-hit State.
In a letter to the Joint Secretary (NE) of Health Ministry on July 7, RIMS Deputy Director (Administration) Naorem Indrakumar Singh said the classes of under-graduate and postgraduate students resumed in RIMS Imphal since May 22, but 29 students (17 MBBS under-graduate students, six BDS under-graduate students and six postgraduate students) are now unable to attend classes or duties due to the prevailing unrest.
Singh sought the Health Ministry’s intervention in making alternative arrangements outside the State, including seeking permission from the National Medical Council for the 17 MBBS under-graduate students to continue their study in NEIGRIHMS in Shillong, six BDS under-graduate students in Regional Dental College in Guwahati and six post-graduate students at Guwahati Medical College or another institutes.
It may be mentioned that several medical students from Meghalaya and other north-eastern states fled RIMS Imphal in May after the violent flare up between Meiteis and Kukis.
Similarly, more than 800 Kukis who have been displaced by the ethnic violence in Manipur are taking refuge in Shillong.
Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Shillong president, Dr. Jangkhohao Hangshing said the data of persons maintained by them was till the first week of June. He said if students are counted, the numbers would be around 1000.
Informing that some displaced people are staying in rented houses, hostels, relatives’ houses, and at the only relief camp at Lapalang, Hangshing said, the situation has become very difficult especially for students who have come to study here.
