RONO HILLS, Mar 5: Rajiv Gandhi University Students Union (RGUSU), RGU Research Scholars’ Forum (RGURSF) and RGU Teachers Association (RGUTA) extended solidarity by supporting the Bharat bandh called by several tribal outfits through a total shutdown of campus from dawn to dusk here today.
The bandh was called by these outfits from across the country to protest against displacement of 10 lakh tribals from their lands and University Grants Commission’s new 13-point roster system that will cut jobs for SCs, STs and the OBCs.
The teachers and students demanded that central government should promulgate two ordinances to secure tribal rights that have been affected by the Supreme Court decisions. One to secure the forest rights of tribals, and the second to ensure fair representation in UGC faculty posts.
The call for nation-wide strike comes in after a recent supreme court decision to carry out eviction of tribals and forest dwellers, whose claim over forest land were declined under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
RGUTA President Professor Jumyir Basar termed the apex court’s decisions as a tool of marginalization of the already marginalized community.“We are being deprived of our rights, good governance and justice because the Centre doesn’t care to pay attention to the voice of the minority community that constitutes 8 % of India’s population,” Prof Basar said.  
Speaking on the 13-point roster system, she said the new system replaces the old 200-point roster system, which viewed the entire university as a unit for reservation and recruitment. Under the new 13-point roster system, each department is taken as a unit for implementing recruitment and reservation policy for teachers.
Given the 13-point roster system, our coming generations won’t be able to teach in universities and will be deprived of equal competition, she said.
MSW Assistant Professor John Gangmei said the recent judgement has made tribal people dwelling in forests encroachers of their own land. India’s thin tribal population is facing annihilation, he said.“Centre is mooting to eliminate all tribal indigenous people,” he added.
“We are asking for our rights which we deserve in line with the principle of affirmative action prescribed in the constitution. The SC is hell bent upon scrapping reservation for marginalized communities,” Dr Suman Prakash Prasad of Education department said.
RGURSF Chairman Margum Ado termed the 13-point roster ‘draconian’ and called for its removal. RGUSU President Goda Karu said there is no point in studying further if our rights are curtailed, while its GS, Barik Riba advised students to be pro-active not only in studies but in fighting their rights as well. RGU Assistant Registrar Gomar Basar also spoke.
Today’s bandh was also supported by several groups and political parties from across the nation.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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