Senapati, October 13: The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has urged the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) to establish examination centres in the district headquarters of Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, and Ukhrul to ensure fair access for aspirants from the hill areas.
In a letter submitted to the MPSC Chairman, ANSAM highlighted the numerous obstacles faced by candidates from the hill districts, noting that all MPSC examinations are currently held only in valley-based centres. The association described this long-standing arrangement as “decades of neglect and injustice” and said their appeal was grounded in “justice, equality, constitutional rights, and human dignity.”
The student body pointed out that many hill-based candidates struggle with financial limitations, long and unsafe travel routes, and logistical challenges, especially given the current ethnic tensions. According to the memorandum, such conditions severely affect their performance and morale. “To deny local centres is to deliberately cripple their aspirations and reduce them to inferior citizens in their own land,” the letter stated.
Calling the present system “systematic discrimination”, ANSAM argued that it disadvantages hill aspirants and violates their constitutional rights under Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21A (right to education).
To address the issue, ANSAM put forward three key demands:
- Creation of MPSC examination centres in Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, and Ukhrul.
- Adequate and impartial security arrangements in coordination with local authorities.
- A permanent policy to guarantee equal opportunities for hill district candidates in future exams.
Reiterating that inclusion and equality are fundamental rights, not privileges, ANSAM stated: “Justice for all aspirants is a genuine request. Equality is not optional. Inclusion is not charity. It is a right, and it must be delivered without delay.”
