Growing resentment is brewing among parents and students in Imphal East district over the alleged failure of the district administration to issue Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates within the stipulated time, with many claiming that the delay is putting the academic future of deserving students at serious risk.
Several parents who spoke to Imphal Times expressed frustration over what they described as administrative apathy, alleging that despite completing the online application process as prescribed by the government, OBC certificates have not been issued even after nearly a week.
One aggrieved parent said the certificate is mandatory for admission to institutions such as Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) and Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) under the OBC category. With admission deadlines fast approaching, the continued delay has left many families fearing that their children may lose the opportunity to secure admission despite being otherwise eligible.
“We followed every procedure laid down by the government and submitted the application online. It has already been seven days, yet the certificate has not been issued. Every day that passes brings our children closer to missing the admission deadline,” the parent said.
According to the parent, enquiries made at the concerned office revealed that the applications were pending because the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) had not approved them. The explanation has only deepened public anger, with many questioning why students should be made to suffer because of administrative delays.
Parents alleged that while the government has introduced online services to ensure transparency and timely delivery of public services, the benefits of digitisation become meaningless if applications remain stalled at the approval stage. They argued that the purpose of an online system is defeated when officials fail to process applications within a reasonable timeframe.
Several guardians urged the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East to intervene immediately and direct the concerned officials to clear all pending OBC certificate applications without further delay. They also called upon the State Government to establish strict timelines and accountability measures for issuing essential documents linked to education, employment and welfare schemes.
With admission deadlines drawing closer, anxious parents say every day of delay narrows the chances for hundreds of deserving students. Attempts to obtain a response from officials of the Imphal East district administration were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
