Stepping up its campaign against alleged corruption in the education sector, the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) today intensified its agitation by staging a protest demonstration outside the Secretariat complex at Mantripukhri, demanding an impartial probe into the alleged supply of substandard paper for printing textbooks and answer scripts by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM).
Hundreds of DESAM volunteers participated in the protest rally, raising slogans against alleged corruption and administrative inaction before burning effigies of the BOSEM Chairperson, the BOSEM Secretary, and the Commissioner of Education (Schools). The protesters accused the authorities of deliberately remaining silent despite what they described as clear evidence of irregularities in the procurement of paper used for printing educational materials.
Addressing reporters during the demonstration, DESAM president Romesh said the student organisation has been consistently demanding greater transparency and accountability in the state’s education sector and has repeatedly called for it to be made free from corruption.
He alleged that DESAM has, since the latter part of 2025, been pressing the government to blacklist the firm accused of supplying inferior-quality paper to BOSEM for the printing of school textbooks and answer scripts. Despite repeated representations, he claimed, no concrete action has been initiated against either the supplier or the officials responsible for approving the procurement.
Romesh further alleged that senior officials, including the BOSEM Chairperson, the Secretary, and the Commissioner of Education (Schools), have maintained complete silence over the issue despite being aware of the alleged irregularities. Their continued inaction, he said, has raised serious questions about the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency in the education system.
He also criticised the state government, pointing out that Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who also holds the Education portfolio, has yet to make any public statement regarding the allegations surrounding the procurement of paper for BOSEM.
“The silence of those at the helm of the Education Department is deeply disturbing. When allegations involving public funds and the future of students surface, the government cannot afford to look the other way,” Romesh said.
Demanding immediate intervention, DESAM called for the constitution of an independent and time-bound inquiry into the alleged procurement irregularities. The organisation urged the government to identify all those involved, take stringent action against those found guilty, and blacklist the supplier if the allegations are substantiated.
