DESAM volunteers storm BOSEM office, demand probe into substandard paper supply

A large number of volunteers of the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) staged a forceful protest at the office of the Board of Secondary Education Manipur today, alleging serious irregularities in the supply of substandard and non-watermarked paper for the printing of textbooks and answer scripts.
Raising slogans and demanding an inquiry, the protesting students entered the BOSEM office, accusing the authorities of compromising students’ academic interests by allowing the use of poor-quality paper. The protest was led by DESAM President M. Somorjit, who stated that around 12 noon the volunteers marched into the BOSEM premises demanding timely supply of textbooks to students, rejection of low-quality paper for printing, blacklisting of the firm responsible for supplying substandard paper, and a thorough inquiry into the alleged scam by the Commissioner of Education (Schools). The protesters also sought accountability of the BOSEM Chairman and Secretary.
The situation turned tense following the entry of the protesters into the BOSEM office, prompting the Officer-in-Charge of Imphal Police Station to arrive at the spot with a police team. After initial confrontation and negotiations, the situation was brought under control.
Subsequently, a meeting was held involving three DESAM leaders, the Director of Education (Schools), who is also the Chairman of BOSEM, and the Secretary of the board. Speaking to the media after the meeting, DESAM President M. Somorjit alleged that the ongoing process of procuring paper for textbooks and answer scripts has clear indications of a scam, which, he said, is being deliberately ignored despite a press release issued by the Governor.
He further stated that the government must constitute a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the matter and make the findings public. Warning of intensified agitation, DESAM said that if quality textbooks are not supplied before the commencement of classes in schools from the fifteenth of this month, the organisation will launch stronger protests in the coming days.
DESAM maintained that the future of students cannot be compromised due to administrative negligence and alleged corruption, and asserted that the organisation will continue its agitation until concrete action is taken.