Principal complies with NCPCR order, Chakma students admitted finally

After days of ignoring the orders of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the principal of a government school in Arunachal Pradesh finally admitted students belonging to the Chakma community in the school.

As per information received by this writer, P Nebang, Principal of Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao under Changlang district admitted nine Chakma students to Class IXth and Class XI on 13 September 2012. Of these, two students were issued school leaving certificates (SLCs) and forced to move out last month along with another six students. The Miao school has 15 Chakma students now. 

The Chakma students have been allowed in the school only after unrelenting interventions by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The apex child rights body has issued a number of directions to the state authorities to admit Chakma students in the school. But, the orders were ignored, forcing the NCPCR to issue a fresh order to the principal to readmit the students.

This writer was also informed that the admitted Chakma have been asked to deposit CBSE registration fee.

It is pertinent to mention that more than 80 Chakma students were denied admission last year on the ground that the students approached for admission late, as a result of which, permission of the CBSE for late registration could not be obtained. This is an excuse as the students had approached the schools since start of the admission process.

Principal declines to readmit Chakma students

By Tejang Chakma

In a complete defiance of order of the apex child rights body, the Principal of Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh refused to readmit the Chakma students. Eight Chakma students who were given admission at the school were issued transfer certificates last month. The students were asked to take admission in a newly upgraded secondary school in another administrative circle, which has neither infrastructure nor teaching staff.

Recently, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights asked the state government to direct the Principal to take back the students in the school. On 7 September 2012, the eight students met the Principal but of no avail. The Principal categorically told them that they will not be readmitted.

This writer has learned that the school authorities of newly upgraded secondary school, where the students have been asked to proceed, also decided not to admit them.

The CBSE registration will also start shortly. Once the registration is done, these students will lose one precious academic year.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is now the only ray of hope for these students. 

Educational deprivation

Last year, eighty-eight students belonging to the Chakma community of Arunachal Pradesh had suffered one academic lost due to denial of admission in secondary schools. These poor and hapless students did not get admission despite interventions of the National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The interventions by the National Human Rights Institutions had little impact due to willful non-compliance of the orders. The state government did not submit reports despite reminders issued by the Commissions. Finally, when the reports were submitted it had no relevance as by then the school academic session was well over.

The recent direction of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) makes the picture clearer. Taking cognizance of a complaint filed by Asian Centre for Human Rights, the NHRC asked the state government to submit report, within two weeks, regarding denial of admission to the Chakma students to secondary school. No report was forthcoming despite reminders. It takes a final reminder on 28 February 2012 to get the state government moving. Yet, it took almost two months to submit reports. In a letter dated 18 April 2012, the Commissioner & Secretary (Education), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar has forwarded reports obtained from various authorities of the State Education Department.

But the reports submitted are not legible. In its latest proceedings the NHRC noted “The Commission perused the reports which are very dim and not legible.” This left the Commission with the only option to ask for clear and legible reports. Accordingly, the Commissioner & Secretary (Education), was directed to send clear and legible copies of the reports within six weeks. The time given has no value now as the students lost a year.

The story was written in advance by the state government and the NHRC was made to do what it wanted. Yet, another delay. The delay is not hard to understand. It was deliberate and has two reasons.

First, the state government has no answers for the academic loss of the students. So, illegible reports were purposely submitted to further the delay.

Second, the Chakmas are not recognized as citizens and not treated equally. They are kept out of government scheme. The state does not want to see the development of the Chakma community. Education is a key to development of any society. Now, the denial of education opportunity has become a tool to keep the Chakmas in dark.

Nothing will compensate the loss suffered by the students. Their future has been destroyed. This is not one off case. Many Chakma children are silently dropping out due to lack of access to schools over the years. They have only one option left to get married early and become parents of multiple of children. Yet, the state complained that the population of the state is increasing due to influx from states like Mizoram and Tripura.

The question is whether the Chakmas of Mizoram, where they have their own autonomous district council, and Tripura, where the Chakmas have all opportunities including education and employment, will come to Arunachal Pradesh to live in destitution.

Principal forcefully removes Chakma students from school

By Tejang Chakma

IN A shocking move, the principal of a government school has forcibly removed six students in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh on 21 August 2012. The students were asked to collect their school leaving certificates and leave the school forthwith while they were attending a class.

On August 21, the six students, as usual, went to school clueless that the day would be their last day in the school. The 9th standard students of the Government Higher Secondary School, Miao in Changlang district belong to the Chakma community. This is the first time the school had admitted Chakma students since 1995, made possible only following interventions by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

As per information received by this citizen journalist, P Nebang, Principal of the school, directed the students to leave the school as their presence in the school 'may invite physical attacks on them by students of other communities'. The Principal while directing them to collect their school leaving certificate (SLCs) asked them to take admission at a school in a different administrative circle. The students, having no option, left the school but did not collect the SLCs.

Prior to this shocking decision of the Principal, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Miao in a letter dated on 17 August 2012 summoned the guardians of the six Chakma students to his office to discuss the admission issue of their wards. As directed, the guardians of the six students met the ADC, Miao on 21 August. The ADC, Miao informed them that the Chakma students cannot be allowed to study in the school due to opposition by the local communities and that there was   a likelihood of violence against them by other students if they continue to attend classes. The ADC further stated that if the Chakma students are harmed he will not be able to save them as it will take at least hours to reach them and to provide police protection. He will not be responsible for any untoward incidents against them and therefore he will not allow the Chakma students to continue in the school.

When the guardians requested the ADC to at least allow their wards to study for this session, he stated that “if they are allowed to continue studies it will be difficult to get them leave the school later”.

It is important to mention here that the Chakma students never complained of any harassment by other students who treated them well since they were admitted in the school. It is alleged that these students were removed from the school due to ethnic origin. The school authorities and the administration allegedly do not want any Chakma students to study in this school. This school is the only secondary level school in the Miao circle.

This citizen journalist has further learnt that eight Chakma students were removed from the school on 13 August on the same ground. Pursuant to interventions of NCPCR a total of 14 Chakma students were admitted in the school. These students are yet to get admission and are on the verge of losing a precious academic year.

The school where the Chakma students were asked to take admission is a middle school, which has been recently upgraded to secondary level, is far from their villages and there is no infrastructure including teaching staff. The school is upgraded only on paper.

Published in Merinews.com, 23 August 2012

ARRD expresses concern at discrimination meted out to two Chakma students

By Tejang Chakma

THE ACTION for Rights and Rural Development (ARRD) has expressed its concern over the undesirable action of Extra-Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of Diyun Circle in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh which resulted in denial of admission of two students, belonging to the Chakma community, at Jawahar NavodayaVidyalaya, Bordumsa.

In a press release on 23 July, the organization, working for the welfare and development of communities based in rural and remote areas in the north east India, stated that two Chakma students under Diyun Circle had cleared the selection test held in May for admission to Class IXth at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Bordumsa through Lateral Entry for academic year-2012-2013.

Last month, the Principal of JNV, Bordumsa informed the parents that their wards have been selected by the Vidyalaya Selection Committee for admission to Class IXth. The Principal further informed the parents to report to the school on 5 July 2012 for admission of their wards along with the affidavits certifying that they belong to rural areas and income certificates, which has to be issued by the competent authority.

The release also stated that pursuant to the admission notice, the parents of the two students approached the EAC, Diyun on July 4 requesting for issue of the documents to enable their wards to get admission. Shockingly, the EAC, Diyun did not issue the documents and allegedly bluntly told the parents not to come to his office again regarding the matter. Consequently, the two students lost the opportunity to access good quality modern education at the NVS, Bordumsa.

“The action of the EAC, Diyun, who is the administrative head, is unfortunate and discriminatory in nature without any doubt and violates the provisions of the Constitution of India, and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, to which India is a party and further constitutes denial of educational opportunities to the two Chakma students from accessing quality education,” stated the ARRD press release.

“The Action forRights and Rural Development appeal the EAC, Diyun to issue all the relevant documents required to enable the students to take admission at the JNV, Bordumsa irrespective of their caste, creed, religion etc and also requests the JNV, Bordumsa to admit the students provisionally or extend the time for admission,” added the press release.


Published by Merinews, 24 July 2012

Chakma students in an Arunachal school forced to move out within days after admission

By Tejang Chakma

IN A shocking move, 38 Chakma students of a government higher secondary school in Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh have been forced to move out of the school on July 18, 2012. The students were admitted in the school during 1st to 7th July 2012 pursuant to the directions of the National Commission for Protection ofChild Rights (NCPCR), the apex child rights body in the country.

The school in question is Government Higher Secondary School, Kharsang under Miao sub-division in Changlang district. Following interventions by the NCPCR, the Principal of this school in an undated notice informed the Chakma students of respective feeder schools to take admission. Subsequently, 38 Chakma students hailing from Ratnapur, Golukpur and Milapur villages under Kharsang circle were admitted in the school. Out of the 38 students, 20 students are girls. While at least eight are students of previous academic session (2011-2012) who already lost one academic year due to denial of admission.

Prior to this shocking decision, the Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Kharsang called the village headmen of the three villages of Ratnapur, Golokpur and Milanpur to his office and directed them to transfer their children to Guatampur Middle school under Diyun circle which has been recently upgraded up to class IX. The Principal informed the village headmen that he has been instructed by the Deputy Director of School Education (DDSE), Changlang vide order dated 11 July 2012 to move out the Chakma students.

It is important to mention here that the up-gradation of Government Middle School to Class 9th is still in paper only. The Government Middle School, Gautampur is one of the 15 One-Section Schools approved during the 13th meeting of Project Approval Board (PAB) for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) held on 12th July, 2011. The cost of each of the school is Rs. 46.86 lakh. However, the construction of classrooms is yet is start and there are no teachers to teach the class 9th students.

It is learnt that the DDSE, Changlang vide his order dated 11 July 2012 has also instructed the Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Miao to move out 14 Chakma students admitted in the school following the NCPCR orders. There are 13 Chakma students from Government Middle School, a feeder school to Government Higher Secondary School, Miao who were refused admission in this school due to so-called confusion over jurisdiction.

This means that Gautampur school will have to accommodate 65 students without classrooms and teachers. At least two sections will be required apart from each subject teacher. The condition of Gautampur school is already dismal just like any other schools in Chakma areas. Currently, only four teachers are teaching a total of 635 children from Classes 1 to 8.

In the absence of classrooms the transferred Chakma students are most likely to be accommodated in the school’s common room, while the existing four junior teachers will have to teach the secondary students. In addition, these students have to walk a distance of more than 20 km (to and fro) daily to attend the school. There is also risk to their lives as they have to cross twice the turbulent Noa-Dihing river, which divides the Gautampur school with the three schools at Miao, Kharsang and Dharmapur.

These facts have been completely ignored by the concerned authorities and the action reflects racial discrimination with respect to the Chakmas. Not a single Chakma student has been admission in secondary schools in Miao and Kharsang circles since 1994 solely because of the ethnic origin. As a result, a number of Chakma students in these two circles have been involuntarily dropping out. Last year, at least 88 Chakma students, including 27 girls, had to drop out. Even the 52 students were reluctantly admitted in the two schools earlier this month at the intervention of the NCPCR.

Apart from the blatant violations of the NCPCR’s order, the actions violate the provisions of the Constitution of India, RMSA and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, in which India is a party.

Published in Merinews, 19 July 2012

Admission crisis continues to haunt Chakma students

By Tejang Chakma

IT SEEMS there is no end to the admission crisis among the Chakma students of Arunachal Pradesh. At least 14 Chakma students, who passed class 8th from Govt. Middle School, Dharmapur under Miao circle in Changlang district, have been denied admission to class 9 at Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao.

Since the last few years, the Chakma students in two circles of Miao and Kharsang have been dropping out after upper primary level due to denial of admission in neighborhood secondary schools.

Pursuant to intervention of the NCPCR (DO letter No. 4A/2011-12/Misc/NEC/NCPCR/1548 dated 27.6.2012 to Secretary (Political), Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh), the Govt. Higher Secondary School, Kharsang and Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao started admitting Chakma students from this month. About 51 students have been admitted in the two schools. 37 in Govt. HS School, Kharsang and 14 in Govt. HS School, Miao respectively.

However, at least 14 Chakma students of Govt. Middle School, Dharmapur under Miao Circle have been refused admission to Class 9th at the Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao in violation of the order of the NCPCR, the apex child rights body in India. Following NCPCR’s order, the parents/guardians approached the Principal of the school and the local administration for admission of their wards, but returned dejected.

It has been learnt that admission was refused on the ground that “no order has been received by the Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao to admit students from Govt. Middle School, Dharmapur.”

Another pretext craftily used to deny admission was the “issue of jurisdiction” of the Dharmapur school. Following refusal of admission by the school, the parents/guardians met the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC), Miao. To the astonishment of the guardians, the EAC brought fore the issue of jurisdiction of the middle school i.e. whether or not the Dharmapur Middle school is feeder to Govt. Higher Secondary School, Miao. Accordingly, the EAC instructed the Circle Officer, Miao to ascertain the feeder status of the school.

It is not known what forced the EAC, Miao to question the feeder status of the Dharmapur Middle School. There is no doubt that Dharmapur Middle School is feeder to Miao Secondary School. Official records show that Dharmapur village falls under Miao administrative circle. The EAC, Miao being the administrative officer is fully aware of this fact.

This gives the impression that the grounds propounded for refusal of admission are only lame excuses aimed at delaying, if not denying admission to the Chakma students of Dharmapur.

Published by Merinews, 13 July 2012