CHURACHANDPUR, MANIPUR — A deepening educational crisis is silently unfolding in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, threatening to sideline a generation of government job aspirants. For nearly 14 months, as the region grapples with the fallout of a violent ethnic conflict, students from this beleaguered district are finding themselves at a severe disadvantage, compelled to undertake arduous and financially draining journeys simply to sit for national-level examinations.
The irony is stark: Imphal, the state capital and home to the nearest examination centres for competitive tests like SSC, NDA, NEET, UPSC, and UGC-NTA, lies a mere 62 kilometres away. However, persistent security concerns and stringent travel restrictions have rendered this route largely impassable for residents of Churachandpur. Consequently, determined candidates are left with no option but to traverse hundreds of kilometres, seeking examination halls in distant cities such as Aizawl, Guwahati, and Agartala. This forced displacement translates into significant financial burdens and immense academic strain, eroding their chances of success.
Many aspiring candidates have heartbreakingly reported missing pivotal examinations because the logistical hurdles and prohibitive costs associated with long-distance travel were simply beyond their means. Even for those who managed to navigate the challenging road conditions and absorb the steep travel expenses, the ordeal hardly ended upon reaching the examination venue. Unfamiliar surroundings, a dearth of affordable and suitable local accommodation, coupled with the sheer physical and mental exhaustion from prolonged journeys, have invariably impacted their performance, often disproportionately.
In this grim scenario, local coaching institutes and dedicated student welfare groups have stepped forward, offering a crucial lifeline. Their efforts, ranging from providing logistical support to offering much-needed morale boosts, have been instrumental in alleviating some of the immediate pressures. Yet, these commendable initiatives, though vital, remain a stopgap solution against the backdrop of systemic access issues that continue to plague the district.
Educators and student leaders are now sounding a serious alarm, issuing a dire warning that unless immediate and decisive measures are enacted, including the urgent establishment of a permanent, secure examination centre within Churachandpur itself, an entire cohort of students from this conflict-affected zone risks being permanently excluded from crucial national-level opportunities. Advocacy groups are intensifying their push for decentralised examination infrastructure, asserting that in these challenging times, equitable access to examination centres is no longer a matter of convenience, but an undeniable necessity for justice and opportunity.
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