Violence, curfews, internet shutdowns impede student life in Manipur

Imphal: Prolonged violence in Manipur, coupled with frequent internet shutdowns, curfews, and general strikes, has significantly impacted the academic and career pursuits of students in the northeastern state, according to education experts.

The disruptions have hindered access to online educational resources, and recruiters have become hesitant to visit campuses for placement drives due to the ongoing curfews and strikes. K.H. Johnson Singh, the Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and in charge of placement at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Manipur, reported a decline in recruitment efforts since the outbreak of violence. He noted that this year, 40 companies participated in online recruitment, selecting 70 students, which was significantly lower than expected. He said the original expectation had been around 100 students being selected by 50 companies. Singh also mentioned that recruiters who preferred in-person interviews remained reluctant to visit, despite assurances about the safety of the NIT campus, which is located just 20 minutes from the airport. He stated that media coverage of street violence and gunfights had affected recruiters’ perception.

At the university level, Natasha Elangbam, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at Manipur University, highlighted that most students rely on mobile data for online access, which has been disrupted by curfews and strikes. She said the lack of stable internet access had severely affected ongoing classes and timely assignment submissions, adding that many students did not have broadband connections at home.

Career counseling services have also been disrupted. Sapam Joychandra, Director of SS Career Counselling, explained that the inability to conduct psychometric assessments or use online tools such as Zoom and mock tests had hindered efforts to guide students. He mentioned that the majority of students relied on mobile data for updates related to their education and careers and noted that his organization alone had seen a 90 per cent decline in student counseling activities since the violence began.

The ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis, who make up about 53 per cent of the population, and the Kuki-Zo tribes in the hill districts, which account for over 40 per cent, has left more than 250 dead and thousands displaced since May of last year. The conflict began after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

With PTI inputs