Faculty Crisis at Presidency College Motbung Triggers Uprising; KSO Sadar Hills Warns of Indefinite Blockade

The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills, has issued a powerful 10-day ultimatum to the Government of Manipur, demanding the immediate deployment of adequate teaching faculty at Presidency College, Motbung—the only government college serving the entire Kangpokpi District. The KSO has warned that failure to act will trigger an indefinite economic blockade, squarely placing the blame on the government for the consequences.

In a joint press conference with the Presidency College Motbung Students' Union at KSO Administrative Office at Kangpokpi District Headqaurters today, KSO Sadar Hills Education Secretary, Jangginthang Haokip expressed deep resentment over the state's persistent neglect of the education system in the hill districts, calling it a reflection of systemic discrimination that has long plagued Manipur. “The chronic shortage of faculty at Presidency College is not an isolated administrative issue—it is a symptom of the deep-seated inequality the hills have suffered for decades,” he said.

Despite repeated appeals, Haokip said, the government has failed to appoint even the minimum required faculty to ensure basic academic standards at the institution. As a result, students are denied access to quality education—a right enshrined in the Constitution and a promise reiterated time and again by successive governments.

The student body further criticized the Manipur Government’s apparent prioritization of resources in the valley districts while neglecting critical needs in the hills. “Education is the foundation of empowerment, especially in conflict-ridden societies like ours. But the ongoing educational neglect in Kangpokpi exposes the state’s disregard for equitable development and deepens the existing socio-political divide,” he asserted.

The student organization drew a direct connection between this marginalization and the larger ethnic and territorial conflict that has engulfed Manipur in recent years. They argued that the denial of educational opportunities is not just an administrative lapse but a political act—one that erodes trust, reinforces alienation, and perpetuates historical injustices.

“At a time when Manipur desperately needs healing, understanding, and peace, investing in education—especially in the hill regions—should be the government’s foremost priority,” Haokip emphasized. “Instead, we are witnessing indifference that undermines the very foundation of harmony and progress.”

KSO Sadar Hills reminded the public that students from the hills are equally entitled to a future filled with hope and opportunity. “We are not asking for privilege. We are demanding fairness. Education should be the bridge to unity, not a wall of exclusion.”

The student body concluded with a call to conscience, urging the government to act decisively to rectify the imbalance. “The people of Kangpokpi will no longer remain silent. We seek justice, not charity—and if our voice continues to be ignored, we will be forced to assert our rights through democratic protest.”

According to official figures from the college, Presidency College, Motbung consists of twelve departments, but alarmingly, there are absolutely no teachers in several key departments such as Zoology, Chemistry, and Botany. The total number of required faculty stands at a staggering 42, highlighting the depth of the crisis.

This enormous inadequacy, the KSO Education Secretary stated, has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the Governor of Manipur and other relevant district authorities—but to no avail.

The continued inaction has left the student body with no choice but to issue this ultimatum, warning that if their demands are not met, they will escalate their agitation to an indefinite economic blockade.

Meanwhile, the Presidency College Motbung Students’ Union (PCMSU) has also come forward in full support of the KSO’s stand. The union voiced its own grievances over the severe lack of faculty, which has caused immense hardship for the student community.

“This is not merely a college issue but a collective fight for educational justice in the hill areas,” said Goumang Kilong, Information and Publicity Secretary of PCMSU. He called on all civil society organizations, student bodies, and concerned citizens to stand united in this cause, emphasizing that the future of the hill youth must not be compromised any further.