The traditional tribal village authority of Kotlen in Kangpokpi district of Manipur has drawn flak for banishing six tribal families as a punishment for not sending their children to the local government school.
They had put their wards in the school of the neighbouring Hengjol village. Village chieftain Dongjang Haokip asked the six families to leave by April 28, which they did after demolishing their tin-roofed houses.
Tonglet Haokip, one of the victims, said that as there are not enough teachers, they had decided to send their children to the neighbouring village.
Despite complaints by the victims, police are yet to intervene. The victimised families said the government school in the village is in a bad shape with two local youths, recruited as substitutes, looking after all the seven classes.
District officials also admitted there were not enough teachers in the school. They further alleged that the chieftain, himself, was sending his children to schools in Imphal, the State capital.
The victimised tribal families said they are taking shelter in Hengjol and Tintong Laijang villages.
The village elders said the families had gone against the resolution of the authority that all parents shall send their children up to Class V to the local government school.
The parents said they opted for the Tongsat Memorial Junior School in the neighbouring village about 1 km away. All the eight children of these six families are now studying there.
