Manipur’s new graduates left adrift amidst internet shutdowns, fears of violence

Prolonged violence in Manipur with frequent internet shutdowns, curfews and general strikes is affecting the academic and career pursuits of students pursuing higher education in the northeastern state, many educationists said.

With frequent internet shutdowns, students are facing problems in accessing online resources. Meanwhile, many recruiters are hesitant to visit campuses in Manipur for placement drives, given continuing reports of unrest in the state, even as curfews and general strikes continue to affect classes for those.

K.H. Johnson Singh is head of the computer science and engineering department at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Manipur and also in charge of placement. He told PTI: "We have witnessed a decline in recruitment drives after violence broke out in the state. At least 40 companies (online mode) came and 70 students have been selected this year. This is much less than what we were used to before the outbreak of violence. We had expected selection of some 100 students and some 50 companies."

He said, "Recruiters who prefer offline mode of interviews are much reluctant to visit for campus interviews. Despite our consistent assurance that the NIT campus is safe and just 20 minutes from the airport, the media images of tyres burning in the streets, mob violence and gunfights at peripheral areas seemed to have affected their psychology."

He added that 80 per cent of the institution's students stay in hostels on campus and have access to broadband 24 hours a day.

On the other hand, assistant professor of mass communication at Manipur University Natasha Elangbam told PTI, "Our students in every department have limited access to online resources as the majority of them rely on mobile internet data. Curfews and general strikes have severely affected ongoing classes. Timely completion of assignments given to students are also affected as many students do not have broadband at home."

Meanwhile, chief minister N. Biren Singh seemed to think the relocation of a military camp on campus was cause for particular jubilation.

Internet shutdowns have also severely affected career counselling agencies in the state, with many senior counsellors unable to support the desired information flow to students seeking employment. Counsellors also said that submission of resumes to national companies has been affected.

Sapam Joychandra, director of SS Career Counselling, told PTI, "We are unable to conduct psychometric assessment of students that would help chart out a career route for the concerned student. Counselling through zoom, online mock tests and other tools have been affected.

"Students are unable to submit their resumes on time to outside companies. Those having broadband is very limited and the majority of the students rely on mobile data internet services for every form of update related to their education and career. For my organisation alone, there is a drastic change of 90 per cent in student guiding activities before and after the violence."

More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.

The inter-communal violence, besides inflicting heavy casualties, has rendered thousands of people homeless since May last year.

It started after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal groups — mainly Naga and Kuki tribes — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

Based on PTI inputs