GUWAHATI:
All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has raised the demand for making the report on
Clause 6 of the Assam Accord submitted by the high-level committee public so as
to let the people of the State know its content. The students' body has decided
to start a planned economic movement to help the lockdown-affected people of
the State.
The AASU had its State executive committee meeting on Friday when it discussed a whole lot of issues concerning the State, including New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and the current economic slowdown because of the corona-induced lockdown.
Talking to the media after the meeting, AASU's advisor-in-chief Samujjal Bhattacharya said, "The corona-induced economic slowdown has affected small traders and lower-income group people the worst in the State. To meet this situation, a planned economic movement is a must. The AASU did initiate such a movement – Swabolombi— during the Assam Agitation. However, that movement couldn't survive. We need to revive that movement now. To ensure success of the economic movement, we need to revive two of our wings – Asom Unnati Sabha and AASU Sena. In order to take the economic movement forward we'll seek suggestions from eminent economists and intellectuals of the State.
"Taking the advantage of the lockdown, the government is carrying out a few anti-people activities. A few instances are – the work of the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project is going on in full swing, and the government is trying to implement the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) 2020. We'll oppose all such activities staying within the perimeter of the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry.
"The UGC (University Grant Commission) wants to hold sixth semester examinations. However, we oppose the move as the current situation isn't conducive for holding any examinations. The UGC should device a way to give degrees to such students based on their previous examinations. If some students want to take examinations, there should be a separate provision for them.
"The draft NEP 2020 doesn't reflect any of the suggestions we gave at the time of hearing. Without infrastructure such a policy will be a meaningless exercise."
Bhattacharya said that the next annual conference of the AASU will be held at Duliajan in October-end.Also Watch: #LetsTalk: Of Perception & Understanding