Churachandpur/Imphal: Aspiring government job candidates in violence-hit Churachandpur district of Manipur are struggling with severe academic and financial burdens due to the inaccessibility of examination centres amid the continuing ethnic conflict in the state since May 3, 2023.
Despite Imphal, the nearest exam hub, being just 62 kilometres away, ongoing tensions, movement restrictions, and fear of violence have made it impossible for most students from Churachandpur to access it safely. As a result, thousands of students preparing for crucial exams like SSC, NDA, NEET, UPSC, and UGC-NTA are forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to distant cities such as Aizawl, Guwahati, and Agartala, bearing not only additional costs but also enduring severe physical and mental exhaustion.
“Travelling nearly 300 kilometres through hilly terrain has drained us physically and financially,” said Tiffany Ngaineilam Simte, a government job aspirant from Churachandpur. “Many deserving students missed exams simply because they couldn’t afford the journey.”
A Daunting Academic Struggle
Coaching institutes like ULTIMATE Coaching Centre and local welfare organisations such as the Siamsinpawlpi (SSPP) have been providing moral and logistical support, but the overwhelming difficulties remain.
“Despite these odds, our students remain dauntless,” said Papau, a local coordinator, acknowledging the resilience shown by the youth. Yet, stories of hardship pour in from aspirants like Chingngaihkim and Rebecca Vahneilhing Mate, who spoke of problems such as:
- Lack of affordable accommodation in far-off cities
- Unfamiliarity with distant exam environments
- Emotional distress from leaving families amid uncertainty
- Increased fatigue from extended road journeys through difficult terrain
These issues, students say, have directly affected their concentration, performance, and confidence during exams.
Coaching Teachers, Student Leaders Raise Alarm
“Our access to Imphal exam centres is gone since this conflict started. Some of our students are forced to write exams in Agartala or Guwahati. The financial and psychological toll is unimaginable,” said Ginmuan, a teacher at Ultimate Coaching Centre.
The Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) has repeatedly raised this issue with state and central authorities, demanding the urgent establishment of permanent exam centres in Churachandpur.
“Our students are not only burdened financially but are at a serious competitive disadvantage compared to their peers in other regions,” said Samuel Taithul, President of the ZSF.
Unanswered Demands, Rising Frustration
For years, student bodies have sought the setting up of an exam centre in Churachandpur, arguing that it is the only way to ensure academic equity during such volatile times. However, despite repeated appeals, no concrete action has been taken by either the state government or national examination bodies like the NTA (National Testing Agency) and UPSC.
“We urge the authorities to consider our plight and act. Education cannot be allowed to suffer because of law and order failures,” said a joint statement from local student unions.
The Road Ahead
As the ethnic unrest in Manipur shows no signs of easing, the demand for setting up localised exam centres in Churachandpur has gained fresh momentum, with stakeholders hoping for government intervention to bridge this growing academic divide.
Until then, the students of Churachandpur continue to battle against odds—armed with determination but weighed down by challenges no student should have to face.