Imphal, May 11: Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today appealed to the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur, to review its its decision to impose an indefinite economic blockade on the state’s two national highways from Monday midnight.

John Pulamte, president of the students’ union, on Wednesday had announced the indefinite economic blockade on Imphal-Kohima and Imphal-Jiribam highways to protest against the state government’s failure to fulfil its demands.

The students’ union is demanding the re-introduction of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes) Bill, appointment of more Scheduled Tribes candidates as graduate teachers and the decentralisation of powers of the tribal development department to the district level.

It is also demanding the revival of the Scheduled Tribes cell in Manipur University, opening of residential schools in the hills and the wages of teachers engaged on contract basis in the hill schools.

Responding to a call attention motion in the Assembly today, Ibobi Singh said the reservation bill would be reintroduced in the ongoing session of the state Assembly. He urged the members to thoroughly discuss the bill before passing it.

The Assembly had passed a similar bill last year, but Governor S.S. Sidhu had refused his assent.

“The cabinet reconsidered and discussed the bill which was turned down by the governor. We made changes and the bill will be introduced in the current session of the Assembly,” Ibobi Singh said.

He, however, did not disclose any details.

The chief minister added that the government was planning to appoint more Scheduled Tribe teachers and clear the backlog in filling up the vacant posts reserved for the tribes.

He also assured the students’ union that he would speak to the Manipur University authorities about reviving the Scheduled Tribes cell and also delegate more powers to the tribal development department of the district offices.

Listing the measures, Ibobi Singh appealed to the tribal MLAs to persuade the student’s union to call off the blockade.

The students’ union has warned that it would not allow the transportation of all essential commodities from outside the state to Imphal.