Naga body for mass movement to address socio-political issue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 14 2023: Deeply concerned over the agitation being launched by some sections of the people in support of illegal encroachment in the reserved and protected forests, Naga Youth Forum, Manipur (NYFM) has said that a mass social movement is need of the hour to address the present artificial socio-political issue created by vested interests.

The present artificial socio-political issue created by vested interests has affected the whole society of Manipur, a statement of NYFM said and appealed to all the right thinking citizens of the state to extend support to the mass social movement for peace and harmony in Manipur.

The NYFM statement issued by its president Amu Pam-ei further said that Manipur has been in the national news recently for the massive loss of forest cover.

As per India's Forest Report 2021, Manipur recorded loss of 249 sq km forest cover in 2021 compared to forest cover in 2019 .

From the year 2017 to 2019, Manipur lost total forest cover of 758 sq km and the main reason for it has been deforestation to facilitate poppy cultivation.

Correspondingly, drug trafficking has been on the rise as is evident from the massive seizure of drugs in the state.

Drugs originating from neighbouring countries and trafficked through the state have also been seized in other parts of the country.

Responding to this critical situation, Manipur government under the leadership of chief minister N Biren Singh has been undertaking a massive campaign against drugs under the banner of 'War on Drugs' since November 2018.During the drive against poppy cultivation, it has been found that many areas under the reserved and protected forest are under poppy cultivation while illegal encroachers were also found within forest areas.

This led to the investigation into the existence of many illegal settlements within forest areas.

For instance, K Songjang village evicted recently from Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest is a new settlement established in 2021.As per the statement of the forest department, establishment of a new village inside a protected forest area violates Section 30 (C) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Rule No 73 (4), 73(5) of Manipur Forest Rules 2021, Section 2(ii) of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Supreme Court ruling of December 12, 1996.Many new villages (both recognised and unrecognised) have been detected in the follow-up investigation and there have been instances of 10 villages in different districts under a single village chief.

The villages were named after forefathers of the chiefs and not by location.

Apart from this, many villages were found to have fictitious population and many others in possession of fake Aadhaar cards and voter IDs, Amu Pamei claimed.

According to Amu Pamei, the process of timely streamlining of villages has so far been blocked by elected representatives for their selfish ends.

Sadar Hills (present Kangpokpi) had only 179 villages in 1969 but has grown into massive 534 villages in 2021, an unprecedented growth of 198 per cent.

This can be compared to the growth of villages in Senapati district with 126 villages in 1969 and 140 in 2021, a growth of 11 percent.

Similarly, Churachandpur district had only 216 villages in 1969 but rose to 544 villages in 2021, a growth of 150 percent.

Tengnoupal and Chandel had 232 villages in 1969 but recorded increment of 446 in 2021 .

Tamenglong and Noney recorded a growth of 29 percent while Ukhrul and Kamjong district recorded negative growth in the number of villages.

Correspondingly, an attempt to control land and resources has been translated into a political movement demanding a separate political status.

This has resulted in socio-political issues in Manipur.

This is evidenced by the recent agitation launched by some sections of people in support of the illegal encroachment in the reserve and protected forests, Amu Pamei added in the statement.

Stressing the need for a mass social movement to address the present artificial socio-political issue created by vested interests, Amu Pamei said it is moral responsibility and bounden duty of all those who desire a peaceful and prosperous society irrespective of caste, cress or ethnic affiliation to launch a mass movement to resolve the present issue.

According to Amu Pamei, the demand of the mass movement to the Government of Manipur and the Government of India shall be for immediate action to identify and delete fictitious villages and delete the bogus population, identification and deletion of bogus Aadhaar cards and voter IDs.

De-recognition of chieftainship heading multiple villages and enactment of appropriate laws for new village recognition should other demands for the mass movement, Amu Pamei added in the statement.

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