'Finance our future and people currency campaign' launched
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 07 2015 : As a part of Action 2015 July campaign, various civil society groups in Manipur launched 'Finance Our Future Campaign and People' Currency Campaign' in Chandel and Ukhrul districts.

The campaign is launched to put pressure to the Government on taking a decision during the meeting of world Governments in Addis Ababa from July 13, 2015 to discuss the finance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which will guide the development agenda of the world from 2015 to 2030 .

It may be noted that the world has miserably failed to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which was set for itself to be achieved by the year 2015.One of the key reasons for this failure is the lack of accountability mechanism in the MDG.

This time civil society across the world is mobilizing the public who are the primary stakeholders of development.

Speaking to media persons, executive director of Human Rights Alert (HRA) said that on July 6, 2015 the civil society mobilization team visited Chadong village of Ukhrul district which has recently hog the limelight in the backdrop of the village being submerged in water due to the construction of Mapithel Dam.

This is a classic case of how investment for development destroys the life, livelihood, identity and culture of indigenous communities who have been inhabiting the region from the dawn of history.

Village elders, village authority, women elders, pastors and activist from the surrounding villages participated in the campaigns, Babloo said.

The mobilization team was shocked to see the alleged apathy of the Government towards the villagers who are experiencing the gradual swelling up of the water level.

Chadong village is completely cut off as the connecting road is submerged in the water.

The only boat that ferries goods to the village is donated by an NGO, he pointed out.

Moreover the narrow footpath cut out from the hills by the villagers and the bamboo bridge can be dangerous in the incessant rain.

The villagers informed the visiting team that they will move out of the village with dignity only after signing a proper contract that recognizes their rights with the Government and not by accepting some money doled out to them.

Earlier the civil society mobilization team visited Chadongpokpi village and Pallel town of Chandel district on July 5 .

With the help of village authority and NGO leaders the mobilization continued till July 6 where more than a hundred people joined the People's Currency Campaign by posing to click photos in the people's currency, Babloo said.

The campaign will continue in all the districts of Manipur and the signatures will be sent to the Union Finance Minister, with a request to personally attend the Addis Ababa meeting in Ethiopia, he added.

The matter is especially relevant in the case of Manipur as the Central Government stripped the State from the Special Category Status, which will deprive the citizens of the State from various centrally sponsored developmental programmes.

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