Govt’s tackling of flood situation ; CPI demands total review
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 14 2017:
CPI State General Secretary Dr Moirangthem Nara has asked the State Government to review the Government's entire mechanism of tackling the flood situation .
Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan here today, Dr Nara lamented that all the efforts to fight floods and streamline drainage systems have yielded very little positive results .
Quoting media reports that this season's flood is the gravest in the last 20 years, Dr Nara said that the degree of devastation is quite enormous .
It is the duty of the State Government to provide immediate relief materials to all flood affected people but it is a matter of great concern that the Government has failed to provide necessary relief materials to the needed quantity .
Blaming only deforestation for the extensive flood would not be totally correct.
Disappearance of wetlands which earlier used to serve as natural reservoirs should be taken into account.
As such, the State Government's approach to tackle seasonal floods needs complete review, he asserted .
He also highlighted the need to make adequate quantities of paddy seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs available to farmers in time .
During the past three years since the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre, many farmers who were overburdened with debts had committed suicide .
Growth rate of agriculture sector has now declined to 1.1 per cent from 3.7 per cent in 2014.This decline can be attributed to the new Government's neo-liberal economic policy .
The NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not interested in agriculture sector.
The current agrarian crisis is triggered by Modi Government's extra attention to corporate sectors .
This sorry state of affairs prevailing in other States would reach Manipur and the plight of farmers would be multiplied by the current flood .
CPI would hold mass meetings on July 25 and 26 in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal on protection of farmers' rights and interests, informed Dr Nara .
The mass meetings would be used as a platform to urge the Government to adopt the Kerala model of giving pension to farmers and also to provide paddy seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs in time and in adequate quantities .
While welcoming the several measures taken up by the BJP-led Government against corruption, Dr Nara said that opening of an Anti-Corruption Cell is not enough .
The scourge of corruption cannot be eradicated without reforming the electoral system, he said .
He also rejected the claim of BJP State unit president and Rajya Sabha MP K Bhabananda that the BJP led Government has eradicated corruption from the State .
CPI would do critical analysis of all the words and actions of the Government in a constructive manner, he added.