NERCORMP office in Chandel to be closed from Sept 4
Source: The Sangai Express
Chandel, August 31 2017:
Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) and Kuki Students' Association (KSA), the two apex bodies of Chandel district, have resolved to close the office of North East Resource Management Projects (NERCORMP) in Chandel, from September 4 .
A joint press release issued by KCA and KSA stated that the office has been closed owing to the bias manner of the newly posted Project Manager of NERCORMP, Chandel towards the Kuki residents .
There are 11 NERCORMP-partnered NGOs in Chandel district, out of which six NGOs are headed by Naga people and the remaining five by Kuki people, it stated .
A recent visit by a NERCORMP monitoring team to Chandel and Tengnoupal districts, selectively inspected the Kuki dominated areas or villages and those NGOs headed by Kuki people and issued a discontinuation order and blacklisted many Kuki villages without giving any chance for rectification, the statement added .
It further decried the use of harsh and provocative language against the Kuki people and the chiefs .
"The former Project Manager had to resign from NERCORMP due to threats from an armed group, suspected to have been influenced by some staff/team members of NERCORMP head office in Shillong", it alleged .
It further stated that the NERCORMP office in Chandel lacks sufficient staff and the villagers face immense hardship especially during the implementation of activities .
The concerned authority has turned a blind eye despite numerous request by the two apex bodies to take up necessary measures regarding the matter .
The office will remain closed from September 4 until the authority concerned reaches an amicable solution with the apex bodies.