Message of Hijam Irabot echoes far and wide
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 23 2012:
AS A part of the 10-day long Hijam Irabot commemoration event being organized by Lamyanba Irabot Ningsing Thouram Observation Committee (LINTOC), an awareness programme on the theme "Green Revolution" was held at Nambol Sabal Leikai Community Hall today.
The programme was graced by Dr RK Sanajaoba, Deputy Secretary of Board of Secondary Education, Manipur; Veteran Journalist K Modhumangol and Prof MC Arun of Anthropology Department, Manipur University as presidium members.
Speaking on the occasion, L Shyamkumar, Convener of LINTOC stated that for a state to develop, industrial development, no doubt, is essential.
But industrial development alone is not enough without agricultural development through proper utilization of the available land and increase in production.
Today a large number of cultivable land in Manipur, specially, in the valley areas have been converted into building areas for schools, government offices, military barracks, etc.
Unfortunately, none of the so-called leaders in the state have been able come up with any policies to control misuse of agricultural land in the state.
Shyamkumar maintained that in the light of shrinking agricultural land, observing birth anniversary of Hijam Irabot who dedicated his life fighting for the cause of the poor farmers is meaningless.
So, the state government needs to come up with an Act for the protection of agricultural lands in the state and implement it at the earliest.
He also expressed serious concern over ever increasing population of illegal migrants in the state, and called upon the exhorted that indigenous people of the state to follow the footsteps of Hijam Irabot.
Dr RK Sanajaoba, Veteran Journalist K Modhumangol and Prof MC Arun spoke on different topics as resource persons on the occasion.
On the other hand, as part of the Irabot Month Observance, a day-long free medical camp was organized jointly by Nongthombam Leirak Youth Organisation and Irabot Memorial Charitable Trust at Nongthombam Leikai Community Hall here today.
During the medical camp, free testing of diabetes and BP of people above 40 years of age was conducted by a team of specialist doctors.
All the people who came to avail the medical facilities were also provided medicines free of cost.
Under the aegis of Red Shield Division, security forces also observed the 61st death and 116th birth anniversary of Hijam Irabot with local people at Ningthoukhong today.
A large number of people attended the event.
Col Kaushik Mukherjee, Commanding Officer of 6/8 Gorkha Rifles extended his wishes on this auspicious occasion, where the 11th local level march past competition was held with sixteen contingents from various schools participating in it.
The Security Forces have been a part of many such goodwill gestures encompassing the entire spectrum of Manipur society, according to a statement issued by PIB Defence Wing.