Meet underscores need for functional MHRC
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, October 18 2012:
The peoples' review of performance of People's Convention on Millenium Development Goals has been held today at Lamyanba Sanglen of Imphal today jointly organised by Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR), Sustainable Livelihood Forum - Manipur (SLFM) and United Voluntary Youth Council (UVYC).
Other organizations from all the nine districts of Manipur also participated in the programme.
Inaugurating the convention, L Ibomcha who is the chairman of the Public Account Committee called for the need to re-establish the now defunct Manipur Human Rights Commission to ensure that Right to Information functions effectively and transparently to ensure good governance.
In his key-note address, Babloo Litongbam who is the Executive Director of HRA brought to mind how the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) came about in September 2000 with 189 nations declaring their commitments for social equity and development to be achieved by 2015. With just 3 years left, the convention seeks to address if Manipur is anywhere close to achieving those goals.
Using power point, the 8 goals of the millennium development goal (MDG): eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.
Mr Amar Yumanam, Dean of Social Sciences, Manipur University speaking as the guest of honour highlighted the values of freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and responsibility.
He also pointed out that the world is already preparing the agenda of the post 2015 development goals and norms while Manipur sleeps, barely aware that MGDs ever exist.
He also emphasised how the issues of Legitimate Politics, Security, Justice, employment and communities capacity to generate revenue are going to be the key concepts in shaping up the past- 2015 development agenda of the world.
Four panelists from various networks presented their experiences in the field on the situation of the MDGs.
Meihoubam Rakesh, Director of HRLN (Manipur) graphically presented how the benefits from various welfare schemes are conned by various vested interest and explained how funds are utilised in creating private assets instead of working for public's benefit.
Mr Pradeep Keisham, Convenor of MACR listed out the various legislations and schemes meant for children since 2000 and highlighted how the benefits of such laws hardly reach the children.
He recommended the need for changing the social structure and systems along with the legal framework for children to actually realise the rights and outlined the need for promptly establishing the Manipur State Child Rights Commission.
RK Nolikanta, president of CoNE pointed out that even though Manipur formed only 0.2 % of India's population, it bears the brunt of the burden of 8% of people living with HIV in the country.
Through an action research conducted by especially for this convention, he pointed out challenges faced by various people living with HIV with regard to access to proper treatment.
Ms Mesiah Devi, state Co-ordinator of SLFM presented the difficulties of the people both in the valley and the hills of Manipur to access the PDS items on the basis of their public hearing conducted recently.
She also presented the recommendation issued by the commission of the right to food to the government of Manipur after the public hearing.
She also pointed and mourned the fact that the recommendation remains unimplemented till date.
Activist from Tamenglong district, Ukhrul district, transgender community and other interest groups also presented their concerns with the non-realisation of the MDG.
The convention concluded with commitment from the Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University to come out with an annual Manipur Development report by closely working with the frontline activists struggling for overcoming the development challenge in Manipur.
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