Centre to be urged for Eco Task Force
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 15 2012:
With the sole motive to provide employment opportunities to the youths of the state of Manipur and to safeguard the ecology of the state, Akhil Bharatya Purva Sainik Seva (ABPSS) has decided to press the Union Government to set up Manipur Regiment and Eco Task Force in Manipur.
Briefing media persons in this regard, RK Rajendra, ex-member Manipur Human Rights Commission, said that Narendra Nath Gupta, Vice Chairman, ABPSS, in a workshop on the Strategic Importance of Manipur in India organized by Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur at the Directorate's complex in Palace Compound on April 13, had given the assurance in this regard.
RK Rajendra further informed that his speech as Chief Guest on the occasion of the workshop, he said that Manipur of all states in India should be made powerful in all aspects since it lies in the border area of the India.
For this to happen, the ecology of the state should be safeguarded and the youths of the state should be strengthened by providing them with employment opportunities.
If the state is made to remain in a weak status, the people of the neighbouring state would influx in the state and resort to cutting down of the trees and forest, thereby spoil the natural environment of the state.
The Union government should realize that destroying the state of Manipur is destroying India.
As such, there is the need to establish an Eco Task Force Manipur Regiment.
RK Rajendra further stated that NN Gupta, retired Major General and Vice Chairman of ABPSS, after hearing his speech, assured him that he would take up the matter and pressed the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defense Minister in this connection.
He also said that the Eco Task Force along with the state force and the Army should work together in order to safeguard the environment and ecology of the state.
The Army and AR deployed in the state at present are engaged to counter insurgency problems in the state and are letting the destroyers of the environment go scot-free.
In India, the Eco Task Force has been established in UP, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.
Like other states of India where they have their own respective Army Regiments, there is also need for the presence of Assam Regiment and Gorkha Reginment in the North East.
In Manipur, the Manipur Regiment should be set up so that a number of unemployed youths can be solved and the number of Manipuri Army Officers is increased considerably.
Recently, the Nepal Government has passed a resolution prohibiting all Nepalese from joining the Indian Army, he recalled, adding that the issue of setting up an Eco Task Force and Manipur Regiment had been taken up to the level of the Chief Minister.