Sword Vashum shares vision for Ukhrul
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, October 23 2021:
Sword Vashum, who served as government servant for over 36 years, has declared his decision to enter the fray for the forthcoming Manipur State General Elections 2022 from 45-Chingai AC in Ukhrul district.
Briefing media persons at 3-In-1 Hotel in Ukhrul town on Saturday, the retired civil servant shared his political vision for the district and its populace, stating that he has no personal agenda or interest whatsoever for himself.
He informed that his personal concern for the future of the younger generation of the district and for the people at the grassroots level drove him to decide on contesting the forthcoming elections.
Vashum, 75, said that the only motivation for him to contest in the polls is to "come forward and serve the people wholeheartedly" .
Responding to a query, he said that he's confident of securing the Congress party ticket to run for the upcoming polls.
He said that he has set before him three agenda which are possible for immediate implementation, while a fourth one that might take time, needs to be pursued in right earnest.
According to the retired C&AG additional deputy, the first agenda pertained to the pressing need for restoration of the lands at the foothills.
He said that there are cases of arbitrary annexation of lands of the hill districts to the valley and that needs to be rectified/restored immediately.
Vashum also called for immediate review of the existing employment quota in the state, based on the mutual agreement of 2:1 ratio.
As per the mutual agreement at the time of granting statehood to Manipur, the tribal populations are entitled 33% of the employment.
"Based on this, the tribals should have not less than 30,000 employees but far from that, unfortunately, tribal employees today hardly add up to even 20,000.This should be immediately reviewed and the needful should be done," he contended.
Making a strong case of implementing Article 371C in letter and spirit, Vashum said that functional autonomy of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) must be immediately ensured.
"We need to first look at the budget allocation for the hills and the valley.
Accordingly, the people's representatives from the hills will know whether they are getting the budget shares earmarked for the tribals.
Secondly, HAC comprising of tribal MLAs coming from the 19'constituencies should have functional autonomy so they are able to look after the problems of the tribal areas".
Vashum nevertheless observed that the constitutional entity is being treated as of now as a state government creation, which is not envisaged in the constitution.
"These three agenda can be addressed immediately because we are asking for anything new, we are asking-only for what is constitutionally sanctioned, "he said.
On his fourth agenda, Vashum noted that existing delimitation is heavily skewed against the tribals.
"A tribal MLA currently looks after a physical size of 1,150 sq km as against a valley MLA who looks after a tiny size of 5 sq km .
Now, this defies any human common sense that such a thing should exist as a symbol of democratic principles.
We need to review this anomaly and bring about a complete overhaul in the existing delimitation based on demographic and topographic features of the state," he pointed out.
He then went on to suggest that the future of Manipur absolutely depends on peaceful coexistence.
"That essentially means mutual trust and respect and a sense of equity and justice.
Without which, there would be no vibrant, peaceful coexistence in the state, which means perpetual turmoil witnessed in the recent past," he observed.
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