CSOs air issues plaguing state to DoNER minister
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 07 2021:
A delegation of Collective of Civil Society Organisations (CCSO) comprising IPSA, ACOAM LUP, PANDM, IPAK, CLK, KANGLAMEI, KIL and KSA met Union DoNER/Tourism minister G Kishan Reddy in Delhi on October 6 .
The seven-member delegation apprised the DoNER minister about burning issues of Manipur and discussed about resolving the issues by the Government of India after taking the right step.
The delegation further apprised the Union minister about dissatisfaction of the people on issues concerning Manipur.
During the nearly one-hour long meeting, the delegation comprising PANDM president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar, ACOAM Lup president Sanjit Soraisam, IPSA vice-president Khuraijam Athouba, Kanglamei general secretary I Bimola, Kanglei Ima Lup (KIL) president RK Sanahanbi, Chanura Lamchinglel Kangleipak (CLK) president Ch Pakpi Chanu and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) president Sukham Bidyananda submitted a representation addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the DoNER minister.
Some of the points mentioned in the representation submitted to the PM were; DoNER minister being the concerned Union minister for the North Eastern region should pay special attention on resolving boundary dispute between India and Myanmar in Manipur sector by highlighting the matter to the PM and Home minister in coordination with current MoS external affairs minister RK Ranjan.
It also appealed the Union DoNER minister to take necessary action so that Manipur does not lose much territory while resolving the boundary dispute.
The representation also urged the Government of India to pay special attention and initiate necessary action on development and creation of job avenues under Act East Policy so that youth of Manipur could avail the opportunity.
Another key point mentioned in the representation was that the ongoing policies and programmes which seemingly divide the hills and the valley among the present generation be stopped immediately and instead take up collective policies and programmes which could bring harmony among hills and valley people of Manipur.
While highlighting factual accounts of the Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 produced by the Hill Areas Committee of Manipur Legislative Assembly recently, the representation said that development in hills could be brought when ADC functions properly and CCSO will support any move to strengthen ADC administration.
The representation, however, said that some contents in the Bill suggesting separate administration and division of land and administration were contradictory to supporting the unity of Manipur.
These contents also challenged the Presidential order of 1972 which clearly mentions that the Act should strengthen indigenous tribal and general population and all resources should be utilised collectively for development, the representation said and stressed the need for a collective discussion before making necessary amendment to the Bill.
On the other hand, the delegation apprised the Union DoNER minister that arable lands in Manipur remain empty for around five months after harvesting paddy due to poor or almost nil irrigation facility when enquired the by the Union minister in this regard.
The minister then assured the delegation that he will discuss with the Union Minster of Water Resources (Jal Shakti Minister) for improving the irrigation facility in Manipur.
The DoNER minister also assured of discussing the issues raised by the delegation again when he visits Manipur in November this year.
The delegation also apprised the DoNER/tourism minister that the future market and opportunities of Manipur lies in South East Asia and stressed the need for improving communication/logistic problems.
Apprising the tourism minister about problems faced by the people of Manipur in getting visa, the delegation pointed out that people have to travel 1500km (Kolkata) to get Visa to travel to Myahmar, which lies only around 100km from Imphal.
This indeed is illogical and spoiling opportunities; the delegation said and urged the Union minister to take steps for opening a Visa centre in Imphal in addition to the existing passport office in Imphal.
After patient hearing of the issues raised by the delegation, the DoNER minister assured of taking up necessary action at his level best.