Youth Collective states stand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 06 2022: The Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) today organised a consultative program on people's election monitoring cum panel discussion christened "People's Watch on Manipur-2022-Election" this morning at Manipur Press Club.

During the inaugural function of the consultative program cum panel discussion, former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam released a music video entitled "Luchingba Khanba Heitare" .

Delivering the keynote address, culture and arts coordinator of YCM, Thongam Zingo said that poll preparation by election officials are visible in every district and political parties and candidates are neck deep in campaigning amidst the COVID-19 protocol after the announcement of poll dates of the State Assembly election.

Youth Collective states stand

But unfortunately, unprecedented violence, murder, clash, gun violence, bomb blasts and ransacking of properties have taken centre stage in the State despite the efforts by officials concerned and stakeholders for holding a peaceful, free and fair election, he noted.

In this context, Youth Collective Manipur has been exploring ways in which people can deepen their engagement in the electoral processes and thus been organizing campaigns in the form of debate competitions across the State, he said.

YCM is further exploring the possibilities of initiating a people's election monitoring, he said and appealed to individual experts and civil society organizations to join them in forming an effective people's election monitoring framework for Manipur, he said while adding an "Election Monitoring by People" will assist in ensuring the electoral process to become "a free expression of the will of the people" .

During the programme, Rebica Lamabam and Priyadarshini Ningombam, interns at Human Rights Alert spoke on the report of poll related violence in Manipur as Advocate Chongtham Victor dwelt on the model code of conduct and cVIGIL initiative through which vigilant citizens can report violations of election code of conduct.

Joel Mark Barredo of ASEAN Youth Forum (regional think tank) also joined the programme virtually and spoke on the topic "Political participation of Youth" .

Later a panel discussion on people's election monitoring of the ensuing election was held with retired IAS Dr RK Nimai; ATSUM president, Paotinthang Lupheng; Dr Aribam Noni Assistant Professor DM College of Arts; Grace Jajo, freelance journalist and Paojel Chaoba, executive editor of the Frontier Manipur as the panellists.