Seri workers oppose Govt move
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 26 2013 :
Asserting that it would not allow Govern-ment of Manipur's plan to re- settle evicted residents of Lei-Ingkhol at Napet Loukol and Khanglapokpi areas of Lam-longei village materialise, Lamlongei Lamjing Lamtak Apunba Lup said intense agi-tation would be launched if the Government tries to forcibly enforce the plan.
Speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today, Lup general secretary Nong-thombam Rameshwor said many people of Lamlongei had been sustaining livelihood by working as sericul- ture labourers at the Japan-funded Sericulture Project lo- cated at Napet Loukon and Khanglapokpi
since 2004 .
With relentless effort by the Lamlongei populace resulting in the appreciable de- velopment of the Sericulture Project sites including adequate available of infrastruc- ture such as 10 adult rearing houses, nurseries and regular training programme under the aegis of the State's Sericulture Department in addition to winning awards at cocoon melas (fairs), converting the project area into residential area would amount to not on-ly undermining labour of the Lamlongei public but also de-prive them of the only source of earning, explained the secretary.
Suggesting that the Government locate another suit- able place to resettle the Lei-ingkhol people and conveying solidarity with the suffering and anxiety of the people of Lei-Ingkhol who are set to be evicted from their homes, Rameshwor also highlighted that Lamlongei public had already lost substantial agricul- ture land consequent to the setting up of the Assam Rifles (IGAR-S) campus.
Opining that transforming sericulture project area into residential pockets contradicts Government's own program-me to revive the sericulture project, the secretary reiterated that intense movement would be initiated in collaboration with civil society orga- nisations in case Government of Manipur do not review its human settlement plan.