Ningol Chakkouba festival celebrated at different places
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 30 2011:
In an effort to give equal treatment to physically challenged persons as normal members of the society, Nongchup Imphal Loumee Sinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup and International Handicapped Welfare Mission jointly feted disabled persons with the presentation of handloom items at Ningol Chakkouba celebration organised at Awang Khunou Kiyam Sabal today.
Speaking at the occasion, Konthoujam Assembly Constituency MLA K Sarat said, tradition and culture of the State are diminishing day by day.
He added, forefathers used to take healthy food, but people of the current generation consume food items which contain harmful chemicals thereby giving bad effect to the overall health condition of the society.
It is mainly the reason why people of the current generation are suffering from many diseases and the number of physically challenged persons are increasing.
The MLA also lauded the farmers of the State for their hard work.
Indicating that Government employees enjoy salary every month while farmers earn their profit through one reaping season, the MLA sarcastically said, Government employees enjoy poinu (reaping season) 12 times a year, but farmers have poinu once in a year.
Drawing attention of the State Government regarding the welfare of the physically challenged persons, K Sarat questioned why the Government has failed to do what Nongchup Sinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup has done for the physically challenged persons.
Manipur would become a developed State only when the Government gives equal treatment to physically challenged persons like any normal citizen.
Nongchup Imphal Loumee Sinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup Advisor Thoiba Konthoujam said Manipur was self sufficient in food production till the end of the 19th Century.
However, the State started facing problems of food scarcity since the beginning of the 20th Century due to influx of migrants.
He also urged the farmers to produce chemical free healthy food items.