Tribal bodies spar over FCI godown for Chandel
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, April 23 2013: The proposed construction of an FCI godown for Chandel district has become a bond of contention among the various tribal based organisations.

The Thadou Students' Association (TSA), Chandel district said today it would like to make clear the people's confusion made by All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) in the media about the FCI godown for Chandel district at Molnoi village.

"As an everyone from child to ages knew that Molnoi Village is under Tengnoupal Sub-division, Chandel District Manipur since 1960, it is automatically all it's relating documents and everything in Chandel," the Thadou Students Association, Chandel district stated.

It then said that Chandel district has five sub-divisions including Khengjoi, Tengnoupal, Machi, Chakpikarong and Chandel and seven administrative blocks that include Khangbarol, Moreh, Khengjoi, Machi, Tengnoupal, Chakpikarong and Chandel.

On geographical, communication, transportation and security point of view in Chandel district Molnoi is located at the most suitable/feasible place for the distribution of FCI items for Chandel district while an FCS godown is already constructed at the district headquarters.

"Therefore, TSA-Chandel district highly appreciates the state govt's decision on this matter and we are here to extend any kinds of help/support in this matter without any condition till the completion of the said construction work, and we appeal to general public and all the social organisations to extend the same co-operation on this matter in the interest of Chandel district," the Thadou students' body said.

"The ATSUM's statement on this matter shows that it's a tool for some wasted interested persons and stand for themselves in the name of tribal.

It can't be survive up to the cost of tribal, since it is formed by only three tribes that include Paite, Tangkhul and Zeliangrong while there are more than thirty recognised tribes in Manipur.

If the present ATSUM should continue to work for one sided interest, the Thadou Students Association of Chandel district will never entertain ATSUM activities in our jurisdiction," the TSA-Chandel district cautions.

The Thadou students' body was reacting to the stand of ATSUM where the latter had demanded that in the event of constructing of an FCI godown for the Chandel district at Molnoi village, the land record/revenue of the village be transferred to Chandel district.

ATSUM's comment came after a cabinet minister had said that the FCI godown is to be constructed at Molnoi village.

The ATSUM's contention was that since Molnoi village falls under Thoubal district there cannot be any justification of the part of the government for constructing a godown for the Chandel people in other district.

"If accessibility is the reason for the government for planning to construct the godown at Molnoi village, Chandel district headquarters is the best place for the whole of Chandel district, " ATSUM stated.

It then said the hasty decision of the government in this regard can invite problem.

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