Meet discusses development injustice in State
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 23 2014:
As part of the observance of Global Days of Action for Development Justice in the post 2015 development context; Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur; Citizens Concern for Dams and Development; All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union and Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization joined hands in organizing a Consultative meet on Development Injustice in Manipur at Nupilal Complex here today.
A three day photo exhibition on the theme, "Towards a Just Development: Protection of Natural Heritage in Manipur", which will continue from 23 -25, was also opened to the public by Aram Pamei, Co-Chairperson of Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, on the occasion.
Delivering the key note address of the consultative meet, Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, highlighted the pattern of development injustice persisting in Manipur due to large scale development policies and projects in the context of increasing neoliberal policies introduced in Manipur and across India's North East region.
Among the resource persons who spoke on the occasion, Oinam Rajen, Secretary of All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union, dwelt at length on how the 105 Loktak HEP project wrought devastation on people's lives, destroyed food sovereignty and economic activity and increased dependency on outsiders.
Rockson, Secretary of Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization lamented over the injustice confronted by the tribal people during the thirty four years of implementing the project (construction of Mapithel dam) and asserted that Mapithel dam has been pursued in violation of both Indian laws and international laws on development.
Dr.RK Ranjan, Senior environmentalist, pointed out that anything that goes against people's wishes cannot be considered as sustainable.
Govt assured false promises before commissioning of Loktak Project, but instead, the project submerged more than 80,000 acres of agriculture land.
Communities are displaced and their future destroyed.
He explained that farmland of Manipur is increasingly been acquired for unsustainable development.
Yurembam village will now disappear completely after series of projects introduced, the latest being the Trans Asian Railway and High Voltage Power Grid.
Miss Aram Pamei, Co-Chairperson of CCDD stressed on challenging the forms of development/currently pursued in Manipur and questioned how can development that takes the lives of people and violate human rights and also involves destruction of forest, biodiversity be considered as just development.
Dr.Dhanabir Laishram, Advisor, AMUCO, explained there is high politics of water and resources and asserted that India's ambition of super power status is planned from damming rivers of Manipur.
During the consultative meet, Nganbi Leima, an eviction victim of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai, also testified the hardship she has faced due to forced eviction unleashed on them in June 2011, leaving them with no shelter, livelihood and alternative means of survival.
Comment
