Depts under Kuki Ministers defunct : STNU
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 27 2024: Saying that there are lapses in the functioning of many Government departments which come under two Kuki Ministers especially Tribal Affairs and Hills, the Southern Tangkhul Naga Union (STNU) has sought the intervention of Chief Minister N Biren Singh to take up necessary action in the interest of the State and her people.

Notably, Letpao Haokip holds the portfolio of Tribal Affairs & Hills Department and Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department while Nemcha Kipgen is the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textiles and Co-operation.

Speaking to the media at Tangkhul Avenue at Ching-meirong on Sunday, STNU chairman Shomi Angkang said that Government departments especially TA & Hills which come under the two Kuki Ministers have stopped functioning due to the prevailing situation in Manipur.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and make sure the two Ministers discharge their duties for the wellbeing of the masses.

Saying that the Government can always appoint another MLA as the Minister of TA & Hills if the incumbent can't do his job, Shomi urged the Government to make the TA & Hills Department functional so as to hold the ADC elections simultaneously with the Parliamentary elections.

Lauding the Naga and Kuki MLAs for holding the recent meeting at Guwahati and discussing a way to restore normalcy in Manipur, Shomi appealed to the Government to see if another meeting can be convened in the presence of all the legislators.

The STNU chairman said that the problem in Manipur can be solved only by engaging in dialogue among all the stakeholders concerned.

Saying that the STNU has no objection to the undertaking of the Government to erect fences along Indo-Myanmar border areas as long as the project is taken up only in non-contested areas, Shomi urged the Government to start the border fencing work in non-contested areas on war footing.

There is a dispute along the areas in between Border Pillar 90 to Border Pillar 129, he said.

He went on to state that Tamu Deputy Commissioner proposed non-initiation of any permanent work along the disputed areas during the meeting of Indian and Myanmar representatives held in 2021 at Wangli Market.

The meeting was attended by elected representatives, bureaucrats and Army officers from both the countries including Phungyar AC MLA Leishiyo Keishing, the STNU chairman added.

Saying that a joint survey was conducted in the disputed areas after the meeting and found its finding to be different from the GPS observation, Shomi maintained that the two countries agreed to determine the disputed boundary in the presence of elders from both sides.

What was agreed by the two countries, however, hasn't been implemented due to the unrest in Myanmar, Shomi said.

Stating that the Kamjong DC has also taken note of the dispute along Border Pillar 90 to Border Pillar 129, the STNU chairman urged the Government to skip the disputed region while implementing the border fencing work.

STNU secretary Shimreiphang Ningsen, on the other hand, said that TA & Hills is not only for Scheduled Tribe (ST) people as it also covers Scheduled Caste (SC) and backward people.

Saying that TA & Hills Department has stopped giving scholarships to students, medical reimbursement and Government benefits to agriculture sector in hill districts since the violence broke out, Shimreiphang appealed to the Chief Minister to understand the plight of the people and do the needful.

He further appealed to the Chief Minister to induct a new TA & Hills Minister if needed in the larger interest of the people.

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