The cries of crisis-hit farmers
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 01, 2024 -

WITH the economy of Manipur primarily depending on agriculture and its allied activities; any disruption in the chain of agricultural operations, either due to natural events or other man-made disasters, is bound to have a ripple effect that would ultimately lead to contraction of the economy, and possible collapse of the entire state machinery.

In the light of this possible predicament, it is surprising to learn that the Government of Manipur is yet to compensate the farmers who could not cultivate crops in their fields due to the violent ethnic conflict that has been going on in the state since May 3 last year after the Kuki-Chin people, who predominantly live in the elevated hill areas, clashed with the Meitei/Meetei, who are mostly concentrated in the valley areas.

Considering the plight of the farmers who could not go and cultivate their agricultural lands located in the peripheries close to the foothills as they were becoming the soft target of armed Kuki militants, who frequently open fire from their vantage elevated position, the Government of India had released a compensatory package of Rs 38.60 crore for providing relief to the affected farmers on October 1,2023.

This compensatory package for the violent-hit farmers was part of a special economic package of Rs 209.45 crore that the Government of India had sanctioned to the state government through the Union Home Ministry.

However, even after four months of the compensatory package sanctioned and released by the centre to the state government, the affected the farmers are yet to receive any compensation for the losses suffered.

This is, indeed, very sad as farmers are the backbone of the state economy, which is also in shambles today.

Now that the farmers' wing of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has given February 10 as the deadline for disbursal of the compensatory package of Rs 38.60 crore which the Government of India had provided as crop compensation, the Government of Manipur should see that the grievances of violent-hit farmers are addressed properly and promptly.

Any more delay in disbursing the crop compensation amount to the violent-hit farmers has the potential of adding another dimension to the humanitarian crisis that Manipur has been experiencing for nearly nine months now.

This is not going to be in the interest of the people, who have suffered long enough, or political wisdom on the part of the Government of Manipur to remain quiet on the genuine demand of the poor farmers, who, as we have said before, are the backbone of the state economy.

In addition to the efforts being made for finding a solution to the present crisis by bringing the two warring groups on the negotiating table for dialogues, the chief minister N Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur need to put the farming community in good humour, for without their help and assistance it would be hard for the economy of Manipur, which is essentially driven by agro-based activities, to recover from its meltdown.

So, in case, the Government of Manipur is not in a position at the moment to disburse the compensatory package provided by the Centre to the violent-hit farmers, then it should give the explanation for its inability.

Even if the amount had been diverted to some other sectors due to exigencies, it should have the gut to say it instead of keeping quiet and inviting the wrath of poor farmers as well as general public, whose livelihoods have been curtailed owing to an ethnic crisis that could have been nipped at the bud, if it only had the political will and commitment to do so.

It's time for the government to stop hitting own.