Need for CSOs to reach out to each other : Chart out a common road map
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 21 2018 -

No longer ‘communal Government of Manipur’ at least to the many hill based civil society organisations, particularly the United Naga Council.

BJP led Government at Imphal successful to a certain extent in reaching out to the hills as can be seen with the Hills Leaders Day convened by the Chief Minister once a month.

It may have been the compulsion of numbers but significant to note that the BJP and the NPF are partners in the current coalition Government. Cabinet meetings held in the hill district headquarters.

Resolving the Churachandpur stand off after inking an agreement with the Churachandpur JAC after the 2015 uproar following the passing of three Bills in the State Assembly on August 31 the same year.

No economic blockades for nearly two years now, the off shoot being no counter blockades in the valley area and no serpentine queues in front of the numerous fuel outlets spread across Imphal and other places.

Things certainly seem to be looking up, as far as the hill-valley relationship is concerned and this is where it is only right that the people also take off from where the Government has started and see how it can promote more people to people contact sans any sense of suspicion and distrust.

This is where the numerous civil society organisations, both from the valley and the hills, may study the possibility of reaching out to each other and see if a common course can be charted out.

Ditto too for the numerous student organisations.

Let it also be clear that the politics of confrontation amongst the numerous civil society organisations will only succeed in pulling back everyone in the race for development.

Why not study the possibility of the United Naga Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur, All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation and the United Committee Manipur coming together and charting out a road map to work together for the common cause of the people.

Why can’t the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights and the Kuki Women Union for Human Rights work together with Human Rights Alert ?

After all what one is talking about here is protection of human rights and this should be a common cause for everybody, irrespective of political differences that one may have.

There is only so much that the Government can do to promote ties between different communities in the State and it is only right that the people spread across different communities take up from where the Government has started and explore the possibility of cementing the ties more effectively.

People to people contact, this is what is important and this is where the apex CSOs of different communities can take the lead in bringing the people together closer.

Study the common interests and see what steps may be taken to pursue the common interests jointly.

Pursuing the interests of one’s community should not be at the cost of anyone and this is a point which should not blow over the heads of anyone.

There are issues which will continue to dog Manipur, but as long as people to people contact remains healthy, no difference should be able to snap this tie.

This is a mantra which should guide all steps to reach out to each other.

Let the apex CSOs of different communities study the feasibility of chalking out a common road map.

This is the least that can be done for the future generation, for the fact remains that all will have to live together.