MHRC Chairperson interacts with villagers of new Chadong village
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 02 2023:
Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Chairperson Justice UB Saha today held a meeting with the villagers of New Chadong village in Kamjong District.
The meeting cum interaction was held at the community hall of New Side Chadong village, where the Chairperson interacted with headmen and villagers in the presence of members of MHRC and Deputy Commissioner of Kamjong district.
The MHRC Chairperson was accompanied by its member KK Singh, IGP Wahengbam Mamata and Law Officer W Basantakumar during his maiden visit to New Chadong village.
During the interaction, a village told the MHRC team that original settlement areas and arable land in New Chadong got submerged after Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project was commissioned.
Saying that several agreements (MoUs) have been signed between the State Government and affected villagers regarding their resettlement and compensation, he added that the points mentioned in the memoranda have never been fulfilled by the Government.
The MHRC team also received complaints regarding non-availability of drinking water and of not providing benefit under MGNRGA to the villagers, to which the Commission advised the villagers to raise the matter to the Deputy Commissioner concerned.
Earlier, Chadong Village Development Committee chairman had lodged a complaint to the MHRC to establish a primary school and a primary health centre at their village.
He also submitted that construction of the building for starting the Primary School and Primary Health Centre was completed in 2020 but the Water Resources Department did not hand over the proposed building.
MHRC, while disposing of the complaint, recommended to the Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Manipur to hand over the newly constructed Primary School at new Chadong Village.
The Commissioner (Health) and Commissioner (Education), Government of Manipur were also directed to establish a Primary Health Sub-Centre (PHSC) and Primary School respectively within a period of two months from the date of handing over of the newly constructed building.
One 82 years old woman KS Salareng said that the Government has stopped crediting money under the old age scheme to her account since a long time back.
MHRC chairperson advised the Kamjong DC, to examine and take up necessary action to provide the pension benefit to her.
Addressing the gathering, Chairperson Justice UB Saha stated that MHRC has visited several areas of the State which have been affected by the ongoing violence and have met several displaced people of both the communities.
The Commission is putting its best effort to bring peace and normalcy in the State, Justice Saha said and stated that MHRC does not belong to any particular community or individual and its sole objective is to provide and safeguard the basic human rights of every individual.
Regarding his visit to New Chadong village, Justice Saha said that he came to know about the village through a particular case and the main purpose of his visit is to know the life and livelihood of the people of the village.
Justice Saha added that Manipur has great potential in the tourism sector.
Likewise Chadong, with its beautiful landscape and surroundings, can also be developed as a tourist spot, which in turn could enhance the livelihood of the villagers, he suggested.
Expressing concern over the unfolding situation in the State, the MHRC Chairperson stated people of both the warring communities have to change their mindset to bring peace and normalcy in the State.
Kamjong Deputy Commissioner Rangnamei Rang Peter, while thanking the MHRC team for the visit, asked the villagers to express their grievances, if any, to the visiting MHRC team without any fear or pressure.
On the way back, the MHRC team visited a relief camp opened at the Community Health Centre, Nongada where displaced persons from Gwaltabi and Sanasabi villages are presently lodged.
Surma, SDO, Lamlai who was present in the relief camp informed that 164 persons who are mainly from Gwaltabi have been taking refuge in the camp.
She also informed that 37 houses of Gwaltabi village were reportedly burnt down during the communal violence.
One Gotimayum Shanti (50) of Gwaltabi village, Imphal East complained about lack of medicine in the camp.
She said that doctors who visited the relief camp prescribed medicines, but she didn't have any money to buy them (the medicines) .
The MHRC chairperson advised the SDO, Lamlai to raise the matter to Imphal East DC so as to solve the problem being faced by the inmates.
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