Imphal, August 05 2010: Information Centre for Hill Area of Manipur (ICHAM) in its series of initiative for developmental works in hill areas inaugurated a weekly market-shed at Kampang Khullen village in Chandel district on August 1 last.

The function which was organised jointly by ICHAM and Eastern Maring Organisation was presided by Chief of the area K Angdou Yekkul, president ICHAM, N Rajendro was the chief Guest, besides Advisor ICHAM M K Shimray who attended as guest of honour, the function was attended by other leaders of ICHAM.

While speaking as chief guest in the function President ICHAM, N Rajendro said people of hill could extract actual information on funds utilized for the implementation of developmental works by the government in the hilly region, through Right to Information Act, to ascertain whether government is taking up developmental activities for the hilly people or not.

He also exhorted to stop working driven by individual benefit at the cost of common people's welfare to those siphoning funds meant for the developmental works of the hilly region.

President, ICHAM, N Rajendro lamented existence of narrow minded people in the state supporting those who misused funds for development of hilly people, mentioned that trend of indulging to violence on petty matter as unhealthy for the society, and he appealed to abstain from supporting anti people individuals existing in the society.

Asserting that the need of putting all effort by civil societies together joint a initiative for providing more market places inside the state as well as outside for the different varieties of produces in the state and to concentrate in more production activities so as to make Manipur a self reliant state.

He revealed that when they started visiting hilly region, initially they blamed government but when probed further, they realized government did everything possible for development of hill areas, however funds for the development of hilly area are misused by individuals, and were not made reached to the people due to leakage in the process, and thus rendered hilly region underdeveloped, he declared.

He said with initiative of ICHAM through media, have alerted government on many loopholes existing in the execution of works for the development of hill area, and subsequently government has converted many incomplete works into reality which public have noticed.

He also mentioned that sometimes organisations both in hill and plain tried to cast wrong image on the role of ICHAM, however they believed in waiting for time to prove their wild unfounded allegations untrue by actions of ICHAM, he said.

He appealed other civil societies to abstain from blame games and to concentrate more on works in the interest of Manipur and declared that ICHAM works are guided by interest of around 36 communities inhabiting in Manipur.

President, ICHAM, N Rajendro said that the weekly market-shed inaugurated at Kampang Khullen would provide benefit to around 18 villages in the area and went on to mention that people of Manipur are suffering today because we believed in exported items and exported religion as better than our own.

Advisor, ICHAM, M K Shimray expressed believe in mitigating the suffering of hilly people in consultation with ICHAM and reminded for need of harnessing full potential of abundant natural resources available in the state by working harder so as to catch up with advancing world by own efforts.

Chief of the area, K Angdou Yekkul, lauded the initiative of ICHAM.

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