Convention on land protection held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2013: A one-day convention on 'Protection of Agricultural Land in Manipur' organised by Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM) was held today at MDU Hall, Yaiskul Police Lane with senior journalist and chairman of Freedom Research Foundation RK Ranendrajit, social worker and Foundation president Thounaojam Iboyaima and IPSA advisor Heikrujam Ibotombi Khuman gracing the event as the chief guest, functional president and guest of honour respectively.

Noting decreasing trend in agricultural activities in Manipur, RK Ranendrajit termed incompatibility between cost of farming and market price of the yield as one of the causes for the decline in the most of the most essential profession.

Accusing the Government of lacking vision on land use by citing various non-agricultural activities and building constructions at arable plain area, he said had the Games Village been built on the higher slopes of the Langol Hill Range large and fertile area of cultivation could have been preserved.

Reacting on the issue of Manipur set to lose substantial border areas to Myanmar consequent to the ongoing boundary fencing project, Ranendrajit ridiculed Government of India's determination to protect barren and unpopulated locations like the Kargil whereas the same Government is showing hardly any compassion in protecting the Manipur boundary on the Indo-Myanmar border.

Such a contradictory stand is compelling the people of Manipur to ponder to what extent the Centre is committed for the welfare of Manipur and its people, said the senior journalist.

In his brief presidential address, Th Iboyaima affirmed that IFM is committed to sustain and translate into reality Hijam Irabot's campaign for abundant growth of food-grains in Manipur.

Referring to large cultivable area possessed by wealthy individuals for setting up non-agricultural ventures, he lamented that such a trend stands to impede the Foundation's goal for a green and food self-sufficient Manipur.

While the convention commenced with the Foundation general secretary Sengoi Luwang presenting the key-note address followed by speeches from other dignitaries, as resource persons environmentalist Dr RK Ranjan deliberated on 'Problems of land use and its impact on environment', social worker Dr Moirangthem Manimohon Singh on 'Demographic profile in Manipur', Associate Professor (CAU) Dr Kh Ibohal Singh on 'Market policy Vs farmers', Assistant Professor of Economics (MU) Chinglen Meisnam on 'Agragrain reform in Manipur' and social scientist Dr Dhanabir Laishram on 'Interface between colonial interpretation and people's interpretation of land' .

Dean of Social Sciences (MU) Dr E Bijoy Singh was the moderator in both the morning and evening session of the convention.

Comment