Imphal, March 05: Calling for a prosperous and peaceful Manipur, Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) highlighted the need for an Industrial Policy of the State.

Speaking at a press conference conducted at their office at Khuman Lampak today, ICHAM president Rajendro asserted that the prevailing misunderstanding and uninterrupted violence are due to dearth of job opportunities of the youths.

He said that the younger generation should develop work culture rather than concentrating on violent activities, while the Government should motivate and encourage the youths to work hard for a prosperous Manipur.

For that, Rajendro added, Government must chalk out a complete strategy for large scale production of indigenous resources like medicinal plants, bamboo, orange, lemon and limestone.

Rajendro suggested that State Government should learn to earn by developing its own resources rather than running after Central Government's schemes.

At a time when globalisation and liberalisation have changed the whole world into a global village, the State remains isolated and stands as a mere onlooker due to lack of infrastructure and absence of work culture, Rajendro added.

He alleged that the Government was responsible for the demise of Hundung Cement Factory despite having high quality limestone which could be used for cement production as well as for chewing and white washing.

The State Goverment failed to exploit the opportunity to earn profit by exporting its high quality lemons and oranges due to absence of cold storage, lack of transportation facilities and bad road conditions.

The Government can also set up its own squash factories, and for that, they have to encourage the villagers for large scale production of these fruits providing scientific and technical inputs, he added.

Sensing the responsibiliy of Agriculture Department in such venture, ICHAM will pay special attention to the Department, Rajendro added.

He informed the media that Manipur has 3,218 sq km of bamboo forest and 155 types of medicinal plants, and also rich in minerals like Limestone, Asbestos, Chromite, Copper, Nickel and Lignite.

So, the Government can run industries based on these resources, he added.

Talking on power crisis, he said that the State can generate 2000 MW of power if the Government fully exploit the water resources of the State.

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