PREPAK espouses vibrant work culture
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 12 2020: Taking serious note of the crippling impacts of the lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the proscribed PREPAK has underscored the paramount importance of grooming a healthy and vibrant work culture among the people of the land.

A statement issued by the outfit's secretary-in-charge, publicity and propaganda LeibaakNgaakpa Luwang called upon the people particularly the youth to cultivate a healthy work culture so that Kangleipak/Manipur is economically self-sufficient and does not have to rely on others for food.

Growing abundant crops will make Manipuri society self-sufficient in food and self-sufficiency in food grains will ultimately make the State economically self-reliant, the outfit asserted.

Wars fought among human beings for different reasons could end one day but the struggle for food would not end as long as human beings exist on the Earth.

The entire population of Manipur would continue to suffer until and unless COVID-19 is effectively contained, it said while pointing out that people of the land depend on imports even for a single match-stick as a healthy work culture is conspicuously absent in the society although there are many experts in science and social science.

It is natural to use products brought from outside when there is no local production and people's mental disposition would be always influenced by foreign or non-local elements.

"Such existential reality will ultimately make our people embrace foreign culture at the cost of our own indigenous culture", the outfit cautioned.

Manipur was self-sufficient in food grains and there was even surplus production before it was merged into the Indian Union.

The Nupi Lan of 1939 was against export of local rice but today rice production of the land is insufficient for local consumption as work culture particularly among youth is vanishing day by day.

This has deepened dependence on others and outsiders have taken firm control of the State's markets as is witnessed in the present crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, Indian army has been trying to suppress indigenous people of Manipur by taking recourse to various means including drugs and thus it is a strong possibility that dependence syndrome may afflict all the people of the land which would ultimately crush the spirit of work culture and patriotism, the outfit maintained.

11.8 million people of Wuhan city in China did not face any problem for food during the 76 days of lockdown because there is a vibrant work culture among Chinese people and they do not suffer from dependency syndrome.

China now produces 70 percent surplus production and there is no problem for the country in facing any epidemic, the outfit said.

The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and the Great Leap Forward (1958-1960) were main catalysts for grooming a vibrant work culture in China.

China's economy also progressed as work culture and cultural revolution moved together in tandem and this was facilitated with 'Reform and Opening Up' and 'Open Door Policy' initiated by then President Deng Xioping after the end of the cultural revolution in 1977 .

Noting that whole population people of Manipur are now facing a very difficult situation due to the lockdown imposed to prevent spread of COVID-19, the proscribed outfit called upon all the people to fight and defeat the disease collectively.

The outfit also extended its sincere gratitude to doctors, nurses, health care workers and all those working fighting the pandemic in the forefront with dedication as well as CSOs, local clubs and organisations, and media for providing up-to-date information to people about the pandemic.

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