MACR calls for sanity, lifting blockade
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 23 2011: Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has appealed to both Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) and United Naga Council (UNC) to end their respective economic blockade and counter economic blockade immediately in consideration of suffering of the people specially innocent children of all communities in Manipur.

MACR has also appealed to the Government of Manipur to resolve tactfully the volatile issue before it goes out of hand and warned that if not, an impending humanitarian crisis of severe artificial famine and even ethnic clashes are in the offing.

In a statement signed by its convenor Keisham Pradipkumar, MACR observed that it is high time for self-retrospection, to understand that the protracted economic blockade called by SHDDC since July 31 and subsequent counter blockade called by UNC from August 21 have failed to bring any honourable solution, but it has literally held the people of Manipur to ransom, which would not be the real target of either SHDCC or UNC.

Everyone knows that if the economic blockade or the counter economic blockade have ever brought any benefits, it is only to the business community, who enjoy their heydays during blockade period.

They accumulate huge profits out of the ever sky-rocketing prices of essential goods.

It is now becoming obvious that the State, its elites and business community are hand in glove and are conspiring covertly to prolong the agitation only to serve their vested interest while keeping the poor masses as sacrificial lamb, MACR observed.

MACR pointed out that with the economic blockade completing 53 days, its acute economic and social impact is now becoming quite noticeable even as many hungry stricken students have already left their classrooms and took out protests and drivers against the State Government's failure to control the unreasonably high prices of essential goods.

Several times, transportation of school children is being compelled to bring to a halt while managing to get fuel and the situation of supplying Mid-Day meal's food grains and ICDS food grains is becoming more grim.

It has only worsen the overall Right to Education, Right to Food and Right to Life situation in the State which is already in a pitiable position.

Many poor parents could hardly feed their children even two meals a day while many patients, specially pregnant mothers are facing hardship due to want of Oxygen and life saving drugs.

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