Make some relief arrangement for tribal tenants: ATRPFM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 22 2020: While appreciating the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, ADCs, organisations and individuals who have been wholeheartedly helping and trying to help the underprivileged and genuinely needy families and individuals in terms of foods, cash and other materials during this ongoing lockdown, All Tribal Rights Protection Forum Manipur (ATRPFM) appealed to the State Government to make some relief arrangement in favour of the helpless tenants residing at Imphal too.

In this regard, a press release issued by ATRPFM lauded the Chief Minister for trying his best with integrity and transparency in all respects in providing essentials commodities to the residents of the State and also transferring Rs 2,000 each to every individual who are stranded in other parts of the country.

However, some tribals residing at Checkon and Konung Mamang areas under Wangkhei Kendra, Imphal East have been excluded from availing the rations and other essential commodities, despite collecting Aadhar cards from them, it claimed, adding that at some areas like Dewlahland, tenants were left unattended and only householders are recognized for providing rations and other items.

Except for 2 rasgula tins of rice per head with some grams of dal were availed by some tenants through Tribal Tenants Committee, Imphal, the forum said and lamented that it would be erroneous to leave behind the tenants in the distribution of items.

Pointing out that excluding the tenants on the political ground is morally wrong and continued that providing assistance during National emergency or lockdown cannot be viewed as a charity.

ATRPFM then appealed to Chief Minister, TA & Hills Minister and the Chief Secretary to make a separate arrangement for the tribal tenants who are residing in valley areas as a matter of compulsion and necessity, for these tenants have no any source of survival because they were left unattended by the system.

The Chief Minister had promised to provide 5 kg of rice and one kg of dal to every individual, which is highly appreciated but unfortunately, the factual ground is totally different, the forum claimed and questioned who will reach out to the tribal tenants at such crucial time.

Appealing to the State Government to issue an order for not charging rent from the students and the unemployed daily wagers, ATRPFM demanded the Chief Minister and the concerned authorities to closely monitor the prices of commodities being sold in by wholesalers and retailers as well.

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