Excessive extortions may delegitimize people's movement, cautions MIYC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 17 2024:
The Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has categorically stated that demanding and collecting money from civilians by different organisations and lups on account of the situation in Manipur needs reconsideration.
MIYC, in a statement, said that demanding an unbearable amount of money from people by different organisations and in many cases repeatedly may create animosity between the organisations working in the frontline and the people.
The Youth Centre further stated that many Government employees, proprietors of private institutions and those engaging in small businesses are mentally disturbed due to the pressure being mounted on them.
Everyone knows that huge expenditure and resources are required in defending villages and that is the very reason why people have been contributing whatever they can in the form of money and materials to those facing the narco terrorists at the frontline, MIYC reasoned and added that different organisations have also been approaching different classes of people to take financial assistance in the course of the violence.
The MIYC pointed out that many shops and people in the business sector may close their establishments due to the repeated and 'unbearable' monetary demand while several Government employees and pensioners are unable to stay at home and take a call from unknown numbers let alone attend their offices.
Saying that the violence has already taken a heavy toll on the State economy with educated youths becoming unemployed and farmers, factories, industries and business establishments incurring financial loss, MIYC added that banks, however, don't stop pressuring loanees to pay EMIs by threatening to auction the land and properties they used as security while taking a loan.
Not only banks, many individual money lenders have also taken valuables from those who borrow money from them for failing to repay the debt, the Youth Centre continued and accused the Centre and Manipur Government of not taking the economic crisis in Manipur seriously.
Every individual loves his/her motherland and it would be wrong to legitimise demanding money from Government employees and others by arguing that they have been fighting the aggressors and spending many sleepless nights while others were earning money, MIYC maintained.
The Youth Centre went on to state that different organisations and lups may have been employing different techniques and pressure tactics to get the money they need or want.
Lups and organisations should not make people shed tears but stay in touch with them as no movement would become successful without people, MIYC said.
How can people live if different groups pressure the people with monetary demands repeatedly, MIYC asked and cautioned that a crack may develop in the relation between the people and lups and organisations if the trend of "you have to give us the same amount which you have given to them" continues.
In view of all these, lups and organisations are requested to see the living condition of the people while seeking assistance from them, MIYC concluded.