IFWO highlights plight of farmers, labourers on May Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2024: The Integrated Fanners' Welfare Organisation (IFWO), Haoreibi has extended greetings to all the farmers and labourers of Manipur on the occasion of May Day, also known as Labour Day or International Workers' Day.

With the arrival of May Day, a statement issued by Shougrakpam Kenedy Meitei, president, IFWO, Haoreibi expressed hope that the labourers' hard work and dedication will be recognized by public and they will be granted the rights they deserve.

However, the condition of farmers and labourers in general in the State continues to deteriorate despite their hard work, said IFWO.

The conflict which erupted on May 3 has affected all the people in Manipur either directly or indirectly.

But none have been more affected than the daily wage earners, opined the IFWO statement.

IFWO urged the Manipuri public to reflect on the plight of tenant farmers in the foothills, firewood gatherers, sand miners and labourers.

Stating that the ongoing conflict has made agricultural activities in the foothill areas impossible, IFWO said that it might not affect the landowners in the heart of Manipur but farmers in the peripheral areas are in a sad predicament, said the IFWO statement.

The farmers who used to fetch firewood from the nearby hills after harvest season to augment their earnings have been deprived of their side income by the crisis.

IFWO also reminded people of the unfortunate fate suffered by some firewood gatherers who ventured out into the woods to fetch kindling but lost their lives at the hands of some adversaries.

In addition, the conflict has taken away the livelihoods of numerous sand-miners.

Thus, the crisis faced by the farmers and labourers in the foothills and peripheral regions is not only communal in nature but it is also a war on people's livelihood, asserted IFWO.

On another note, IFWO addressed the circumstances of conflict survivors sheltering in relief camps and the impact of the conflict on construction workers in the valley, added IFWO.

Under such circumstances, the observance of May Day holds greater significance in Manipur.

As the Government failed to meet the expectations of the people, farmers and labourers of the State should unite and help each other in any way possible and thus move forward, concluded the IFWO statement.

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