MPDF demands "Alternate Plantation Scheme" for hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 05 2023: The Manipur Peoples' Democratic Front (MPDF) has demanded the State Government to introduce "An Alternate Plantation Scheme" in the hills of Manipur for gainful employment of the forest dwellers/villagers in place of 'War on Drugs' .

N Mahendra Singh, working president, MPDF made the demand while speaking to media persons during a press conference held at Manipur Press Club today.

The demand for "An Alternate Plantation Scheme" is one of the five demands put forth by MPDF to the Government of Manipur.

Referring to the other demands, N Mahendra appealed to the State Government to rescind the office memorandum issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Heads of Forest Force on November 7, 2022.He opined that the office memorandum is, presumably, one of the causes of the present state of turmoil in Manipur.

It may be noted that the office memorandum cancelled all orders issued by Assistant Settlement Officers (ASO) or Forest Settlement Officers (FSO) in connection with recognition of new villages falling within the jurisdiction of Reserved Forests (RFs), Protected Forests (PFs) and Wildlife Protected Areas (WPAs); change of village name; allotment of forest lands and issuing of 'Pattas' as well as taking up of non-forestry activities, without prior approval of the competent authority.

N Mahendra then went on to urge the Government to release a White Paper on "Reserved Forests and Protected Forests" which will give information on "Reserved Forests and Protected Forests" under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 for the understanding of common people of Manipur and its effective implementation by the Government with the active participation of forest dwellers.

Drawing inspiration from the Assam Model, N Mahendra Singh also appealed for initiation of the digitization process of the National Registry of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur by employing at least one thousand data entry operators and for this process to be completed during the target period of three years.

Following this, better policing of the boundary/international boundary of the State should be initiated, he added.

Lastly, he called for a Green Paper on "Restoration of normalcy" in Manipur adding that currently the lives and properties of people in the State are not secure.

Thus, he urged the Government to release a document containing proposals on restoration of normalcy for general discussion.

Separately, Manipur People's Democratic Front also issued a press release today wherein it stated that the Central Government along with the sixty State MLAs must bear responsibility for the communal clashes.

MPDF also urged the aforementioned parties to resolve the conflict at the earliest.

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