State's socio-economic & political vision : Workshop bats for inclusive growth
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 08 2014 : A one-day workshop on 'Need for new socio-economic and political vision for Manipur' was held today at the Artistes' Work-shop cum Dormitory, Palace Compound under the aegis of the United People's Front (UPF) Manipur.

Speaking at the workshop, Manipur University Assistant Professor Chinglen Maisnam highlighted the importance of inclusive growth for a country/society to be peaceful and progressive.

Inclusive growth means all the people of a State should receive equal benefits of all the development programmes and welfare schemes taken up within the State irrespective of one's ethnicity, religion, language and place of residence.

In other words, all development programmes and welfare schemes should be able to cater to all sections of the society, Chinglen elaborated.

Even though some Nagas have been demanding greater Nagaland like Kukis have been demanding Kuki homeland while Meiteis have been shouting for territorial integrity of Manipur, many people regardless of their ethnicity have been reduced to impoverished and deprived lots.

One can see young women of all communities struggling for livelihood as street vendors at Khwairamband market.

Papers being presented at the workshop

The State Government has no comprehensive plans which can take care of the poor and underprivileged sections, and aged population.

Gender discrimination is still prevalent in Manipur even though Manipuri women have been shouldering huge responsibilities both on economic and political fronts.

Manipur State virtually survives at the mercy of New Delhi flagship programmes and Central sponsored schemes.

On account of heavy mitralization, Manipur has been rendered a dependent entity economically, socially and politically.

This would ultimately prove suicidal for both the poor and the rich people of Manipur.

It's time to ponder and struggle collectively for peaceful co-existence and inclusive growth, Chinglen said.

MB College Assistant Professor Dr Homen Thangjam emphasised on comprehensive planning by always keeping the indigenous people and their distinctive culture on the spotlight.

Although majority of the people of Manipur are peasants, the State has no agriculture policy.

There is no system of cultivating crops based on soil composition of the particular areas.

There are days on which no trees can be felled in accordance to Manipuri culture.

This is one cultural element for preservation of ecology.

There can be no development without environment and there would be no water in the absence of trees.

All development planning should be done after taking due considering of the indigenous people's cultural core, Dr Homen asserted.

UPF secretary general N Rupachandra asserted that the contemporary situation of Manipur demands introspection and soul-searching.

The number of people who share little concern for fellow citizens and imbued with a tendency for all kinds of evils like corruption, crimes, selfishness are growing rapidly in the State.

Given the degenerating socio-economic and political condition of the State, people need to give serious thoughts and substantiate a socio-economic and political vision which could pull out Manipur from the present existential crisis and put it on a new trajectory of development and growth, Rupachandra said.

UPF president BM Yaima and MU Professor W Nabakumar attended the workshop as chief guest and president respectively.