Imphal, September 24: Seasoned politician and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing has called upon the people to shed their narrow and parochial outlook for a unified and prosperous Manipur.

Addressing the inaugural function of the State level NSS Day, 2004 celebration at Johnstone Higher Secondary School here today, Keishing lamented over the lack of unity among the Manipuri people.

He observed that Kukis, Nagas and Meeteis used to swear by the unity of hill and plain people during the reign of Manipuri kings and during the socialist movement under the leadership of Laishram Achou.

However, such feeling of oneness is lacking among the people now.

Even among the existing 32/33 tribes, there is no unity and one tribe is set against another.

There is not a single organisation which can encompass and represent all the people of Manipur, he said.

In such a situation, how can we think of a unified and prosperous Manipur, he asked, and appealed to all to come out from their narrow and parochial outlook.

On the existing hill and plain divide, the seasoned politician wondered why any valley-based organisation should remain immune to the cry for lack of adequate teachers in the hill schools and raise a hue and cry if some teachers are transferred to the hills.

This only shows lack of unity among the people, he reiterated.

It is high time that we start thinking about other people�s welfare apart from our own.

Only then can there be peace and unity in the State, he said, adding that the numerous problems besetting the State can also be solved once and for all if all the people shed their differences.He further said Manipur could become like South Korea, China and Japan in advancement, if the people of the State do not waste their time and cultivate work culture.

He said Manipur has great prospect in the field of sports, specially in cycling and archery.

The whole of India could be used as the playground for the Manipuri sportspersons, he said, while announcing sanctioning of Rs 4 lakhs from his MP fund to Youth Affairs and Sports Department towards purchasing 12 international standard cycles for the cyclists this year.

Another Rs 4 lakhs would also be sanctioned next year for buying equipment of Archery, he promised.

In his presidential address.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport Govindas Konthoujam also stressed on unity, co-operation and emotional integration among the people for development of the State.

Commissioner (YAS) S Budhachandra, principal of Johnstone Higher Secondary School Jabotsakhi Devi and principal of TG Hr Sec School Ibechaobi Devi attended the function as guests of honour.

The State level NSS Day, 2004 celebration is being organised by State Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Comment