MNYO seeks new Ministers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 18 2024:
The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO) has urged the State Government to enforce the points raised in its memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on May 8, 2024 for appointment of new Ministers of Tribal Affairs & Hills Department and Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department.
The MNYO also urged the Government to expedite release of all pending disbursement of schemes and work programmes of the two departments for the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24 .
A press release issued by MNYO said that The Tribal Affairs & Hills Department is the backbone of the tribal people in the State and it is its responsibility to look after the welfare and development of the tribal/hill areas.
The Horticulture Department is also most important for the hill tribal horticulturists as they depend on horticulture for their livelihood.
However, the two departments of Tribal Affairs & Hills and Horticulture & Soil Conservation have been laying in limbo since the outbreak of ethnic clashes in Manipur.
The Minister who is in-charge of these two important departments is from the Kuki community.
He is not attending his office and unable to discharge his ministerial duties since May 3, 2023, it said.
The entire affairs of these two departments in terms of fund release and implementation of various schemes/work programmes have been held up for the last more than one year which is injustice to the community not involved in the conflict, it said.
The MNYO then appealed to the Government to look into the matter of the functioning of Tribal Affairs and Hills Department which has been rendered defunct due to absence of the Minister of Tribal Affairs & Hills till date.
The dysfunctional state of two departments has significantly impeded the development process in the hill areas of Manipur, it said.
If the State Government does not respond positively to the demand at the earliest, the MNYO will take concrete decisions with the federating units for taking up stringent course of actions to address the grievances of the tribal populace in the larger interest of the State, it added.