Imphal, October 17: Committee on Public Interest and Grievances, Churachandpur yesterday submitted a memorandum highlighting the grievances of the tribal people living in Manipur South to the President during the latter visit to Bunglon village in Churachandpur.

The memorandum also appreciated President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam for being the first ever Constitutional head of the country to visit the remote Churachandpur village.

Spelling out the grievances of the people, the memorandum joint signed by its chairman T Kaigou and secretary H Hanghal pointed out that election to the Autonomous District Council bodies in Manipur district hill districts has not been conducted for the last 20 years thereby denying the rights to self-determination of the people.

The memorandum also sought the intervention of the President to cause effect the election of the Autonomous District Councils and guaranteed the political rights of the people.

Stating that the Government of Manipur had withdrawn five of the six subdivisions namely Parbung, Thanlon, Henglep, Singhat and Samulamlan in the aftermath of Kuki-Zomi ethnic violence and shifted the offices of these Sub-divisional estalishments to Churachandpur township, the memorandum pleaded the said offices be reinstated at the original sub-divisional headquarters.

While maintaining that the trade relation with neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh and China is the only alternative for improving in the financial condition of the people in view of the lack of prospect of setting up agro-based industries in Manipur owing to want of sufficient power supply, the memorandum urged for opening three more border trade centres along Myanmar-Manipur border centre namely Behiang in Churachandpur district and Chingai and Mauvailup in Ukhrul district.

Along with this, the memorandum also outlined the urgency of constructing all weather roadway along Myanmar-Manipur border extending from Chingai village in Ukhrul district to Behiang village in Churachandpur via Kamjong, Moreh, New Somtal and Khongtal village in Chandel district and Hiangtam village in Churachandpur district.

The memorandum also pleaded that the task of constructing the proposed road be handed over to BRO as the State authority seldom meet the standard of sincerity at work execution Payment of pensions to the veterans of World War-II in Manipur and implementation of the Manipur State Bamboo Development Programme are also among the points that have been highlighted in the memorandum.

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