Farmers give 5 points to save arable lands
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 12, 2011:
A five-point recommendation to save arable land in the state was drafted today, on the last day of the five-day cycle rally by farmers.
The rally concluded with a meeting held at TYC ground, Takhel Leikai, Imphal west.
The meeting noted the alarming rate of conversion of agricultural land to homestead, commercial and industrial estates either owned by the state or private individuals.The second recommendation demanded handing over the rights of ownership of the Loktak Project to the government of Manipur considering the disproportionate impact of the project.
Urging that state should take effective and appropriate measures, in consultation with indigenous people and farmers concerned, the third point demands taking prior consent from farmers before giving approval to any project that will affect or give impact to arable lands.
The fourth urged the government to introduce a new discipline to encompass agriculture, horticulture and social anthropology in school curriculum while the fifth was related with the rights of indigenous people.