Interior CCpur in the grip of famine
S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Nov 17: The seven member Manipur Hills Journalist Union team that con- ducts ‘Spot Enquiry’ on the alleged famine like situation prevailing in the interiors of Churachandpur has more than established that fact that Famine - acute shortage of food, has already hit the interiors in a way more than anyone could assume.
On a five days mission, the team put their life on the line and endured all forms of ordeal that any murderous roads could have bestow-ed. Two or three inches of delicate soil is the only thing that keeps the media here going.
L Chinkhanlian, Editor of Manipur Express, T Thangzalian, Ediot of the Lamka Post, Zohmingliana, Editor of Channtu and Kh Benlian, Editor of Thuiltu were the personalities that gamble their establishment.
Covering morethan forty interior villages, the visiting media team has proved beyond doubt that rodent and other natural menace has terribly affect the normal harvest of each and every individual farmer.
A statement release by the union said, ‘the team is more than convinced that the entire hill area of Chura-chandpur is infact hit by the acute shortage of food-grains.’
Claiming further that the situation in the interior is morethan a ‘famine-like’ but a full blown calamity, the MHJU has formally declared that ‘Famine’ in all its veracity and meaning has already visited the area.
Of the forty odd interior villages visited by the team, 70 percent of the populace were short of foodgrains to last them till Christmas. The accounts recorded by the visiting media team were revealing, and their road connectivity treacherous. No wonder, the visiting media team has suggested the need to initiate Rapid Reaction Team to dealt with the adversity, plans for providing relief packages inclu- ding long-term rehabilitation and air-lifting essential commodities.
Bit by bit accounts of the village chiefs and laymen, the findings and remarkable encounters of the team, in which this correspondent is a part, will be followed in our subsequent issue.
=====================
‘Sadar Hills’ stamped over ‘Senapati’
IMPHAL, Nov 19 : Amidst the persisting demand of the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full-fledged revenue district, people of the area have started impressing ‘Sadar Hills district’ over the words Senapati district.
Even as the Government is yet to grant district status to Sadar Hills, the people are preparing to proclaim the area a full-fledged revenue district after a referendum.
The people of Sadar Hills area, particularly those residing at Kangpokpi have started replacing ‘Senapati district’ with ‘Sadar Hills district’ on all the sign-boards put up in front of shops and offices located in Kangpokpi town, informed secretary of Kangpokpi Town Committee Chonkan Kipgen.
The new initiative is aimed at demonstrating to the Government that the people wish fulfilment of their demand which has been standing since 2972.
“What we want is separate Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police for Sadar Hills”, said Chonkan Kipgen.
After the shops, the drive to replace ‘Senapati district’ with ‘Sadar Hills district’ will be taken to schools and then to each village within Sadar Hills, he conveyed.
Given the fact that the Government is refusing to grant district status to Sadar Hills, the people has made necessary preparations to proclaim Sadar Hills a full-fledged revenue district after a referendum, claimed Kangpokpi Youth Club secretary Khuplien Lhouvum. The Kangpokpi Town Committee also urged upon the Government to repair the dilapidated secti- ons of NH 39 at the earliest.
=========================
Prolonged political circus
The political drama within the Congress Legislature Party has gone on for too long, and it is a wonder that the AICC leadership is content with just sitting over the issue, as if everything is fine within the Congress in Manipur. It has been more than two weeks since the Congress dissident MLAs have set up a camp at Delhi to demand a change in leadership but the circus that has been enacted is no longer amusing. In fact, so caught up are the anti-Ibobi and pro-Ibobi lobbies in the tussle for power, that everything has been kept on the back burner. With many MLAs camping at Delhi and those who have stayed back here, but are nevertheless busy in coming out with their own side of the story and claims, the affairs of the State have been pushed to the sidelines and we can see this in the sudden spurt of violence, dating back to October. With Ministers choosing sides, and immersed in the power struggle, functioning of the State must have been dealt a big blow. Chief Minister O Ibobi may publicly maintain that the present stand off is a family matter, but that does not in any way take away the gravity of the situation. Political uncertainty definitely cannot be termed as solely family affairs and the Chief Minister must not forget that he is heading a Government and not a political party. The AICC should also wisen up to the situation here and if they cannot agree to what the dissident MLAs are demanding, then the rebels should be told to wrap and return home and attend to their duties as representatives of the people. On the other hand if they do see some merits in the points raised by the rebel MLAs, then the Chief Minister must be summoned to Delhi to see what can be done.
Sleeping over the matter will not serve the interest of the Congress in any way. On the other hand, the long period of uncertainty will only cast the party as a party without any concern for the State and its people. In other words this is bad politics and though the Assembly election is still about five years away, the present situation could have a negative impact on the Congress. While we will desist from airing our opinion on what the dissident MLAs have put up, there is no doubting the fact that the law and order situation has taken a turn for the worse, with killings and violence becoming a daily affair. The question is, will the prolonged political uncertainty in any way help, or has it added to the already volatile situation in the State ? This is a question that definitely merits the attention of the political leadership of the State as well as the political netas at New Delhi. What is needed right now is the co-operation of all political parties to chart out a strategy on how to stem the rot. However with the Congress itself ridden by factionalism, such a situation may remain just a pipe dream. It is time the AICC steps in. The Governor may also use his good office to help end the stalemate.
Source: The Sangai Express
S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Nov 17: The seven member Manipur Hills Journalist Union team that con- ducts ‘Spot Enquiry’ on the alleged famine like situation prevailing in the interiors of Churachandpur has more than established that fact that Famine - acute shortage of food, has already hit the interiors in a way more than anyone could assume.
On a five days mission, the team put their life on the line and endured all forms of ordeal that any murderous roads could have bestow-ed. Two or three inches of delicate soil is the only thing that keeps the media here going.
L Chinkhanlian, Editor of Manipur Express, T Thangzalian, Ediot of the Lamka Post, Zohmingliana, Editor of Channtu and Kh Benlian, Editor of Thuiltu were the personalities that gamble their establishment.
Covering morethan forty interior villages, the visiting media team has proved beyond doubt that rodent and other natural menace has terribly affect the normal harvest of each and every individual farmer.
A statement release by the union said, ‘the team is more than convinced that the entire hill area of Chura-chandpur is infact hit by the acute shortage of food-grains.’
Claiming further that the situation in the interior is morethan a ‘famine-like’ but a full blown calamity, the MHJU has formally declared that ‘Famine’ in all its veracity and meaning has already visited the area.
Of the forty odd interior villages visited by the team, 70 percent of the populace were short of foodgrains to last them till Christmas. The accounts recorded by the visiting media team were revealing, and their road connectivity treacherous. No wonder, the visiting media team has suggested the need to initiate Rapid Reaction Team to dealt with the adversity, plans for providing relief packages inclu- ding long-term rehabilitation and air-lifting essential commodities.
Bit by bit accounts of the village chiefs and laymen, the findings and remarkable encounters of the team, in which this correspondent is a part, will be followed in our subsequent issue.
=====================
‘Sadar Hills’ stamped over ‘Senapati’
IMPHAL, Nov 19 : Amidst the persisting demand of the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full-fledged revenue district, people of the area have started impressing ‘Sadar Hills district’ over the words Senapati district.
Even as the Government is yet to grant district status to Sadar Hills, the people are preparing to proclaim the area a full-fledged revenue district after a referendum.
The people of Sadar Hills area, particularly those residing at Kangpokpi have started replacing ‘Senapati district’ with ‘Sadar Hills district’ on all the sign-boards put up in front of shops and offices located in Kangpokpi town, informed secretary of Kangpokpi Town Committee Chonkan Kipgen.
The new initiative is aimed at demonstrating to the Government that the people wish fulfilment of their demand which has been standing since 2972.
“What we want is separate Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police for Sadar Hills”, said Chonkan Kipgen.
After the shops, the drive to replace ‘Senapati district’ with ‘Sadar Hills district’ will be taken to schools and then to each village within Sadar Hills, he conveyed.
Given the fact that the Government is refusing to grant district status to Sadar Hills, the people has made necessary preparations to proclaim Sadar Hills a full-fledged revenue district after a referendum, claimed Kangpokpi Youth Club secretary Khuplien Lhouvum. The Kangpokpi Town Committee also urged upon the Government to repair the dilapidated secti- ons of NH 39 at the earliest.
=========================
Prolonged political circus
The political drama within the Congress Legislature Party has gone on for too long, and it is a wonder that the AICC leadership is content with just sitting over the issue, as if everything is fine within the Congress in Manipur. It has been more than two weeks since the Congress dissident MLAs have set up a camp at Delhi to demand a change in leadership but the circus that has been enacted is no longer amusing. In fact, so caught up are the anti-Ibobi and pro-Ibobi lobbies in the tussle for power, that everything has been kept on the back burner. With many MLAs camping at Delhi and those who have stayed back here, but are nevertheless busy in coming out with their own side of the story and claims, the affairs of the State have been pushed to the sidelines and we can see this in the sudden spurt of violence, dating back to October. With Ministers choosing sides, and immersed in the power struggle, functioning of the State must have been dealt a big blow. Chief Minister O Ibobi may publicly maintain that the present stand off is a family matter, but that does not in any way take away the gravity of the situation. Political uncertainty definitely cannot be termed as solely family affairs and the Chief Minister must not forget that he is heading a Government and not a political party. The AICC should also wisen up to the situation here and if they cannot agree to what the dissident MLAs are demanding, then the rebels should be told to wrap and return home and attend to their duties as representatives of the people. On the other hand if they do see some merits in the points raised by the rebel MLAs, then the Chief Minister must be summoned to Delhi to see what can be done.
Sleeping over the matter will not serve the interest of the Congress in any way. On the other hand, the long period of uncertainty will only cast the party as a party without any concern for the State and its people. In other words this is bad politics and though the Assembly election is still about five years away, the present situation could have a negative impact on the Congress. While we will desist from airing our opinion on what the dissident MLAs have put up, there is no doubting the fact that the law and order situation has taken a turn for the worse, with killings and violence becoming a daily affair. The question is, will the prolonged political uncertainty in any way help, or has it added to the already volatile situation in the State ? This is a question that definitely merits the attention of the political leadership of the State as well as the political netas at New Delhi. What is needed right now is the co-operation of all political parties to chart out a strategy on how to stem the rot. However with the Congress itself ridden by factionalism, such a situation may remain just a pipe dream. It is time the AICC steps in. The Governor may also use his good office to help end the stalemate.
Source: The Sangai Express
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