Newmai News Network
Imphal, Mar 3: All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) has highlighted a 3-point schema to the Prime Minister in order to flag down the socio-economic exclusion of the tribals and the need for a green revolution in tribal region to weaken the force that strives on exclusivist politics.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being the miracle hand of the Indian economy knows best that only through green revolution in the tribal region the socio-economy of the people can be enhanced, a memorandum submitted by AMTU to the Prime Minster stated signed by its general secretary Romeo Bungdon.
AMTU has suggested a 3-point schema to bring about green revolution in tribal areas for the fortification of the economy of the tribals of Manipur.
Firstly, it has suggested for the creation of a nodal agency similar to`”and as good as`”Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to be routed preferably through Autonomous District Council (local government) so that development funds reach the target tribal population and avoid being misused and diverted as it often happens in Manipur.
Second, AMTU has suggested for the earmarking of financial provision of Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) exclusively for the development of tribal areas of the State.
And lastly, it has proposed for the provision of funds under such scheme to be utilized in heath, sanitation and to procure fencing materials like barbed wire and gauged wire for paddy fields.
There are vast acres of land which could not be cultivated due to herds of domestic animals traditionally unleashed to graze freely all the year round. This culture of animal rearing is counter active against cultivations. Therefore, fencing facility should be provided to poor land owners to enhance better harvest of both kharif and rabi crops. Otherwise, cultivable lands and paddy fields are wasted for such a long season, AMTU highlighted.
Again, it hinted that rationalization and mechanization of agricultural tools which is the vehicle of any green revolution has largely remained unaffordable to the poor tribal farmers of the State. `Impoverished people of this region can never afford such type of mechanized farming, unless nodal agency for TSP is formulated and implemented for such noble development of the tribal region in the State like Manipur,` it said.
The tribal body also thanked the Prime Minister and his government for the successful mission of MGNREGS in empowering the grass root population and for evolving a plan for the real development in the hill districts of Manipur.
The two districts of Senapati and Churachandpur have been conferred with the national awards for two consecutive years alternatively for outstanding performance in the implementation of MGNREGS through the diligence of the two lady deputy commissioners, AMTU has observed, adding that it is MGNREGS which has made these mere tribal districts emerge to such a high profile districts, without which there is no other means to excel over others by such economically feeble tribal districts.
A copy each of the memorandum singed by its general secretary Romeo Bungdon has also been submitted to Sonia Gandhi, UPA chairperson, and the chief secretary of Manipur.
