IMPHAL, December 18: `We should not be afraid of anybody while striving for Minority Rights and must fight for those rights`, stated Chief Minister Okram Ibobi during the Minority Rights Day observations at the Maraharaj Chandrakriti Auditorium Hall in Palace Compound today. In his speech as the chief guest, he said that the minorities of Manipur should not lose hope on being a minority as the government is always trying to provide them their due rights. He also stressed that the minority people should protect their identity all the time.
Stating that the state government has created reservations for minorities during any recruitment for government jobs, he said even the United Nations has declared December 18 as Minority Right Day and it is observed the world over every year. Minorities are protected in this secular country and even in Manipur all ethnic communities live in harmony to this day, he added.
He said some individuals always try to create communal tension among the various communities and appealed to the people to remain beware of such divisive forces.
Ibobi said though the state is geographically small it is populated by people from several communities, religions and castes. He further appealed to all to work jointly for peace and harmony so that there may be progress and prosperity in Manipur while also urging to fight collectively against poverty, illiteracy and disintegration of people in the State.
The Muslims, the Christians, the Buddhists and the Sikhs have been identified as minorities in the State under the Minority Act and the government has enacted the Manipur State Minorities Commission Act, 2010 to provide for effective execution of the welfare and development of the minorities in the State, said CM Okram Ibobi.
In his speech as the guest of honour, Parliamentary secretary Amin Shah said a Minority Commission has been constituted in the State under the leadership of the Chief Minister and the state was taking up various steps to remove the economic, social, educational backwardness of minority communities.
The MOBC department has provided various schemes for the minority communities. The state is taking up various schemes for welfare and development of minority people which are included in the 50 point programme of the Prime Minister, he said.
In his presidential speech, Manipur State Minorities Commission chairman Janab A Halim Chowdhury exhorted to give more emphasis on the education of children of the minority communities. He called `unfortunate` the demand by some Muslim groups for his resignation on the ground that he was old and can`t discharge his duties properly.
Clarifying that he has taken up various welfare schemes for minority people after assuming charge as the chairman of the commission till date, he said it would be better to come to his office and give suggestion and provide knowledge for the welfare of the minority instead of making wild allegations and demanding his replacement.
He said that he will try to make possible any development works while asking those interested in holding the post of the chairperson to come out and speak to the Chief Minister if they are willing to work for the welfare of the minority people and to serve them.
An Annual Report for the year 2013-14 of the Manipur State Minorities Commission was also released by the CM on the occasion.
Parliamentary secretary Md Amin Shah, Wakf Board, Manipur chairman and Wabagai A/C MLA Md Fajur Rahim, Khurai MLA Ng Bijoy, Kakching MLA Y Surchandra, Jiribam MLA Kh Debendra and members of the Commission Prof. MS Ningomba and Rev N Debendra Singh among others were also present.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Muslim Development Organisation (AMMDO) observed Minority Rights Day at Manipur Press Club today.
The function was attended by AMMDO president advocate DP Shahid Ahamad, Editors`™ Guild Manipur president A Mubi, All Manipur United Clubs Organisation advisor KT Rahaman, All Manipur Bar Association president advocate Khaidem Mani, Minorities Development Forum advisor Dr Syed Burhauddin and Manipuri Naat Kanba Lup secretary general Gunachandra Sharma as presidium members.
Speaking at the function, Mubi said the implication of a minority community has been wrongly interpreted by many.
He said a particular community is termed a minority community if it has minimum population and should not be correlated only to the reservation system.
Today the people seem to view a minority community as only enjoying reservation and at the same time there are many among the youth of the minority communities who have become lazy and careless due to the reservation system, he said.
He continued that the need of the hour is to organise programmes like awareness programs, street-plays, dramas in villages of the community to create more awareness on the minorities`™ rights provided by the government.
Speaking on the occasion, Khaidem Mani said the day is being observed all over the world to create awareness on the minorities`™ rights.