IMPHAL, January 20: Let`™s stop terrace farming in the hills in the name of cultivation for earning some income because forests provide us more valuable income than what one earns from cultivation by felling trees in the hills, said deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam while speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Kharam student`™s conference and cultural meet at the Laikot village, Senapati District today.
The conference and cultural meet which will go on for four days, organised by Kharam students`™ union, is being participated by three villages of the Kharam tribe such as Tuisenphai, Laikot Phaijol and Kharam Pallel in Senapati district.
Kharam tribe is a small tribe which has its own identity and culture, and enjoyed the protection of the past kings of Manipur which can be known from the stone inscriptions in the ancient Manipuri script found at the Kharam Pallel villages. The Kharam tribe should not lose its morale simply because of its small population as we are the same and are the brothers and sisters of our motherland Manipur, he said.
He said we should always keep up our morale and always be loyal to one another which will not only help in developing the State but will make the future generations follow our example.
Manipur has a beautiful culture known all over the world. The culture of the Kharam tribe is also included in that, he said, adding we should not break our unity and try to maintain the integrity of the State by making it stronger. He said we must start searching our identities to show the unity of Manipur as well as to know that we are one and belong to the same place.
Gaikhangam said problems between communities are created by religion but we must know that religions exist to promote peace and harmony, and not to make enemies. We are encouraging several activities to foster a strong sense of bonding between the communities, he added.
In his presidential speech, Lamlai A/C MLA Kh Biren said the conference is important because it will help develop the Kharam tribe as Kharam tribes from different places have gathered in the conference which will help the participants in exchanging knowledge and ideas. The Kharam Students`™ Union also submitted a memorandum to the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on behalf of the chief of Laikot village seeking recognition of the village as Laikot Kharam village in government records and other demands.
Manipur Lomrem Union president Lerkhonmang Serto, Manipur Aimol Union president Akhup Serto, Manipur Chiru Union president Areng Chiru, KYO president Chungsiek Koireng, Manipur Kharam Union president R Samuel and Laikot Kom chief L Thangso attended the opening ceremony as special invitees.