IMPHAL, Apr 15: Protection and Preservation Committee (PPCM) convenor Ph Deban has called upon all the people of both the hills and the valley to enquire collectively who hijacked benefits of different welfare schemes entitled to the masses and how, and work collectively to ensure that all the people enjoy equal opportunities and uniform shares of all welfare schemes.
He was speaking at a public meeting held today at Old Boljang Primary School under the aegis of PPCM and village authorities of Old Boljang, New Boljang and Satang on the theme Hingminnasi Eikhoi (Let’s live together).
PPCM convenor Ph Deban, Satang village chief Letkhohao Guite, New Boljang village chief Khuplam Khongsai and Old Boljang village chief Semkhomang Khongsai attended the meeting as presidium members.
PPCM presented watches and six bags of rice to each of the village chiefs.
Speaking at the gathering, Deban said that Hingminnasi Eikhoi is a new campaign of the PPCM and it is being launched from Old Boljang, New Boljang and Satang villages of Kangpokpi district.
The campaign is aimed at establishing who hijacked the benefits of different welfare schemes entitled to the masses and how.
Another main agenda of the campaign is to arouse a common struggle of both the hill people and plain people so as to ensure that all the people enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
People need to struggle collectively to inform the Government whether they have access to education, safe drinking water, PDS items, health infrastructure and other basic infrastructure.
It is a matter of serious concern that a large number of people have been denied benefits of different welfare schemes. Large amounts of funds sanctioned for Anganwadi Centres and health care centres have been swindled.
DCs, ADCs and SDOs should directly deliver benefits of different schemes to the beneficiaries and this is one primary message of today’s meeting, Deban said.
Only when the people’s collective voice for their rights and opportunities gains momentum, people of both the hills and the valley can find a path to economic security and co-existence.
Hill people should take a firm decision of securing the living conditions available in the valley.
Even though artificial walls and diabolical political forces have been pulling the hill people and plain people apart, there is no animosity among different communities of the State, said the PPCM convenor.
There is a growing need for the hill people and plain people to unite together and struggle collectively for equal rights and opportunities. Whatever gaps that exist among different communities must be bridged, Deban continued.
He also proposed massive afforestation projects over hill slopes which have now become totally bare. There is a need to protect and preserve medicinal plants found in the State.
In the first phase, Hingminnasi Eikhoi campaign would be taken to the remote areas of hill districts and a State level convention would be held later.
PPCM would work to hold youth leadership meetings at different places as a part of the campaign.
Asserting that there is no future for the people of Manipur without unity, Deban appealed to one and all to join PPCM.
New Boljang village chief Khuplam Khongsai said, “I though there was not a single benevolent soul in Manipur but I am gratified by PPCM’s visit to the village and their sincere help to the villagers”.
Government officials came and assured many things but even Primary Health Centre and safe drinking water remain inaccessible to the villagers.
No mobile network is available at Old Boljang, New Boljang and Satang villages in this age of information technology. With the concerned authority paying no heed to the people’s appeal to install mobile towers, the villagers have to go up to Dolaithabi if they must use mobile phones, Khuplam said.
The villagers are totally helpless in case of emergency, he added.
Source: The Sangai Express
