IMPHAL, October 1: A seminar on `An Emergent Manipur `“ The Way Ahead`™ was organized by IGAR (South) at Mantripukhri today attended by the Chief Minister as the chief guest.
The seminar was also attended by ministers, political leaders, government officials, officers of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and Police, Faculty of Manipur University, NGOs and other prominent citizens of Manipur.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in his keynote address called for an urgent need to arrive at the way forward for peace and prosperity in Manipur by amalgamation of divergent views from varied sections of the society, so that Manipur could rightly become the `Nongpok Thong` or the Gateway to South East Asia.
The Chief Minister said he thinks the seminar is significant in the context of increasing need for introspection and the demands for transparency and accountability in the governance processes and functions.
`I hope that this seminar will throw up new ideas and views on further strengthening Manipur.`
`On my behalf and the State Government, I would like to re-affirm our commitment to create and sustain an environment conducive to communal amity among the various communities inhabiting our small but beautiful State.`
`I would like all the participants to express their views freely and frankly,` he said.
The people expect that this forum, which represents a cross-section of our people, will come up with some concrete and pragmatic suggestions on the way ahead. This will provide the State Government with a road map for the betterment of Manipur, he said.
Despite the rich flora and fauna which makes Manipur a place of immense tourism potential, unfortunately, we have not been able to put these into good use, he said.
We are plagued with the problem of militancy, underdevelopment and poverty. We do recognise that peace and progress and prosperity go together. We have taken up several welfare and development schemes for the benefit of our people. Unfortunately, frequent bandhs, blockades and widespread extortions have been hindrances to our endeavours, he said.
`I would like to emphasise that in a democratic set-up, like ours, there is enough space for all of us to express our concerns and grievances,` he continued.
`The burning down of Government properties as an expression of discontentment is an extremely wrong approach. Why should we destroy our own assets rather than doing everything to protect them?` he said.
`We, in our Government recognise that there is no alternative to `Good Governance`™.`
He continued `My government seeks to create and sustain an environment in which the rights enshrined in our Constitution are available to our people.`
`No discourse on Manipur is complete without a discussion on the activities of the various militant groups active in the state. They extort money from almost all sections of our people. It is no doubt easy to intimidate and scare people at gunpoint. But it is far more challenging to win over the hearts and minds of the people. Through this forum, I once again call upon all such groups to abjure violence and lay down their arms,` he said.
Lt Gen N K Singh (retd) chairman Ceasefire Monitoring Group, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, GOC 3 Corps, Manipur, Maj Gen V S Sreenivas, Inspector General Assam Rifles, Brigadier Vinod T Mathew, Commander 9 Sector and Dr Thiyam Bharat Singh, Prof W Naba Kumar, Prof Amar Yumnam and Prof K Ibo from Manipur University were the other panelists.
While addressing the august audience, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat GOC 3 Corps called for all sections of the society to unite against the evil designs of anti-national elements during these testing times, so as to surge on the path of progress and create an enabling environment for Manipur to become the pivot in India`™s Act East vision.
Concluding the Seminar proceedings, Sh Gaikhangam, Dy CM, Manipur thanked and congratulated the IGAR(S) for organizing the seminar to deliberate on issues of vital concern for the State Govt as well as the cross-section of citizens of Manipur. He urged all stakeholders in the inclusive growth of Manipur to deliberate on the innovative and pragmatic views expressed during the seminar for a way forward for sustained peace and development of Manipur.