Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) has urged the titular king of Manipur and Rajya Sabha MP Leisemba Sanajaoba to do the needful to stop military occupation of public properties and school buildings in various Tangkhul villages across Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
TNWL president SA Ramnganing made the appeal at the inauguration function of TNWL’s newly-constructed multi-purpose hall at Winotang in Ukhrul town on February 21. MP Sanajaoba attended the function as chief guest and inaugurated the new facility.
The TNWL chief said that the military occupation of the public properties and school buildings has led to a decline in the quality of education among the school-going children, apart from causing psychological trauma to the villagers, especially women and children.
He urged the visiting Rajya Sabha MP to take action to ensure that the children are able to receive quality education in their own villages, without the fear of military occupation.
The military occupation of the villages is also a ‘serious violation’ of the customary rights of the Tangkhul community, he conveyed.
According to Ramnganing, Tangkhul village chiefs and civil society organisations had apprised the authorities concerned about the military situation and appealed for withdrawal of the security forces from the villages on several occasions, but there has been no positive response so far.
It may be recalled that the Tangkhul public had staged a series of mass demonstration against the forceful occupation of lands by the Assam Rifles in Khamasom, Chatric, Mapum, Poi, Tusom CV, Lamlang, Kasom Khullen, Ramphoi, and Kangpat Khullen villages.
The mass movement had also demanded repeal of AFSPA-1958 and withdrawal of paramilitary forces from the lands of the Tangkhuls.
Speaking on the occasion, MP Sanajaoba encouraged all stakeholders, especially village chiefs of the Tangkhul community, to support the state government’s initiative to root out illegal poppy cultivation and drug menace from the state.
Manipur is one of the states in India which is grappling with the problem of illegal poppy cultivation and drug menace. In a bid to root out these problems, the state government has been carrying out various awareness programmes and initiatives under the leadership of chief minister N. Biren Singh.
Yet, he noted that the battle against drugs is not just the responsibility of the government, but that everyone bears equal responsibility because drugs pose a major threat to the future of the younger generation.
“The government would not be able to eradicate the drug threat without the cooperation of the people,” MP Sanajaoba added, appealing for the support of all stakeholders in the initiative.
Noting that the TNWL general assembly 2023, would be taking place on February 22 at the new multi-purpose hall, he proposed that all the village chiefs pass a collective resolution to reaffirm their commitment against drugs when they are assembled for the meeting.
He also urged the village authorities to educate the people about the risks of drugs and persuade all local farmers to abandon illegal poppy cultivation in their villages.
“It’s been a long battle, and in the past, too, all Tangkhul village chiefs and Tangkhul civil society organisations had taken a stand against drugs and intoxicants and have been fighting against the drug scourge all these years,” Ramnganing said.
He said that Tangkhul village chiefs under the banner of TNWL would be holding discourse and were ready to adopt another strong resolution to reaffirm our collective stand against drugs during our upcoming assembly.
Talking about development, the Rajya Sabha MP called for the same kind of public support and cooperation in order that all development projects being taken up in the district could be completed in time.
He talked about how he had a horrible travel experience during his journey to town because of the awful condition of the NH-202 along the Imphal-Ukhrul road, particularly the section from Yaingangpokpi to Finch Corner.
He observed that the ongoing development/double-laning of the roadway has been dragging on for a prolonged period due to various factors which included land acquisition and compensation issues and other lapses on contractors and subcontractors’ part.
Describing Ukhrul district as a potential tourism hotspot, the MP lamented that lack of proper road connectivity is standing in the way of promoting the district as a tourist destination. “This is the reason why Ukhrul district, despite its various tourist attractions like Shirui Lily, could not be featured in the recently concluded G20 summit held in the state,” he noted.
MP Sanajaoba cut the ceremonial ribbon and dedicated the new building in the presence of TNL president David K Shimray, TNWL president Ramnganing, and Ukhrul DC Krishna Kumar.
Ramnganing thanked MP Sanajaoba for providing financial aid in the construction of the new structure, which cost Rs. 25 lakhs, and also thanked DC Krishna Kumar for his financial support.
Guru Rawung and local cultural groups such as Hunphun Khanuithot Culture Research Forum (HKCRF) and Hungpung Social Cultural Organisation (HSCO) entertained the gathering with various Tangkhul folk songs.
The event was attended by representatives from various Tangkhul CSOs, Longphang zonal organisations, and village chiefs from all over the district.
