Dimapur, August 3 (MExN): The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex tribal body of the Tangkhul Nagas recently presented an eleven point charter of demand for development of Ukhrul district, which was submitted before Union Home Secretary G.K Pillai in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The TNL also asked the GoI to consider on priority basis to organize a seminar – cum – workshop on the eleven point charter of demand at Ukhrul during 2009-2010. The TNL President Stephen Angkang and General Secretary K. Dickson in their representation stated that such kind of public interaction will “dispel the doubts and confusion hovering in the minds of the people to be reconciled negative with positive thinking to bring drastic changes in the field of economic and human resource development”. The TNL also hoped that the Union Home Secretary will do the needful by inviting the concern ministries to participate in the seminar and “clear the Project on the spot in the interest of public service and the Nation”.
The eleven point charter of demand included development of National Highway 150; opening of State Bank of India; electricity – 132 Kv Power Sub-Station; Cold Storage; Shiroi national park; Hill Districts Ring Road; Central Hill University; Ukhrul as summer Capital of Manipur; F.M. Radio And Doordarshan; Helicopter service from Imphal – Ukhrul and reconstruction of Tangkhul Naga Long Shopping Complex.
With regard to proper development of NH-150 the TNL hoped that this will lead to ‘road transport security’. The TNL regretted that there was no water, air, and railway to connect Ukhrul district with the rest of the country. The only means of transport for Ukhrul District is the road transport via Kohima – Jessami - Ukhrul – Churachandpur – Mizoram which has been declared as National Highway (N.H. 150) in 1999. However, the TNL regretted that even after a lapse of ten years, there is no sign of progress to achieve the target. “The pathetic slow progress of the region is one of the reasons for lack of people’s participation in all walks of life at par with the rest of the country. Development of national highway in letter and spirit would mean road transport security of the region”, it stated.
On ‘financial security’, the TNL was of the view that State Bank of India is the largest and the most reliable public sector bank in India having more than 11,111 branches in India as on 2008. While stating that many SBI branches are to be opened in the North-East region, it regretted that “Ukhrul district is not found in the map of SBI for reasons best known to them” and that in the field of banking service, Ukhrul district is lacking behind to all the districts of the country. “The State Bank of India at Ukhrul would mean financial security of the people”, the TNL noted in its representation.
As far as the need for ‘power security’ was concerned, the TNL termed as ‘strange’ that the consumers are forced to pay light bill in time without the current being supplied to them. It pointed out that in the absence of electricity, there can be no industry and factory of any kind in the district and also described Ukhrul district as the most backward district in the country as far electricity was concerned. “Therefore, setting up of 132KV power sub-station at Hungdung is needed to connect with the Power Grid of India for securing uninterrupted supply of power like any part of India”, the TNL stated while adding that security of power is essential for development of Industry and information technology which is the need of the century.
On the food front, the TNL wanted cold storage facilities pointing out that since the climatic condition of Ukhrul district favours growing varieties of horticulture products and since they are perishable in nature, proper storage was required. “The horticulture produces could be stored in cold storage to enable the farmers to sell them with minimum support price during the season and the same commodities could be sold out during off season which could fetch more profit”, the TNL observed while stating that in the absence of cold storage and state of art road transport facilities most of these produces have been wasted before they are converted into money in the local, national & international markets. “Setting up of cold Storage would mean food security and incentive for farmers”.
Charter number five calls for development of ‘Shiroi National Park’ which will give ‘water, ecology & environment security’. According to the TNL, Shiroi Kashong and its surrounding foothill areas is the only source of drinking water supply to district head quarter Ukhrul. “The Ukhrul district ceases to exist without Shiroi Kashong water resource. Therefore, preservation and conservation of Shiroi Kashong natural resources such as forest, water, flora & fauna and surrounding catchment areas in the form and status of national park is very much essential”, the TNL argued. Further Shiroi national park would also mean saving the endangered flora ‘Shiroi Lily’ the state flower of Manipur and “Uningthou –Phoenbehainesiana” the state tree of Manipur besides “Dragopan Bhlythe” and many medicinal plants and herbs. “The proposed national park will hasten Micro – Climate to reduce global warming and adverse climatic changes. National park would ensure water, ecology and environment security of Ukhrul district”, the TNL states.
The TNL has also proposed a ‘Hill Districts Ring Road’ for the purpose of ‘tribal trade and commerce security’. According to the representation the five hill districts namely, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and Churanchandpur dominated by the indigenous tribals of Manipur state have been recklessly neglected in the past by successive governments since Indian independence. There is no connectivity between one hill district headquarters to another by road or by air and as such one has to travel via Imphal which entails more distance, expenditure, time and energy, the TNL stated. To overcome this hurdle, construction of Hill Districts Ring Road is necessary. In this connection the TNL has extended gratitude to the Japanese government for sanctioning Rs. 1000/- crore (Rupees One Thousand Crore only) for the project. The TNL stated that for such mega infrastructure development the contract work shall be awarded to BRO or renowned national and international company which can build quality road to connect all hill districts of Manipur. “Hill Districts Ring Road would mean development of trade and commerce Security of the Tribals”.
On the human resource development front, the charter of demand has also called for a Central Hill University. The TNL regretted that the Manipur Central University, Chanchipur is yet to be a temple of learning for the tribals of Manipur and that this centre of learning has become a centre for exploitation for tribal and minorities in every aspect such as in the matter of recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff and allotment of seat for admission of tribal and minorities in various disciplines. “Under the prevailing system of administration, the tribal and minorities have been treated with step motherly treatment and as such there is no congenial atmosphere to pursue higher studies”, the TNL stated. As such, a separate central hill university would mean new horizon and space for learning the value of life, culture and development of scientific temper. Further Hill University would mean promotion of culture, interest, indigenous method of learning and quality education, stated the TNL.
The other charter of demand includes F.M. Radio and Doordarshan for promotion of culture and national integration. In particular the TNL was of the opinion that setting up of F.M. Radio Station at Ukhrul is the need of the hour for dissemination of news in local dialect such as local, national and international news, besides information of various developmental scheme such as NREGA, Rural Health Mission and Right to Information Act, so that rural masses are well informed in time about their rights and duties and enjoy the benefit of the scheme. It also stated that such communication medium can lead to “revival of Tribal Culture and Economic Development of the North Eastern Region” and that this will “cement Unity in Diversity and National Integration”.
The TNL has also called for helicopter service from Imphal – Ukhrul to promote tourism industry and also reconstruction of Tangkhul Naga Long shopping complex which is situated at Wino Bazaar, Ukhrul. The place was gutted into ashes on the 9th March 2009. The main source of income for running day to day affairs of Tangkhul Naga Long is the house rent from this shopping complex. In the absence of alternative source of Income for the existence of Social Apex body of Tangkhul Community is at stake, it stated. It may be mentioned that the TNL representation was also forwarded to Chief Minister, Manipur, Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Development of North East Region; Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance; Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Human Resource Dev; Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways; Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Broadcasting and Information; Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests; Secretary Government of India, Ministry of Food processing; Joint Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs( NE) besides other top officials from Manipur.
Demand for ‘equilibrium development security’
Dimapur, August 3 (MExN): The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) in its eleven point charter of demand for development of Ukhrul district, which was submitted before Union Home Secretary G.K Pillai has also pushed the case for making Ukhrul the summer capital of Manipur to achieve the objective of ‘equilibrium development security’. In its representation the TNL lamented that since independence till date, all developmental activities are confined within the “narrow cave of Manipur valley” and that “funds allotted for development of Hill Districts are being diverted to the narrow cave”. It pointed out that centrally sponsored scheme funds are often refunded without being utilized for development of tribal and backward areas “giving justification on ground of time bound factors”. Further under the present job reservation of Manipur thirty one percent (31%) jobs are reserved for the tribals, however, the tribals have occupied fourteen percent (14%) only and the rest seventeen percent (17%) tribal job Quotas have been “snatched away by the Meiteis who think that majority is always right in democracy”. “In short, to bridge the gap of development between Hill and the Valley, it will be sensible to make Ukhrul as the summer capital of Manipur like Srinagar the Summer Capital of Jammu & Kashmir to secure equilibrium development without which the scar of lopsided development will remain incurable injustice”, the TNL stated.
