IT News
Imphal, Oct 19:
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh maintained that his Government’s commitment, since its formation in 2017, was to bring bandh and blockade free in the State with improved law and order. His first priority as a Chief Minister was to bridge the gap between hill and valley and also among various communities, he added.
N. Biren Singh was speaking as chief guest at the Seminar organised by Assam Rifles at the City Convention Centre, Palace Compound under the theme “Future Ready Manipur – looking Beyond Ethnicity & Insurgency”.
The Chief Minister continued that the Go to Hills mission was introduced to know and understand the grievance of the people residing in hill areas. Interacting and meeting face to face is the need of the hour, he said, adding that we can exchange our thoughts with civil society organisations, church leaders and village Chiefs and know their grievances for redressal. He informed that after the Go to Hills mission, the Go to Village mission was launched to take Government officials to villages and provide services to the people at their doorsteps.
He expressed thankfulness to Assam Rifles, Manipur Police and other paramilitary forces for their contribution in connecting and maintaining healthy relations with the public. He expressed that the armed forces and the public need to change the mindsets and views towards each other as the law and order situation of the State had considerably improved. He continued that security personnel should ensure the safety of the people and a healthy relationship should be created between the security personnel and the public.
Continuing his speech, N. Biren Singh mentioned that the North-East region is blessed with abundant natural resources, rich cultural heritage and young dynamic population. Manipur, with its strategic location, has huge potential in the field of Trade, Tourism, IT enabled services, Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, Sports, Culture, Horticulture and Handicrafts, he added. He stressed the need for a collective vision and coordinated response from all stakeholders to translate these into reality.
He maintained that the security scenario in the State has been improving over the recent years. Disturbed area under AFSPA has reduced further. The Government has successfully rolled out numerous outreach programmes bridging developmental gaps and ensuring deeper emotional integration.
He observed that Manipur had lost opportunities in the past due to problems of insurgency and polarisation on ethnic lines and added resolving identity based issues requires a comprehensive approach, based on mutual respect and a collective aspiration of a shared and united future.
The Chief Minister further stated that being a border state, problems of drugs and illegal immigration not only present a socio-economic problem but also has security dimensions. He added that the State Government had been making all efforts under its initiative of War on Drugs 2.0 to tackle the problem of drugs in the State. Simultaneously, programmes to provide alternative livelihood for poppy planters are being taken up.
Regarding connectivity, he stated that connectivity infrastructure air, helicopter services and rail connectivity in the State has also been strengthened. Steps are also being taken to improve connectivity infrastructure along the border, he added.
N. Biren Singh expressed satisfaction to learn that the Assam Rifles has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Manipur University for organising such Seminars to brainstorm ideas for a prosperous and peaceful Manipur. He also requested Lt. Gen. P.C. Nair, Director General Assam Rifles to initiate the process of vacating the Assam Rifles camp from the Manipur University Campus. He also expressed hope that the seminar would provide tools to chart a way towards a prosperous and peaceful Manipur.
The seminar was attended by Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution L. Susindro Meitei, Education Minister Th. Basanta Kumar Singh, MLA of Lamlai AC Kh. Ibomcha Singh, Director General of Assam Rifles Lt. Gen. P.C. Nair, Vice-Chancellor of Universities, senior officials of Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces and students among others.
Lt Gen P C Nair, AVSM, YSM, DG Assam Rifles while welcoming civil dignitaries and senior officers of Security Forces and Police, highlighted the complex dynamics of Manipur and challenges for all stakeholders in Government machinaries and delivered the Keynote address.
The North East Seminar is an initiative of Assam Rifles undertaken annually to exchange ideas, views and share the perspective of diverse stakeholders in the region. The initiative was undertaken in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Manipur University and Assam Rifles for restoring peace & ushering in prosperity in the North East.
The event was conducted in two Sessions. The first plenary session was chaired by Mr Jaideep Saikia on the topic “The Troubled Neighbour – Turbulent Myanmar: Implications and Impact” wherein the esteemed panelists analysed recent developments and trends in Myanmar on the ethnic, diplomatic, strategic and economic fronts. The panelists of the first session included Gautam Mukhopadhaya, former Ambassador to Myanmar, H K Jain, a Myanmar expert and Yudhvir Shahrawat, former Chairman of Land Ports Authority of India.
A virtual talk was also delivered by Dr. Alex Waterman of Leeds University, United Kingdom on the impact of the “Naga Peace Process in Manipur”. The second plenary session was chaired by veteran Lt Gen K H Singh (Retd) on the topic “Past v/s Future: Shedding the Historical Baggage in Manipur”.
