Representatives of 14 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and community leaders met Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale in Imphal on Tuesday and submitted their concerns and demands, including the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) using 1951 as the base year.
The delegation emphasised that the NRC exercise should be completed before the conduct of the Census in Manipur, 14 CSOs convenor Nahakpam Shanta told reporters after the meeting.
According to Shanta, the delegation also drew the Union Minister’s attention to the situation of youths who allegedly took up arms under pressure amid the ongoing crisis in the State.
He said the delegation urged the government to consider a general amnesty for such youths and explore measures for their rehabilitation and reintegration.
The formation of Village Guard Forces was also suggested as one possible mechanism to streamline and rehabilitate the youths, Shanta added.