IT News
Imphal, Feb 25:
The Unique Business Association (UBAC) and the Sulam Business Association (SBA) of Chandel have jointly issued a press release condemning the appointment of non-local officers as the Divisional Forests Officer in Chandel.
Expressing their concerns, the associations emphasized that Chandel district, spanning 2100 sq. km and constituting 9.4% of the state’s total geographical area, harbors significant forest resources, covering 86.43% of the district, second only to Tamenglong District.
Highlighting the socio-economic context, the press release stated that the district’s population of approximately 98,000, with over 90% living below the poverty line, relies heavily on forest products and agriculture for their livelihoods. However, mismanagement has led to the loss of 43.65 sq.km of forest cover from 2019 to 2021.
The associations asserted that the appointment of non-local officers, lacking language proficiency and understanding of the ground realities faced by the impoverished villagers, has exacerbated the challenges. Previous experiences with non-local officers resulted in widespread discontent, leading to protests, bands, and blockades organized by the people and civil society organizations (CSOs).
Demanding immediate action, UBAC and SBA urged the authorities to revoke the transfer order of non-local officers and appoint locally knowledgeable individuals who understand the district’s dynamics and the concerns of its residents.
Warning of escalated agitation if their demands are not met promptly, the associations, along with CSOs, threatened to initiate various forms of protest, including bands and blockades, in Chandel District.