IT News
Imphal, Oct 5
The United Tribal Peoples’ Organisation (UTPO), Tengnoupal District has extended its moral support to the 48 hours bandh called by the All Tribal Sand-stone Labour Association (ATSLA), Moreh starting from 5 am of tomorrow.
The UTPO said that it is not the duty of Manipur Government to ban stone- sand mining and transportation from in and around Moreh including the national highway.
“These small businesses support the livelihood of many people in small town and villages which the government could not supply to the poor. The banning only decreases the economy of Manipur, particularly, the poor and un-employed people” a statement by UTPO said.
The organization appealed the Government departments, organisations, people or any one for that matter, not to disturb/ ban the vehicular movement which carries stone, timber or sand in the national highway.
The UTPO also questioned the rationality and the hidden agenda on the part of security check-post (s) to ask written permission of the forest department when people are doing small business from the products of their own land, which a legal business.
“Do we need to take permission when we established a sawmill in our own compound with the timbers grown in our own-forest, land owned by us since from our great-grand ancestors”, the UTPO question.
These kinds of actions are irrational, illegal, unconstitutional on the part of forest departments. It violates the right of the tribal people. It’s an illegal encroachment of our rights. It’s nothing but, indirect attacks on the tribals and their right to livelihood it added.