Manipur Guv Anusuiya Uikey visits Moreh, interact with Civil Bodies at ICP

Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey visit India - Myanmar border town- Moreh, on Tuesday and interacted with various civil bodies. Public interaction program was held at the conference hall of Integrated Check Post (ICP) Moreh.

Leaders of Hill Tribal Council (HTC) Moreh; Meitei Council Moreh (MCM); Tamil Sangam, Moreh; Manipur Muslim Council Moreh (MMCM); Gorkha Samaj Sewa Samiti, Moreh; Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) Tengnoupal District; Maring Uparup, Tengnoupal District; and Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Tengnoupal District attended the interaction program.

In the interaction program, the Hill Tribal Council (HTC) Moreh, Tamil Sangam Moreh and other CSOs highlighted the hardships faced by the people in Moreh and surrounding villages due to the various restrictions on border trade.

Sharing the hardships and grievances of the public, president of the Hill Tribal Council (HTC) Victor Limthang Touthang said that pretty trade and micro business are the only available means to earn livelihood as their is no industry or factory or cultivable land in Moreh and its surroundings. However, the general public has tremendous hardships as the border guard force - Assam Rifles, implemented and enforced the various restrictions issued by the centre and state governments.

There's no or limited opportunity which can replace pretty trades and micro business which can serve as an alternative source of income for the general public. The HTC president urged the governor to look into the matter so that suitable adjustment could be charted out for locals to address the difficulties faced by the Moreh public.

Victor said that residents in Moreh and surrounding villages mostly depend on imported goods from Myanmar. From construction materials and consumption goods to capital goods, people in Moreh and surroundings depend on imported goods as there are no means to substitute import dependency from the part of government. People on the other side of the border are also importing some commodities from Moreh. This, economic interdependent should be taken into account while dealing with Myanmar on border issue.

"Implementation of various restrictions on border trade at the cost of the livelihoods of the general public is an undesirable move," the HTC president said.

The HTC president also said that people who want to rectify their details in Aadhaar Card faced tremendous hardships as government cancel Aadhaar Card correction centre in Moreh following the detection of some Myanmar nationals possessing Aadhaar Card.

It is not the right move to let others suffer because of the faults of a few people. Govt should take action against those responsible persons and at the same time Govt should re-open Aadhaar Card Correction Centre at Moreh at the earliest.

In a joint memorandum, the Hill Tribal Council (HTC) Moreh, Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) Tengnoupal district and Kuki Chiefs Association (KCA) Moreh Block asked the government to protect and preserve Tribal Land Rights.

"There is apprehension of Government Gazetted villages being declared null and void. Whereas, as per the Government of India, Gazette 2006, Tribals and Traditional forest dwellers Act, Tribals are permitted to settle in Reserve Forest areas. Hence, it is very much pertinent to preserve the rights of the tribals as per the Government provisions," stated in the memorandum.

The memorandum also urged the government to initiate steps for full-functioning of Integrated Check Post (ICP) Moreh and to discontinue checking and entering of vehicle details at KLP Moreh as the same was done at the authorised check points - Khudengthabi and Tengnoupal.

Border Trade and Chamber of Commerce president V Shekhar highlighted the plights of Moreh people following the closure of border and subsequent restriction of border trade since the outbreak of Covid and the political impasse in Myanmar. V Shekhar requested the governor to expedite dialogue with the neighbouring country Myanmar to resume the border trade.

ACODOM president Th Budha request the governor to set up one central-sponsor residential school in the Tengnoupal district. "Presently, there is only one residential school in Tengnoupal district, that too, only for the ST community. It will be a great pleasure if the government set up another residential school which can accommodate all communities residing in the Tengnoupal district.

The Governor heard the grievances and issues faced by the people in the border town arising out of disturbances in the neighbouring Myanmar which led to cessation of all business activities in the town for many years due to sealing of all the routes between India and Myanmar through Moreh town. She also gave her assurance to extend all possible help for the welfare of the people in the town.

TA & Hills minister Letpao Haokip said there have been many issues pertaining to livelihood in the town, due to the current situation in Myanmar, leading to stoppage of all business activities and consequently many more problems as business is the sole means of livelihood for most people in the town.