Mnp CM assures to protect indigenous communities

Manipur chief minister, N Biren Singh, on Saturday said that government will protect and work for the upliftment of all indigenous communities in the state.
“The government is here to protect all indigenous communities of the state and that no community should discriminate against or threaten smaller communities for forceful assimilation, Singh said while addressing the inaugural day of the two-day long Berkap-Reiju festival at Ichum Keirap Kom village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district.
Berkap-Reiju is a festival of the Kom tribe of Manipur, celebrated to revive and promote the rich cultural heritage of the tribe. Warning against any threat for forceful assimilation of smaller and weaker communities, Singh said every indigenous tribe or community, regardless of their population or size, should be allowed to live freely without any threat.
“My government is fully ready to meet any threat on any community,” he said and pointed out that government was working under the Prime Minister’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.
He said government was also working for proper representation of minority tribes and communities, and assured his commitment to ensure that government nominees in the Autonomous District Councils in hill districts were from the minority tribes.
He said a budgetary allocation for only minorities has been included in the budget. Singh further assured to consider the demands submitted by the locals including widening/expansion of road, upgradation of UJB School, and construction of Primary Health Centre, among others.
He further said that construction of a Hills Leaders’ Bhavan in Imphal will be completed soon.
Stating that Manipur received highest foreign tourists in the Northeast region, the chief minister encouraged the locals especially the youth to develop their location naturally to attract more tourists.
He further encouraged the villagers to ensure that the economically weaker families are receiving the benefits of the government welfare schemes.
MLAs – Haokholet Kipgen, Kh Ibomcha, Th Shanti, CSO leaders, village chiefs and church leaders were among others who attended the function.
Traditional dances and cultural performances were the main highlights of the inaugural function. On his arrival, the chief minister and the other dignitaries were accorded a warm traditional welcome by the villagers.