New Delhi, February 08 2009: The Gandhi Peace Foundation organized a Seminar on the theme Peace is Essential for Development with a reference to Manipur on Saturday at the Conference Hall of the Foundation at 221-223 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg here. In his key note address, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, former Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi stated that Manipur had been facing problem of militancy for a long time.

Numerous armed militant groups raised of ethnic lines had emerged.

The level of violence in the State had consistently remained high and had accounted for the largest number of incidents of violence in the North Eastern Region for the last couple of years. He further mentioned that besides killings of civilians and government personnel, the militants had indulged in extortion, kidnapping for ransom and had caused frequent strikes and blockades in the State especially on National Highways.

These activities had created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among civilians and the government officials.

The obvious effects of those militant activities were colossal economic losses to the State, paralyzing of the administration and normal life of the people, delays in implementation of development work and disruption in the supplies of essential commodities resulting in increased prices.

The people whether in business or profession or government, had feared about being able to work and operate freely and without fear. He highlighted that the fast pace of developments in todays globalizing world was of no use to Manipur if the people of the State could not participate and take the advantage of it.

He said that the objective of the seminar was to understand and appreciate the different views expressed by the participants on those crucial and important issues and that would also be an opportunity for them to chalk out direction for future.

He hoped that the deliberations during the workshop would also help in formulating strategy for strengthening the peace process in the region and thereby facilitating all-round development. In his inaugural address, the former Governor of Assam and Chairman of North Eastern Council Dr Bhishma Narain Singh who was also former Union Cabinet Minister said, At the politico-administrative level I must admit that our approach has been ad hoc and mostly confined to fire fighting.

There is a need for urgently reviewing the total situation in the North-East particularly in Manipur to pinpoint the reasons of insurgency.

In specific areas, a comprehensive, long-term plan and effective programmes of action should be decided upon and implemented to tackle the specific root problems in each area of insurgency and potential unrest.

He further stated that while most of the ground action might be through the State Governments, the Union Government had to be constantly alive to the situation by remaining in constant touch and by almost day-today review of the situation.

He alarmed, If we falter in this any longer, the future of Manipur will be jeopardized. Describing Manipur as one of the most attractive States of North East with its enchanting landscapes, the charming people and their vigorous tradition of creative culture, Dr Bhishma Narain Singh stressed the need of the people, the intellectuals and the youths of Manipur for playing major role in development process with their full involvement.

He said that certain measures had been taken under the Five Year Plans, the NE Vision 2020 and the Look East Policy and were in operation for removal of regional economic imbalances and for accelerating the development process.

He stated, The reasons for their not achieving the desired result and success have to be closely scrutinized.

This is all the more necessary as the entire strategy needs reorientation in the light of the new economic policies, liberalization and privatization.

Specific areas have to be identified where benefits of economic development, industrialization and social services do not reach or result in scanty or lopsided growth.

A corrective programme of action has to be devised specifically for these areas and pointedly for actual area of potential insurgency and militancy. The former Governor emphasized a strong and determined campaign on all fronts by the political parties for their deep involvement and participation of the ethnic groups, minorities and classes in this great effort.

That should be of beyond party, caste considerations and religious and cult differences, he added.

A modicum of stable law and order condition is absolutely essential for the march of our nation and the North- East particularly Manipur towards progress, peace and prosperity, he asserted. During the seminar, C Doungel, former Finance Minister of Manipur said that Manipur was one of the kingdoms- Assam, Manipur and Tripura in the North East.

When it merged into Indian Union, it was under the category of Part C states and the Central Government allocated only Rs 1.50 crore in the First Five Year Plan.

It achieved its Statehood only in 1972 whereas the neighbouring State of Nagaland attained the Statehood in 1963.Hence, the State of Manipur could not advance well ahead at par with other states and it made the people very much aggrieved.

He made suggestion to the government for convincing the insurgents to bring them into the negotiating table and also for solving the increasing problems of unemployment in the State.

Prof Amar Yumnam of Manipur University, Canchipur described the visible violence on the people living at the border villages of Manipur who were surviving with no public distribution system, no power and no connectivity.

He urged upon the authorities concerned to stop such visible violence. KB Veio Pao, Head of English Department, Bhagat Singh College, New Delhi emphasized the need to look into the ground reality of any issues, not into the sugar-coated reality while solving it.

Dr John Angam, Assistant Professor of Delhi University said that the absence of peace had created a huge loss in Manipur.

As education system was completely disturbed in Manipur, students were coming out from the State for studying outside Manipur by pouring out money to outside.

Intellectuals and entrepreneurs went outside the State for finding a new livelihood.

In the era of globalization, no one from outside desired to invest in any business in Manipur.

He suggested to restore a responsible government in Manipur.

He also criticized the frequent statement of the authorities that they were always blaming to the underground elements when they failed to take up any developmental works in Manipur.

He also suggested the people of Manipur to look at the broad perspective of the changing scenario of the global world, completely avoiding minor issues like border issues, ethnic identities etc.

Dr Athikho Keissi, Assistant Professor of Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi underlined the need of the regional and local media for playing major role in bringing peace and development in Manipur.

He said that the regional and local media were more highlighting and reacting on the violence instead of solving the situation.

Media being the watchdog of the society, he said, should focus on resolving the crisis.

He emphasized the need of Peace Journalism in Manipur.

State Government media should also be functioned properly in the regard. Dr Bhagat Oinam, Assistant Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi suggested to find out the need of the people in the development process by asking their aspiration.

He denied the statement that India was one nation.

He said that India was a multi-nation.

Dr Bimol Akoijam , Associate Professor of JNU, New Delhi said the Gandhism had been practiced in Manipur right from the beginning till today.

Through Gandhiniti, Irom Sharmila had been demanding for lifting of AFSPA from Manipur for the last many years without taking any food.

The authorities did not listen to her voice of peace.

The ideology of Gandhi or Gandhism should always be in the heart of everybody. Kh Jibon, former Minister of Culture, Manipur said that though the equality and justice were reflected in the preamble of the Constitution of India, the people of Manipur had not still fully enjoyed the facilities of equality and justice.

He was of the view that all the rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution should be made available to the people of Manipur being the citizens of the country. KD, Joint Police Commissioner, Delhi Police lamented that the climax of lawlessness had been reached in Manipur.

Academicians, intellectuals, media representatives, students and youths of Manipur working and studying in Delhi took part in the one-day conference.

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