PEREN, AUGUST 15 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs) comprising of Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students’ Union has expressed appreciation to MLA Leishiyo Keishing, former Chairman, Hill Areas Committee (HAC), Manipur Legislative Assembly for raising the issues of district boundaries in the Manipur Assembly Session.
In a joint press statement, the ZCOs maintained that the Zeliangrong people have been demanding amalgamation of Zeliangrong villages which were sliced off from Tamenglong district at the time of creation of SADAR sub-division in 1933 and upgradation of Churachandpur district in 1969.
The positive response and assurance made by N Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur and Leader of the House calling attention for motion regarding the issues was more encouraging and praiseworthy, the press statement read. It expressed hope and confidence that the present government will definitely carry out the district boundaries re-organization to fulfill the long pending demand of Zeliangrong people.
The ZCOs recalled that in 2011, a Committee on Re-Organisation of District Boundaries on Administrative Conveniences (CoRDBAC) was formed with DS Poornia, the then Chief Secretary of Manipur as the Chairman, Y Joykumar Singh, the then DGP and former Dy Chief Minister of Manipur and Raghumani, the then Commissioner of Revenue Department as Members of the Committee respectively.
Public hearing was conducted by the said Committee in which the leaders of the ZCOs had attended and stated the clear position of Zeliangrong people. A public rally was also organized by the Zeliangrong Organisations in Imphal where a delegation met Gurbachand Jagat, the Governor of Manipur and a memorandum was also submitted highlighting the hardships and grievances of Zeliangrong people.
In 2018, another Committee headed by Binoykumar, retd Judge as Chairman was formed but public hearing seeking opinion or view was not sought or invited nor the existent and activities of the Committee is unknown till date, the ZCOs pointed out.
It alleged that the past successive government relying on the fallacious and impracticable policies has rendered the Zeliangrong people to suffer with deprivation of facilities and opportunities in developmental works, subjugation and marginalization of democratic right to representation even in local bodies specifically ADCs of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts, suppression and domination in administration process.
It, therefore, urged the present government to strongly urged to fulfill the long pending amalgamation demand of Zeliangrong villages falling under Kangpokpi and Churachandpur district into Tamenglong and Noney district by effecting re-organization of district boundaries at the earliest possible so as to usher permanent and lasting peace and tranquility in Manipur.
