Mail News Service NNN
Imphal, Jan 20 : A one day public discussion on the deprivation of poor people’s rights organized by All Manpipur democratic women’s front was held today at Manipur Press Club, Major Khul. A Mobi president AMWJU, M. Ambrapati Leima secy. AMDWF and N. Binoy president senior citizens for society graced the occasion as chief guest, president and guest of honour.
Haridas president All Manipur transport association, Budha Luwang advisor All Manipur inter state bus service association, M. Paikhomba advocate, Radhesana All Manipur Ima Keithel semgat lup, Th. Basanta president All Manipur rickshaw drivers and pullers association also spoke .
: “The PDS items meant for the poor people are now the commodities of MLAs, underground organisations and some rich and influential people,” said A Mobi,
president of All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU).
A Mobi said that it is a common knowledge that the Public Distribution System (PDS) is not functioning well in Manipur. “But no one dares to come out in the open to speak about it
because during election times the politicians had spent huge amount of money to buy the voters,” said A Mobi. He also said that it is very hard to distinguish between the rich and
the poor in Manipur. “Any one can spend Rs 3000 for a housie ticket. Any family can dole out huge amount of money during festivities. But this does not mean that we are rich.
Somewhere down the line, our living style and system is in a mess,” said the AMWJU president. He said this is so due to bad work culture. Mobi also stated that in the past there
was a problem of exporting goods. “But these days, the concern has been that of importing goods,” he added. He then asked the people to retrospect themselves.
Senior Citizen for Society president N Binoy blamed the Central government for the mess in Manipur. “After more than 60 years of Independence, majority of the people are living in
a poor condition. This is a shameful thing for India,” N Binoy said. He blamed the system in the country. Binoy said though huge amount of money was doled out for the poor people, it never reaches the target.
N Binoy then urged the media to play a major role to rectify the ailing system.
Meanwhile, four resolutions were taken at the end of the programme. It was resolved that a ‘unified people’s struggle committee’ be set up. The second resolution has been to set up an advisory board in this connection. The third one is that if the PDS items do not reach the target by January 30, a series of protest be initiated from February 1.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/poor-peoples-rights/
