Manipur Governor La Ganesan on Friday visited Sugnu, Kakching District and had an interaction programme with MLAs, district level officers, pradhans, civil society organisations and the general public. The programme organised by the district administration Kakching, was held at Chingtam Community Hall, Sugnu.
Speaking at the gathering, the governor said that he feels immense pleasure to interact with one of the most important subdivisions of the valley in the state. Although he had interaction earlier with district level officers, this is the first time for him to visit this subdivision of this district, he added.
The governor further stated that the world is facing an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to the prompt action of the government, the dreaded disease was almost under control. Nevertheless, unfortunately, during the last few days, the number is increasing in Manipur also. Therefore, we still have to be very alert and careful. The governor made an appeal to all sections of the society to get vaccinated, which is the best way to defeat this pandemic.
We may not be able to eradicate this dreaded disease forthwith but we will be able to keep it under control. Therefore, to keep under control and prevent it, vaccination is a must. The relentless efforts of health workers and frontline warriors are indeed commendable and praiseworthy by one and all, he added.
The governor said that he is appreciative to know that the Government of India has already committed to eliminate TB from the soil of India by 2025. Therefore, he would like to make an appeal to conduct a survey within this district to find out the number of TB patients and report to the concerned department so as to enable them to carry out appropriate remedial measures.
Also another important point is to contain and prevent drugs for which the state government has already started taking action against the poppy plantation which was welcomed by one and all the people of Manipur from both valley and hills districts, he stated.
The governor further stated that he was disappointed by knowing from reliable sources and local dailies that the number of drug users among the youth is increasing manifold during the last few months. This has to be, in any case, prevented with collective efforts including the like-minded civil society organisations and general public. This will be possible only by collective efforts and not individual effort.
He also said that the state government has already taken up massive tree plantation programmes in the state, but was shocked to learn that few sections of our people resisted tree plantation programmes at few places which is a bad precedent. This is not in the interest of a few sections of the society, but it is in interest of the people of the globe as well and appeal to all both the valley and hills not to resist this philanthropic job in future, he added.
Stating his concern about the use of plastic, the governor said that the government has banned use of plastic from 1st of this month. He appreciates the steps taken by the government to save the impending danger of the use of plastic in huge quantities everyday and everywhere. The ill-effects of plastic use is really horrible in our human life. Therefore, everybody should cooperate in banning the use of plastic in your localities.
The governor also said that the Swachh Bharat Mission, a clean India campaign is the responsibility of all of us. It is a mass movement launched by the Government of India under the leadership of our Prime Minister to make India, Clean India by 2019.
Cleanliness is holiness and this mission is intended to cover all the rural, urban areas and hill districts for maintaining cleanliness all over the country. One important component of the campaign is elimination of open defecation in the country. Manipur is well advanced on this front and large parts of the state have been declared as open defecation free. Cleanliness would keep everyone happy and healthy in all respects physically, mentally, socially and intellectually by reducing the chance of diseases and hope that this will continue on a regular basis here also.
Efforts of district and subdivisional level officers with full cooperation from the general public will keep the Subdivision clean and green by strengthening the existing green environment and also by developing new green cover in the district.
On his maiden visit, people expressed their happiness as this was the first time a governor of Manipur ever visited the district.
During the interaction, people share their grievances of facing shortage of doctors and staff at their Primary Health Centre, and lack of infrastructure at their Hospital. Shortage of teachers in government schools, pathetic road conditions and lack of women police. CMO Kakching informed that 79 per cent of the district population have been vaccinated.
Replying to the grievances of the people, the governor assured to all that whatever problems that have been highlighted by the public, DLOs, CSOs as well as the representatives of the Constituencies, the related and important matters will be referred to the state government for taking immediate necessary action. About the pathetic road conditions, the governor said that we need to wait patiently for completion of road construction, as of now road construction is still in progress.
Later, the governor had an interaction programme with DLOs of Kakching District at Sugnu Municipal Council. The Interaction programme was attended by Radheshyam Yumnam, MLA 38 Hiyanglam A/C; K Ranjit Singh, MLA 39 Sugnu A/C and Somorjit Salam, Deputy Commissioner Kakching District, among others.