Village Authority Chairmen Council (VACC) Tamenglong and Chairmen and Secretary Association (CSAT) Tamenglong on Tuesday appealed to the district administration and state government to lift the ban on mobile internet services in Tamenglong district.
In a joint statement, VACC and CSAT stated that economic and social activities are now badly affected by the shutdown of internet services whereas the government is increasingly investing in e-governance initiatives on various aspects such as MGNREGS implementation, business, communication, financial, transportation and educational activities etc.
Even though the people of Tamenglong are peace loving and a non-party to the ethnic clash that erupted since May 3, it may also be noted that even 2G cellular networks like BSNL, Jio and Vodafone are not made available to access free flow connection, it stated.
“The degree of patience is going beyond our limit and the sentiments of our people are tested by depriving our fundamental rights,” it mentioned.
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Therefore, it is felt necessary that the state government and district administration must fully revoke the ban on mobile internet services and all cellular networks must be made available for free flow of information to grow and flourish the same in a democratic society in this era of digitalisation without threatening our basic right,” it stated.
It also stated that NFSA beneficiaries are fed up with the explicit dishonesty and nasty behavioral activities of profiteering. Calling the attention of the district administration and state government to ensure that NFSA food grains meant for the poor consumers are distributed at regular intervals without any backlog to curb black-marketing in such dark times.
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It further pointed out that the rate of taxi fare was fixed in the last meeting with authorities concerned whereas the fare from Imphal to Tamenglong is being charged with only Rs 700 and Rs 600 from Tamenglong to Imphal. This dispensation is going against the previous order, it stated.
They also appealed to the district administration to look into the matter seriously in the interest of the general public.
