The Indigenous People’s Forum Manipur (IPFM) on Saturday informed that it will, with other stakeholders, draft Manipur Indigenous People’s Bill for the benefit of indigenous people and move the state government for passing it.
Releasing the brief activities report volume-1 at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, IPFM president Ashang Kasar said that the IPFM stands to protect the indigenous people’s land and to save indigenous people.
The situation of Manipur requires a bill that can protect indigenous people. So, the IPFM, along with other stakeholders, will draft a Manipur Indigenous People’s Bill for the benefit of indigenous people and move the state government for passing the bill, Kasar said.
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The president said that IPFM will endeavour to bring economic reform for the benefit of the indigenous people, as the whole idea of freedom, be it social or political, is directly or indirectly built up on an economic foundation. Therefore, it is everyone’s shared responsibility to work hard and give their best to attain absolute economic independence within our land, he added.
“It can be achieved by cultivating different varieties of fruits, vegetables and food grain in our land... Every family must maintain their own farm so that we do not import food from other states. In this way, money will be circulated within our people and eventually our economy will rise," he asserted.
It is the only way to attain real freedom and hence, the IPFM had stood up for this cause, Ashang said, adding that in doing so, thousands of fruits and tree saplings were distributed in many hill villages. Workshops and seminars were also organised by experts in different fields on many occasions, he informed.
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The IPFM will introduce an indigenous people’s bill to the Legislative Assembly any time after working out meticulously over the bill.
In the meantime, a conclave will be held at Imphal, probably in August for public discourse, he added.
The IPFM mission is to support eradication of poppy plantation and fight against Drug Menace as it causes deforestation and spoil thousands of youths’ lives in the state.
