Northeast

Poppy farmers adopting alternative farming to be rewarded during Amit Shah’s visit to Manipur

Areas under poppy cultivation in Manipur have reduced to 1,100 acres from 6,742 acres, CM Biren said during the celebration of the 42nd Kangleipakki Meira foundation day.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 3 Jan 2023, 5:50 pm

(Photo: IFP)
(Photo: IFP)

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren on Monday said that poppy farmers, who have adopted alternative farming, will be rewarded during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state.

Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the state on January 6 and will be inaugurating various projects amounting to Rs 300 crore, which includes the Olympian Park, hoisting of Tri-colour at the INA Headquarter among others. He will also lay the foundation stones of projects amounting to Rs 1,000.

Speaking at the 42nd foundation day celebration of a local evening paper The Kangleipakki Meira at Pillow Library Ground in Imphal West, Biren said, “We will never compromise on matters related to drugs including poppy cultivation, corruption, anti-national and deforestation.”

Saying that areas under poppy cultivation in the state have reduced to 1,100 acres from 6,742 acres, he called on the CSOs of the valley to start visiting the hills and apprise the poppy farmers to adopt alternative crops.

Related: Tis time to show political will to crush widespread poppy cultivation in Manipur

Advertisement

Admitting that the state is facing a lot of major issues such as low fertility rate due to late marriage, drug menace among youths, demographic imbalance and others, Biren said, “We are in a very sorry state.”

The state government is giving its best to resolve the issues, he said, apprising the people of the state to start giving emphasis on such genuine issues, instead of creating issues out of nothing.

Sharing his tough experience as an editor in a local daily due to certain external influence, Biren said that the journalists of the state are now fully enjoying the Rights to Freedom of Speech and Expression.

The government considered all the genuine suggestions and criticism published in the media, he said, appealing to the media community of the state to refrain from criticising on personnel matters.

Stressing on the role of the majority community (Meitei) of the state in strengthening the bonds between all the ethnic groups and in making a better and stronger Manipur, the chief minister pointed out that the majority community needed to be open, transparent and acquire a sacrificial spirit.

Related: Drug cartels in Manipur

Advertisement

During the celebration, Biren was conferred the Best Chief Minister Award by the Kangleipakki Meira, while various awards were also conferred to selected journalists of Manipur besides honouring some eminent personalities and veteran journalists.

It was also attended by Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, MLA of Patsoi AC S Kunjakeshore as guests of honour, while editor of Kanglepakki Meira and president of AMWJU W Shyamjai presided over the programme.

Also Read:

Poppy Cultivation in Manipur: 497 cases registered, 703 arrested in 2022, says CM Biren

Several poppy fields in Manipur hills destroyed

Advertisement

First published:

Tags:

amit shahrewardawardpoppy farmersalternative farming

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

Advertisement

Top Stories

Loading data...
Advertisement

IFP Exclusive

Loading data...