A farmers’ meet in Imphal held under the aegis of Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM) made a number of recommendations to address the grievances of the farmers in the State in the wake of drought situation in the border state.
The key recommendations made during the day long meet include full assessment of impacts of the farmers due to drought, distribution and provision of crops compensation and other rehabilitation measures without corruption.
President Th Ajit of IFM,vice president K Helen of All Manipur United Clubs Organization, president BK Moirangcha of All Manipur Ethnical Socio Cultural Organisation, president Y Kunjarani of All Manipur Women Voluntary Association, president L Memchoubi of Poirei leimarol apunba meira paibi lup, an women folk organization, president S Sunilkanta of National Research Centre, convenor Phulindro Konsam of Committee on Human Rights Manipur were present as presidium members of the meeting.
The meeting was held at Manipur Press Club in Imphal.
It also recommended to provide full assessment report of impacts due to drought to farmers and providing distribution and provision of crops compensation and other rehabilitation measures for the loss of their crops timely besides providing free water, electricity and education for their children without corruption to the drought affected farmers in Manipur.
They also recommended establishment of the grievance cell in the districts to ensure that the affected farmers can submit their concerns besides ensuring rightful participation of the civil society organisations in the assessment of impacts of drought in Manipur.
Urging the government to take up necessary steps to ensure that the irrigation projects are functioning, it also recommended to form a committee with involvement of civil society organisations to monitor and assess the functioning of minor irrigation department projects.
The meet also recommends to formulate a farmer’s policy and a water policy to ensure adequate storage of water and also to ensure rejuvenation of water bodies in the state.
It may be mentioned that the Manipur government officially declared ‘drought situation’ in the border state following a high level emergency meeting of officials chaired by the state chief minister Nongthombam Biren on August 31.
The drought has adversely affected crops across 70 blocks of the State.
