IMPHAL, October 14: Yet another rally in demand of inaugurating Sadar Hills as a full fledged district has taken place today in Kangpokpi with over a thousand of school students taking part organized by the Sadar Hills Private Schools’ Association (SHIPS).
Students from schools situated in the Kangpokpi area started converging at Thomas ground since early morning and the rally set off at around 11:30.
The rally after covering the National Highway stretch at Kangpokpi, IT road, IB proceeded towards the ADC quarter chanting slogans like “we demand Sadar Hills district”, “Inaugurate Sadar Hills district” and “Zero Ibobi, stubborn” etc.
The rallyists also hold placards and banners which read “Don’t be stubborn O. Ibobi”, “We will fight till our demand is met”, “Respect Parliament Act 1971”, “Govt. of Manipur cease delaying tactics”, “stop step motherly treatment”, “How many more lives for Sadar Hills?”, “Don’t communalized Sadar Hills”, “Don’t Play with our sentiments” etc.
In the absence of the ADC and SDC, Kangpokpi who were reportedly out of station, the rallyist submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur through the SDC in-charge of Kangpokpi.
Pagin Kipgen president of SHIPS speaking at the sideline of the rally said that Sadar Hills is the only place where two Autonomous District Councils exist. The student community has been affected by the agitation for demand of a Sadar Hills district since about a month. There is no future for the students, if Sadar Hills is not upgraded to a full fledged district, he said
The SHIPS president in the memorandum further mentioned that every denizens of Manipur have been affected by the economic blockade on both the national highways imposed by the SHDDC. The teaching staffs as well as the students in particular have been hit hard due to scarcity arising out of the persisting situation.
It said many essential commodities of daily requirement are scare and prices of available items are skyrocketing. “Cost of travel has gone up, there is very less or no avenue for wage earners and manual laborers to earn their livelihood. All these are impacting the poor students. Consequently fees are not paid, making it difficult for the school authorities to honour their financial commitments”, further mentioned the president.
It said the SHIPS wonders what hinders the state government from meeting the demands of the people of Sadar Hills for a full fledged district. It is neither a demand for carving out a new district nor asking for land from someone, it held.
Urging for taking up positive and prompt action with regards to the demand, it maintained the existing Congress led government led by Chief Minister Ibobi will be responsible in the event of the situation getting worse.