The book entitled "Development Aggression: Rethinking India's Neoliberal Development in Manipur" written by Jiten Yumnam was released in Imphal Friday.
The book was launched at the one-day interaction on sustainable development organised by the United Voluntary Youth Council (UVYC) and CRAM at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
Editor of Imphal Review of Arts and Politics, Pradip Phanjoubam; editor in-chief of Impact TV, Yumnam Rupachandra; Aja Daily editor Valley Rose; co-chairperson of Citizens Concern for Dams and Development Aram Pamei; president of All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association Yumkhaibam Kunjarani attended the event.
Speaking at the occasion, Pradip Phanjoubam said the book provides a lot of information on sustainable development and it would be useful as a reference book for students. He then said that sustainable development goal could be achieved only when people start to feel for the ecology.
Jiten Yumnam, who is also a well-known environmentalist, said the book was written from his own field experiences. He said that indigenous rights and UN SDGs are necessary and complementary for growth, progress, social equity and peace.
"The government should recognise the role of the indigenous systems in addressing the problems related to biodiversity, culture diversity, poverty, conflict resolution, food, ecology and climate change," He said.
The government should create sustainable development models in pursuing development works.
Jiten called for a discourse on alternative development, sustainable, respect of human rights, and accountability form of development processes.
Rupachandra said that any development work should take into consideration people's interests.
"We need to create a narrative where interests and well being of the people is taken into consideration,"he said.
Scientifical study and approach is required in narrating issues, Rupachandra added.