Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Tuesday visited the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district and inspected Integrated Check Post (ICP).
She interacted with district level officers, representatives of various civil society organisations and people in an interaction programme held at the auditorium of ICP.
She heard about the issues and grievances faced by the people in the border town arising out of the disturbances in the bordering country, Myanmar, halting all business activities in the town for the last many years to scaling all routes between India and Myanmar through Moreh town. She assured them to extend all possible help for the welfare of the people in the town.
Addressing the gathering, she said, keeping in mind the current situation in Myanmar, state government as well as the Centre is taking steps to ensure safety and security of people living in the border town.
She said the humanitarian crisis created by the situation in Myanmar is well-known and “we as a democratic country that believes in human rights have certain obligations.” However, the lack of regulation and proper documentation of the illegal immigrants is a cause of concern, she pointed out.
She stated that taking the matter of influx of foreign immigrants seriously, the state government has constituted a high-powered Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by minister TA and Hills Letpao Haokip.
Such steps of the government will issue the apprehension of the indigenous population which has valid reasons for concern to the prospect of the illegal immigrants, she said.
She continued that the district administration has started identification and verification of illegal immigrants who are found settling in the border villages of the district. She appealed to all the stakeholders including CSOs to extend co-operation to the government in identifying the illegal immigrants in the district.
She further said that Moreh occupies an important place for its potential in securing the country’s territory and boosting trade and commerce for the people of both India and Myanmar.
It is also a place of unity in diversity where different ethnic groups not only mingle but thrive. Credit goes to the Kuki, Meiteis, Muslims, Nepalese, Nagas, Tamils and many others living in Moreh. She lauded the efforts made by the police and the Assam Rifles in providing a sense of security to the people in the town.
She assured to extend all help in order to address the issues and grievances faced by the people, stating that she will ask the chief minister to take steps and also will apprise the Centre in the best interest of the people.
Minister Letpao Haokip also attended the interaction programme. He welcomed the governor on her arrival at ICP, Moreh. He said that there have been a number of issues pertaining to livelihood in the town. He said due to the current situation in Myanmar, all business activities have been stopped and people are facing many problems. Only business is the means of livelihood for most of the people in the town.
CSOs submitted memoranda to the governor urging for taking steps to open the border with Myanmar so that normal business activities can be taken up as usual. She inspected Friendship Bridge at Moreh Gate No. 1, and visited Shree Angala Parameshwari and Shree Muneeshwarar Temple in Moreh town.
DC, Tengnoupal Ranjan Yumnam highlighted various developmental activities taking up under different State and Central government schemes in the district.
SP, Tengnojupal B Go Lian Mang, commanding officer, 5th Assam Rifles Raja Israil, colonel Atul Kumar, BRTF, SDOs, BDOs, other district level officers and officers working in ICP attended the programme. Earlier, on her way to Moreh, governor stopped at Pallel Police Station where she was accorded a warm welcome by deputy commissioner, Kakching, Somorjit Salam and deputy commissioner, Thoubal A Subhas Singh and other civil and police officers.
