Imphal, Sep 4 — Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday called upon all sections of society to collectively shun violence and work towards creating a peaceful environment for future generations, particularly the youth.
He emphasised the need for unity and a sustained commitment to peace to secure a better future for the people of the state.
The Chief Minister has visited the Kuki-Zo tribal inhabited mountainous Kangpokpi district earlier in the day and attended a public interaction programme held at Christian Centre Church Leimakhong.
During the interaction, Chief Minister Singh expressed his pain over the fact that people had to leave their homes and have been unable to return due to the crisis.
The Chief Minister recalled that during his interactions with ethnic violence affected Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from both Meitei and Kuki communities; they expressed the same desire to return to their respective homes and villages.
He added that the crisis has caused the same pain and suffering to people from all communities.
Refering to the ethnic hostilities, Chief Minister Singh said that everyone should forgive and forget what has happened since May 2023 and work towards bridging the trust deficit that exists among the communities.
Considering the future of the younger generation, the Chief Minister added that let us all collectively shun violence and work towards creating a peaceful environment for our youths.
"We are all under the guidance of God and must, therefore, strive to live in harmony and refrain from causing hardship and suffering to one another," he said.
The Chief Minister visited L. Champhai Village in Kangpokpi district for inspecting a water supply project in the area and also to repair a main water supply pipe which supplies drinking water to Thangmeiband locality in the heart of Imphal that was damaged during the unprecedented ethnic violence in May 2023.
During the inspection, senior officials of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) told Chief Minister Singh that the work would be completed within a month, following which potable water supply would be restored to the villagers.
Chief Minister Singh, along with three MLAs -- Haokholet Kipgen, Heikham Dingo Singh, and Kh. Joykisan Singh -- assured necessary assistance for smooth execution of the work and said that security forces would also be provided.
The Chief Minister urged the Chairman of L. Champhai Village, Thangkhomang, to extend full cooperation to PHED officials to facilitate the smooth discharge of their duties.
He said that he would consider the upgradation of the existing Primary Health Centre at Leimakhong to a Community Health Centre.
As the upgradation process may take time, he added that in the interim, specialist and super-specialist doctors from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) would be arranged to visit Leimakhong to provide treatment to the local people.
Local MLA Haokholet Kipgen described Leimakhong as a "Mini Manipur" and expressed hope that it would soon return to its pre-crisis state.
He lauded the Chief Minister's visit, and said that Leimakhong is inhabited by Meitei, Kuki, Naga, Nepali and Bihari community people.
Legislator Heikham Dingo Singh credited Chief Minister Singh's initiatives for bridging the gap and appealed for collective efforts towards peace and development in the state.
MLA Kh. Joykisan Singh said: "We need to inculcate the sense of collective identity by identifying ourselves as Manipuris rather than emphasising the communities to which we belong."
The Chief Minister upon returning from his visit to Leimakhong, visited Kanto Sabal village in Imphal West district, where he interacted with members of the Women Welfare Organisation.
During the interaction, Chief Minister Singh patiently heard the grievances and concerns raised by the members and assured them of all possible assistance and support for their welfare.