Tamenglong, Manipur: A united front of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Tamenglong district on Thursday served a strongly worded memorandum to the Governor of Manipur, imposing a five-day ultimatum for urgent action on a litany of long-standing developmental, healthcare, and administrative woes. The significant move, routed via the Deputy Commissioner, follows a massive public rally held earlier in the day at the District Headquarters, which saw widespread participation from residents across Tamenglong, Tousem, and Tamei subdivisions, all unified in their protest against the perceived prolonged governmental neglect.
The coalition of CSOs, which includes ZNCM, RNCM-TL, LNCM-TZ, INU-TZ, CSAT, JTWA, and VACC from all three subdivisions, meticulously detailed 11 pressing concerns in their memorandum. These issues span a wide gamut, from the critical collapse of healthcare services and persistent power shortages to failures in food distribution and allegations of land encroachment.
Among their foremost demands is the immediate delivery of two months of pending ration quotas under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The CSOs also sounded a grave alarm over severe staffing shortages plaguing the district hospital and primary health centres, particularly in Tousem and Oinamlong. They further urged for significant infrastructure upgrades and the long-delayed establishment of vital healthcare units, citing the proposed PHC in Aziuram as a prime example.
Adding to the gravity of their submission, the memorandum incorporates findings from a CSO-led inquiry into NFSA rice distribution, which uncovers potential malpractice. Statements from truck drivers reportedly reveal discrepancies between official gate passes and the actual quantities of rice delivered. Furthermore, there are allegations that signatures on gate pass documents were forged, strongly suggesting possible diversion of essential food supplies meant for the public.
“Years of memorandums and silence have brought us here,” a CSO representative declared at the rally, encapsulating the deep-seated frustration. “From ration to roads, from hospitals to power — this is not governance, this is neglect disguised as governance.”
The CSOs have unequivocally demanded a formal public response from the Governor’s office, along with written updates and clear timelines from relevant government departments. They are also seeking immediate redressal of the critical healthcare and food security issues outlined.
A five-day ultimatum, effective from July 18, has been firmly set. The memorandum explicitly warns that a failure to meet these demands will trigger intensified democratic agitation, including indefinite protests, comprehensive road blockades, and extensive mass mobilisations.
The organisations have made it abundantly clear that the sole responsibility for any resulting unrest would lie squarely with the authorities, who, they assert, continue to disregard the genuine voices and urgent needs of the people of Tamenglong.
As of reporting, the Governor’s office and the district administration have yet to issue a response to the memorandum.
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