RESTIVE MANIPUR CELEBRATES “MERI MAATI MERA DESH”
POLITICS
Imphal: Despite reeling under the divisive violence that threatens to fragment the border state on ethnic lines, Manipur joins the rest of the country in celebrating unity in diversity through the symbolic “Meri Maati Mera Desh” campaign.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th August, the nationwide campaign is conceived as a culminating event of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to pay tribute to those great leaders who have made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland.
Even as the State has to maintain buffer zones to keep a fragile peace in the foothills abutting the valley districts and the hills inhabited by the Kuki-Chin-Zo community and movements prohibited between the districts affected by the ongoing strife, the State government successfully collected Maati or soils from all its 16 districts, including the hotbed of the recent violence - Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl- and symbolically displayed the territorial integrity of Manipur, represented by the soils and each district adorning the tricolor flag to depict the core concept of One Nation.
The focus of the programme, held on Thursday at the Manipur State Film Development Society in Imphal was the display of the 388 different batches of soils collected from the 16 districts and homage offering to the soils by the dignitaries attending the national wide campaign, comprising cabinet ministers, MLAs and top bureaucrats of the State.
As part of the campaign, soils from the State would be taken to Kartavya Path in New Delhi where a unique Amrit Vatika would be developed by planting different indigenous trees in the mixture of the different soils brought of every part of the country.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister N Biren Singh emphasized the importance of collective efforts towards the nation building and development. He said unity among the indigenous community is essential to protect the motherland and it is the moral obligation of all to ensure its safekeeps.
The campaign comprised five different activities and ceremonies to be conducted across the country at Panchayat/Village, Block, Urban Local Body, State and National levels, including Shilaphalakam, ‘Panch Pran’ Pledge, Vasudha Vandhan or planting 75 saplings of indigenous species and develop the ‘Amrit Vatika’), Veeron Ka Vandan or honouring the freedom fighters and the families of deceased freedom fighters and Rashtragaan, hoisting of the National Flag and singing of National Anthem.
Biren elaborated that Panch Pran pledge would go a long way to make India developed and self-reliant by 2047 by doing away with colonial mindset, celebrating Indian heritage, strengthening unity and respecting those who protect the country and perform the duties of a citizen.
The Chief Minister also expressed pride on the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 at the lunar south pole and congratulated the state’s native Dr Raghu Ningthoujam, for being part of the prestigious mission as a Project Manager.