Many Zeliangrong people did not know their rights, says Fr Mathew Tharakan

Daniel Kameih

TAMENGLONG, Jan 24 : A two-day workshop on Basic Human Rights and Right to Information was held today at Shekinuh-Inn, Tamenglong district headquarter jointly organized by the Women Union For Progress, Tamenglong and Committee for Development of Tamenglong and sponsored by United NGO Mission Manipur. Many Zeliangrong people did not know their rights, said Rev. Fr. Mathew Tharakan, coordinator of Don Bosco Social Welfare, Tamenglong and Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christian, Tamenglong.

Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural function, Fr Mathew Tharakan also said that this kind of workshop is very important for our society as many people did not know their rights. It is also good to conduct at village level as hardly people know their rights, he added.

"I have been for 27 years in Tamenglong district with the Zeliangrong people. There is not much development even at district headquarter and if you go to the remote areas like Tousem sub-division of this district, there is nothing," said Fr Mathew Tharakan.

He also stated that good and bad people are living at district headquarters, and all funds and schemes were taken away by one man and the other poor people get nothing.

He also appealed that everyone should be made to read and write and know their rights so that one could fight for his rights to live healthy, wealthy, prosperity peaceful and better lives.

While giving the keynote address Rev. Kaiba Riamei, secretary of Women Union for Progress said that our rights have been neglected or exploited in our state of Manipur either by the state or by individuals.

While delivering his speech as resource person Joykumar, human rights activist said that many schemes and funds are released by the government for Tamenglong people but many are not taken up and many development funds were misused.

Many of us did not know our rights. Rice agent under PDS and IAY schemes were misused in our state particularly at Tamenglong but many of us did not claim their rights, said Joykumar.

Advocate M Rakesh, director, Human Rights and Law Network, Manipur also spoke on various human rights issues.