Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

SHRI OKRAM IBOBI SINGH
CHIEF MINISTER, MANIPUR
Respected Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singhji, Respected Home Minister,
Shri Shivraj Patilji, Hon'ble Union Ministers, Hon'ble Chief Ministers from the
States, Senior Officers of the Central & State Govts, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am privileged to address this august gathering of the National Integration
Council which is being held after a span of three years. Let me at the outset
congratulate our respected Prime Minister for leading from the front and
successfully concluding the Nuclear Agreement. We are confident that
this will lead to a break-through in meeting the growing demand for power in all
parts of our country.
I would also like to place on record the sincere appreciation of the people
and the Govt. of Manipur to the Ministry of Home Affairs for organising this
meeting of the National Integration Council at an appropriate time when the
social fabric of our secular country is under threat from disruptive and fringe
anti social elements for narrow parochial gains. We must act firmly and urgently
to nip the problem in the bud.
Social structure
Sir, India is a diverse country. Manipur State mirrors this diversity. We
have tribals and non-tribals, hill and plains people who belong to different
religions and speak in different dialects. In the current socio-political
environment, external and extreme elements within our own multi-cultural society
may try to exploit this diversity for narrow political gains. Hence, the need
to be vigilant, alert and responsive to the genuine needs of all sections of our
people, particularly the weaker and backward sections who need special
protection. We also need to strengthen the Intelligence machinery, both at the
Central and State levels and ensure effective co-operation and coordination
among the various security agencies.
Economic Development
Sir, lack of economic development and competition for scarce resources,
including land, is often the root cause of communal and ethnic clashes. During
the last National Integration Council meeting held on 31 st August 2005, you had
rightly commented, and I quote "The rapid and equitable development of
our economy is as important to national integration as the assurance of
social justice and communal harmony."
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