Maharaja Leishemba demanded to launch a Central Sponsored Pony Project in Manipur like the Tiger Project of India Govt.

Maharaja Leishemba demanded to launch a Central Sponsored Pony Project in Manipur like the Tiger Project of India Govt.

It is a well known historical fact that Manipur is the birth place of the internationally famed modern Polo Game which was known to many of the British officers as"Manipuri hockey on horseback". Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy (from 1899-1905) in his monumental paper 'The Cradle of Polo' describes thus-the favourite game 'Polo' of the Englishmen in India belongs to Manipur. Manipuri Pony which is used in the game Sagol Kangjei i.e Manipuri Hockey on Horseback and was also used in warfare by the Manipuri is a rare breed which is extremely agile and tough with a great stamina is gradually becoming endangered (reducing its no. below 1000) due to the lack of grazing ground and a well planned Pony Farm. This specific breed of Pony is also associated with the myth and history of the State.The State Government is trying its best effort to preserve Manipuri Pony. However, due to the paucity of fund it becomes a very difficult task for the State to bring up a huge project for preservation of this endangered rare breed.

Therefore, to save this Pony breed from extinction, he requested the Government through the House for a Central sponsored Pony Project in Manipur.