ATSUM executives on tour reach Jiribam
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 05 2020:
As a part of the ongoing hill districts tour to redress the grievances faced by the tribal populace on various issues like education, healthcare system, forest and land rights, a team of ATSUM reached remote tribal villages in Jiribam district on 2 December 2020 and took first-hand account of the hardships being faced by the tribal people.
A press release issued by ATSUM said that the indigenous tribal people settled along the Borobekha areas were marginalized and had little access to basic health amenities, education, sanitation, potable water and many more despite most of the villages having been established many decades back.
The Thangboi Punji village, which is approximately 30 km drive away from Jiribam district headquarters was established in the year 1950 and still doesn't have electricity.
The Thangboi Punji LP School, the only educational institution in the village under ZEO Jiribam is nonfunctional.
Speaking to the media, SR Andria, General Secretary of ATSUM lamented on the absence of educational institutions in most of the tribal villages of the area, Thangboi punji LP School in particular.
ATSUM urged the State Government to look into the issues confronting tribal land rights and the conversion of tribal village land into patta land.
The Tribal villages in Jiribam have been paying hill house tax since their establishment, however, after the creation of Jiribam District, the same has been denied by the District Administration.
As such, the apex tribal student body appealed to the Government and concerned authorities to revive payment of the hill house tax, payable by inhabitants of hill areas without further delay.