Hills Tribal People Welfare Forum
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 20 2012:
While welcoming the proposal of the Government for holding village authority election, the Hills Tribal People Welfare Forum, Manipur has urged the State Government to effect certain modification/amendment of the existing VA Act, 1956 in order to restore natural justice in the Hill districts of the State.
In a statement, the HTPWFM maintained that conducting VA election is a wise decision and policy of the Govt of Manipur which is expected to solve the problems pertaining to present situation prevailing in the hill areas.
It noted that many khunbu/khullakpa/chiefs have been creating various problems as they assumed the ex-officio chairmanship without any democratic election.
And as such, most welfare schemes of the Government like MGNREGS have been misused/siphoned off arbitrarily.
However, the statement suggested certain modification of the existing VA Act 1956, which would go a long way in the development of the hill areas.