All Jiribam Tribal Union calls for return of Hill House Tax
Source: The Sangai Express

Jiribam, March 07 2019: The All Jiribam Tribal Union has backed the Tipaimuk MLA Dr Chaltonlien Amo and asserted that the tribal villages in the Jiribam district should be able to pay their Hill House Tax which was stopped from 2017.Stating that the MLA is also a tribal leader who has been working for the betterment of the tribal people, the union thanked Dr Chaltonlien Amo for raising Hill House Tax issue in the State Assembly.

A statement of the union signed by its president L Remkung Changsan asserted that Jiribam (earlier under Imphal East district) was recognised as hill area since 1948 .

"When the first Manipur State Assembly election was conducted on adult franchise in July 1948, the Jiribam Rajbari was included in the Hill Area of Manipur.

Tribal villages in Jiribam, while preserving their traditional chief system and legally maintaining their tribal status, had been paying Hill House tax since the past 100 years," said the statement.

When a total number of 725 village authorities were constituted under Manipur Village Authority (in Hill Areas) Act 1956, Jiribam was included among the sub-divisions/circles and there were 16 village authorities in Jiribam consisting of 86 elected members.

When the MLR and LR Act 1960 came into effect, the tribal villages of Jiribam continued to pay Hill House Tax as Hill Pocket Villages When revenue survey was carried out in 1970, the Tribal village lands were left out of the survey as they paid Hill House Tax, said the union.

"In 1997, Jiribam became a sub-division under Imphal East district which is a revenue district.

The tribal villages continued to pay Hill House Tax unhindered till 2017 .

What is the rationale behind the stoppage of Hill House Tax when Jiribam became a district ? .

Is there a sinister design to grab land by some people of vested interest both in the Government and others," asked the All Jiribam Tribal Union.

Hill House Tax system is enforced in Churachandpur district, tribals of Kangvai and Loktak pay their Hill House Tax too, said the union questioning the authorities the reason for ending the same in Jiribam district.

The union called for understanding and support from other communities for 'justice' and reintroduction of the Hill House Tax in the district.

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