Tribal leaders object MLR Act in hills
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 09 2011:
Enforcing a law which is undesirable by the people of the place where the law is to be enforced is illegal, observed Justice (retired) WA Shishak, speaking at a seminar on Hill Tribals Land Reform and Its Impact, held at Manipur Press Club today.
He pointed out that even though political leaders of the state are calling for co-existence amongst the people in both hills and valley areas, they never translated into work what they call for.
If government tries to enforce the Manipur Land Reform Act in the hill areas without knowing the mode of utilization of land by the hill people, it might hurt the sentiment of the hill people.
Taking this into account, government needs to study the people's decision to extend the Act or not, he suggested.
He said if the Act is not desirable to the people, it will create a problem in the state.
Interest of all communities should be taken into account before enacting the Act.
Former minister, RV Mingthing pointed out that as for Kukis, village chiefs are the owners of their respective villages while ownership of the land in Tangkhul villages are the villagers themselves.
He said, there is no definite rule or custom that says Meeteis are not allowed to settle in hill areas.
As an example, he pointed out that no one has disturbed Kwatha village in Chandel district.
Nepalese are also settled in various parts of the district.
This is a clear example that there is no restriction in settling in hill areas by other communities.
Suntra Kamei, advisor of Kabui Mothers' Association, taking part in the seminar, believed that hill people have settled in the valley because of advantages and facilities available while valley people are not willing to settle in the hills because there are limited facilities.
If there is a balanced development in both the hill and valley areas, there will be no question of hill people settling in the valley, she said sharing the opinion that MLR Act should not be extended in the hill areas at any cost.
Other persons who spoke at the seminar were Rev Renghang Chothe, president of HERICOUN, TR Kipgen, president, Confederation of Tribal Chiefs' Association, NK Chothe, Member, Chandel ADC.