Sit-in-protest staged
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 15 2016:
In protest against the alleged indifferent attitude shown towards
the tribals of Jiribam, the Tribal Rights Demand Committee,
Jiribam (TRDCJ) today staged a sit-in-protest at Sejang and
Lamlong Jakuradhor of Barak Circle, Jiribam, our correspond-
ent reports.
The protesters held placards inscribed with slogans like,
'Hill House Tax is tribals' privilege', 'Community land
holding is tribals' right,' 'No more encroachment on tribal
land', 'Jiribam is hill area', 'We want hill district', 'Tribal
land is scheduled area', 'Don't change tribal land to revenue
land' etc at the protest.
Speaking at the sidelines of the protest, Lalcha Duhlian
said majority of the tribals at Jiribam are against the State
Government's decision to turn Jiribam to a revenue district.
From 1948 to 1952, Jiribam was acknowledged as a hill
area and the people enjoyed hill area allowances.
In 1972,
the people demanded the State Government to turn Jiribam
to a Hmar district.
In contrast, however, the State Govern-
ment has proposed to upgrade Jiribam to a full-fledged
revenue district, violating the rights of the tribal people of
the sub-division.
TRDCJ has demanded State Government to come up
with a solution acceptable to all.
Later, after the demonstration, the committee submitted
copies of memorandum addressed to the Union Home
Minister, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Chairman of
National Commission for ST, Chief Minister and Chief
Secretary through the SDC, Borobekra, this correspondent
reports.