Issues confronting State discussed
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 11 2013 :
Tribal intellectuals today harped on issues confronting the state of Manipur at a one-day seminar "Suppression and Exploitation of Tribal and Social Divide in Manipur" on at Hotel Imphal.
The event was organised by Tribal Youth Council, Manipur (TYCM) .
Prof Lal Dena of Manipur University, Dr Leban Serto of MLC University, Shillong and Dr Samson S.Chiru of Mount Everest College, Senapati, presented their papers on different issues.
Dr Leban Serto stressed the need for the government to urgently put its effort so as to address the problems in Manipur.
Dr Leban Serto said," There is definitely an urgent need for political will and reform for the education system to make it suitable for promoting peace ideals and peace educational projects." Dr Serto then added, "In order to face the challenges of our times, we need to explore all the avenues through which we could combat the growth of intolerance, violence, arm race, environmental exploitation, racism etc.
Presently in the state of Manipur and the North East India there is a growing fear, skepticism and ignorance.
The present political system has divided people on the basis of castes, religions, ethnicity and also the frontal armed groups are organised along ethnic, religious and territorial lines" .
Prof Lal Dena in his paper on reservation said, "Regarding admission of tribal students into different departments, the UGC's standing instruction is that tribal candidates who qualify themselves by virtue of their merit be placed in the general category.
But only in some departments, this admission policy has been followed" .
Meanwhile, TYCM president Tolkham Maring gave the key-note address in today's programme.
Tribal intellectuals, research scholars, councillors, bureaucrats, government servants, civil society leaders, and village authorities took part in the seminar.
In the first session of the seminar, resource persons of the programme R Daniel, advocate spoke on Article 371C- Power and Function of Hill Areas Committee, (HAC), Chungkhokai Doungel, ( Retd IRS and ex-MLA) on Problems Confronting the Tribal of Manipur with Special Reference to Inner Line Permit, and Dr R Sanga, (Director, Imphal School of Preaching) on Rights of Tribal on Land, Forest and Natural Resources.
In the second session, resource persons Prof Lal Dena, (History Department, MU) presented a paper on the topic Prevailing Reservation Policy and Practices, Dr Samson S Chiru, Principal, Mt Everest College, Senapati on Imposition of Meetei Mayek/Alien Language on Tribal, and Dr Leban Serto (Co-ordinator, Peace Studies Department, MLC University, Shillong) on Culture and Education for Tribal in Manipur.
Dr Samson S Chiru also dwelt on the significance of 'mother tongue' in the multi-ethnic society like Manipur.