AMUCO stresses on district reorganisation
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 04 2011:
The fifth public hearing before the Committee on Reorganization of Administrative and Police Boundaries was held at the conference hall of Manipur Chief Secretary DS Poonia in the Old Secretariat here on Friday.
In the hearing, three organizations submitted their opinions while the Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Imphal skipped the hearing.
The process of district re-organization in the State is urgently required to maintain integrity, unity and, as also of bringing development and peace, said KT Rahaman, President All Manipur Clubs' Organization (AMUCO).
He was talking to media persons after the hearing.
He also said if delayed, disintegration and ethnic enmity may spark among different communities in the State.
AMUCO strongly opposes against creation of new district(s) without going through proper district re-organization process, he asserted.
As a part of the re-organization, those communities illegally occupying or residing within reserved forest areas, proposed reserved forest areas and protected reserved forest areas should be evicted first and each district must include both hill and valley areas to facilitate an ideal administrative convenience instead of demarcating on ethnic lines, Rahaman said.
Former minister C Doungel said the Kukis are indigenous people of Manipur.
He said Sadar Hills remained under one administrative unit since 1901 just like Ukhrul, Tamenglong, etc.
The people of Ukhrul and Senapati wish to merge Naga villages of Sadar Hills to the respective districts.
If that is allowed then the Kuki villages under the two districts should also be given to the Kukis, he said.
He however, said such thing cannot be allowed to happen because it may result in ethnic unrest and demanded that the demand for creation of Sadar Hills district should be considered on the present status.
Sadar Hills district boundary under Autonomous District Council (Hill area) Act, 1971 as passed by the Parliament should be kept undisturbed.
Further re-organization process can be done after upgradation of Sadar Hills to a full-fledged district, Dongel said.
In another representation by caretaker President of Eastern Kuki Chiefs' Association (EKA) before the committee stated that the government disrict re-organization is most welcome from its side as people living in Ukhrul district, particularly from Kamjong area face a lot of difficulties in going to Ukhrul district headquarters.
They have to stay at hotels at least for a night.
"As movement of people residing in 56 villages of Kamjong area is more convenient to go to Moreh town.
So, we want these villages to be under Moreh ADC administration," the association further said.