Tribal Peace & Harmony Award conferred to 3 personalities
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 30 2014:
The Tribal Peace & Harmony Award, 2013-14 was conferred to three personalities, including one woman on Monday.
The award was constituted by the Department of Hills & Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the Tribal Research Institute, Manipur last year.
Chief Minister O Ibobi distributed the award to the three recipients during a splendid function held at the MFDC auditorium, Palace Compound here.
K Matia was honoured with the award in recognition of her noble and sacrificial service as well as outstanding contribution towards peaceful co-existence in the State.
Matia, a brave lady from Rabunamei village of Senapati district, rescued two Mizo women from being abducted by underground elements for possible elimination, risking her hew own life during the height of Naga-Kuki ethnic conflict.
The same award was also given to H Sitlhou posthumously in recognition of his noble and sacrificial service and outstanding contribution towards peaceful co-existence in the State.
Late Sitlhou, in one of his heroic acts, rescued one Naga girl student, who was reading in Presidency College, Motbung in Senapati district in 1993, from abducted by underground elements during the Naga-Kuki clash.
Sitlhou was a native of Orphanage Village in Senapati district.
Rev S Kaikho Hokey, a pastor from Pudunamei village in Senapati district was also conferred with the award for his outstanding contribution towards peaceful co-existence in the State and also for his noble and sacrificial service.
As a secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC), Kaikho visited several villages and churches of different communities campaigning relentlessly for communal harmony risking his life.
In spite of boycott and threats from various circles, the MBC centenary was successfully celebrated under his leadership in 1996 .
Delivering his speech on the occasion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that Manipur is inhabited by different ethnic groups.
"We've 33 specified recognized tribes.
While the northern part of the State is populated by the Nagas, the southern part is populated by the Chin-Kuki-Mizo communities," he mentioned.
The CM said the tribes have been living together peacefully for many decades in spite of the fact that each tribal community has its own inherent and distinctive culture, custom and practice.
But due to misguide and erroneous thoughts, "we had witnessed communal disharmony in the State recently" .
"I would also like to appeal to the people of Manipur, especially the tribal communities not to forget that we are one, sharing a common land since time immemorial.
Our unity has been our strength against the onslaught of foreigners.
Let us not be a victim of selfish, deceptive propagandas of anti-socials," the CM exhorted.
Former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing, who was also present on the occasion, echoed similar sentiment saying the hill people and the valley people should not differentiate themselves on ethnic line but co-exist as Manipuris.
Rishang Keishing said 92% of Manipur territory may comprises hills and 8% the valley areas but this is the most beautiful place in the world.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam was also present and spoke on the occasion, which was marked by prayers by church leaders and cultural programmes by various tribal groups.