Cabinet decision on delimitation opposed
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 07 2023:
Joint Co-ordination Committee on Tribal Rights Manipur (JCCOTRM), in a mem orandum submitted to the chief minister, has outrightly opposed decision of the state cabinet on January 25 regarding the delimitation of disputed district boundaries in the state.
"In this regard, we would like to put on record that there have been no boundary disputes between the districts in the state since its inception till today," it said.
The Committee asserted that since there is no dispute amongst the districts, the said cabinet decision to conduct delimitation is uncalled for and has no basis at all.
"Therefore, the said cabinet decision may be withdrawn at the earliest to avoid unnecessary complications in this regard.
Instead of going for unnecessary exercise, the government may transfer all the land records to the respective hill districts as per the Government of Manipur order of June, 2013," it added.
The memorandum also said, "In view of the stated facts and circumstances as submitted to your good office from time to time, we would once again, request you to kindly take up immediate necessary actions within the month of February, failing which this committee shall be compelled to take up more stringent actions in collaboration with tribal civil society organisations of the state till our genuine demands are met".
According to the JCCOTRM, the memorandum submitted to the chief minister on February 3, was in continuation of its earlier memorandum of November of 18, 2022 on land and forest matters as well as other related issues affecting the rights of tribal people of Manipur.
The memorandum also demanded revocation of orders pertaining to the "overlapping villages" in Manipur.
Regarding this matter, the Committee said, "We are constrained to re-visit the orders as issued by the Secretariat: Revenue Department namely, DRO-106/14/2022-REV-REVENUE, dated Octo-ber24, 2022 (Churachandpur & Bishnupur, Tengnoupal & Kakching, Kangpokpi & Imphal East & West) and the subsequent order issued by the respective deputy commissioners relating to the order regarding list of overlapping villages' in Manipur" .
JCCOTRM also pointed out that it was anomalous to find that all the orders have the same reference number, which in normal circumstances should not be the case, as each order were sent separately to the districts.
"Our main concern is the arbitrary and short-sighted decision," it said, while adding that for such an important decision that has the potential to decide the future of Manipur, it is also odd to note that the decision was taken in a meeting which was not even at the cabinet level but chaired by a "mere" secretary to the chief minister.
The JCCOTRM memorandum then appealed to the CM, "To put things into perspectives, we just want to prompt you of the history of post-Independence Manipur and finally, of the post-Manipur statehood on January 21, 1972 because these narratives now directly affect us, especially after the issuance of your government's so-called overlapping villages'" .