Chingdai area protests "unlawful imposition of Forest Act"
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, May 31 2022: People of the Chingdai area on Tuesday staged a sit-in-protest against the alleged 'unlawful' imposition of the Forest Act in the Chingdai area of Kangpokpi District.

Hundreds of people including women and youths of the area participated in the sit-in-protest organised by Chingdai Area Kuki Youth Organization and the area chiefs.

The protestors held placards that read, "We oppose Indian Forest Act, 1927 and its amendment Act", "Colonial Rule and Acts should not infringe the legal rights of tribal chiefs ", "State Govt should implement Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Forest Rights) Act, 2006 enacted by the Parliament of India", "Withdraw Indian Forest Act, 1927 and it s Amendment Act from Tribal Villages", "Forest is our life", "Respect the Land ownership Rights of Tribals", "We don't want arbitrary rule of laws", "Justice for Tribal people"," Khamenlok - Gwaltabi Reserved Forest has procedural lapse; declare it null and void", "Khamenlok - Gwaltabi Reserved Forest is without the consent and knowledge of traditional tribal village chiefs", "Do not encroach our ancestral land", "MLR Act is not applicable in the hills, we pay Hill house tax", etc.

Seilal Haokip, president of Chingdai Area Kuki Youth Organisation, said that Chingdai area comprises six villages and the settlement of these villages was before India s Independence while adding that the village chiefs have no knowledge of Khamenlok-Gwaltabi reserved forest, and no notification from the forest department and settlement department was received when the government proposed the Khamenlok-Gwaltabi reserved forest in the year 1946 in compliance with the Indian Forest Act, 1927.He continued that it is clear evidence of the government 's attempt to occupy or grab tribals' land and suppress tribal rights.

The proposed Khamenlok-Gwaltabi Reserved Forest signed by Illegible, the then president Manipur state durbar (hills), included 10 valley villages and 6 villages in the hills, unfortunately, these villages did not received prior information regarding the reserved forest during the time of proposal and to date, the Chingdai area body's president added.

He went on, "We, by any means, will not accept such a cruel act of government by directly imposing reserved forest act in this particular area and is highly condemnable and any development regarding reserved forest within the Chingdai area without consulting the village chiefs and without the consent of the people is null and void".

The organisation then appealed to the state government to implement the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Forest Rights) Act, 2006 enacted by the Parliament of India immediately.

Comment