Consultation meeting held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 19 2014 :
Tarao Tribe Union, Leishokching and Tribal and Endangered Languages Promotion Board jointly organised a consultation meeting on promotion, preservation and enrichment of Tarao language at Imphal Movie Club, Thangal Bazar today.
Tarao Tribe Union president K Mela Tarao, retired Professor of Manipur University, PC Thoudam, political analyst and language activist L Saratchandra attended the meeting as president, chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
Tarao Literature Society chairman Morre Tarao said that around 900 people of Tarao community are settled at Tarao Laimanai, Leishokching, Khuringmul and Heikakpokpi villages in Chandel district and Sanakeithel village in Ukhrul district.
As Tarao has become an endangered community, there is need for a concerted effort to protect them, he added.
MEELAL vice-president Moirangthem Naokhamba while speaking at the meeting said that Tripuri indigenous people have now become a minority community in Tripura.
Similar problems may be faced by the indigenous people of Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur as well if necessary measures are not taken up on time.
In his speech, he also lauded UNESCO for alerting the State about the possible extinction of Tarao community.
Tribal and Endangered Languages Promotion Board Manipur convenor Dr Th Chandramani while speaking at the function contradicted UNESCO's report which was published in 2009 and mentioned extinction of Tarao community.