KSO expresses their stand on NLUP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2014: The KSO General Headquarters has resolved to oppose the Manipur Government's New Land Use Policy (NLUP) and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 .

In a press statement, KSO said that the organisation has consulted the Kuki people and other tribal organizations over the latest land policy and the fair compensation Act passed by the Government in which the final verdict is to say 'No' to the Government.

The NLUP, advocated for the first time in the Northeastern States by the Mizoram Government, must not be implemented in the hill districts of Manipur.

Unlike the land holding system in Mizoram, where the lands are all community lands, the lands in the hill districts of Manipur are in the hands of traditional chieftains, the press statement added.

In Kuki villages where there exist a traditional form of administration, the lands are utilized as it should be and properly, through traditional methods so as to maintain the ecosystem and other environmental considerations.

Many consider that jhum cultivation is the main reason for deforestation, soil erosion and other environmental concerns, the statement said.

Saying that the tribal jhum cultivators have their own traditional methods to check deforestation and soil erosion, the press statement said and added that to check deforestation, hill people traditionally follow the jhum cycle where they return to the same jhum site after 6-7 years when the trees are big enough to cut and also when the fertility of the soil is restored.

To check soil erosion, hill people lay unburned tree trunks horizontal to the slope called 'Chang' and planted fast growing crops to contain the soil from wearing away, the press statement added.

In fact, area under jhum cultivation has come down in spite of increase in population, the KSO said and added that many jhum cultivators have now taken to plantation farming instead.

There are also instances where wastelands have also been developed albeit funding of any monetary assistance from the Government.

Saying that it is a matter of time that the practice of jhum cultivation would finally come to an end, the release mentioned and conitued that a sincere initiative from Government institutions to pump in capitals in the hill districts for plantation farms, animal husbandry etc are needed.

While the Government has ample of funds for projects in the valley, there is always the scarcity of fund for livelihood in the hills, KSO alleged.

By bringing the Right to Fair Compensation Act, the Government is harping on forced acquisition of land as in the carrot and stick policy, KSO said.

KSO urged the Government to be sincere and honest with the tribal people and scrap the proposed Right to Fair Compensation Act, 2014 and the New Land Use Policy which are 'antagonistic' to the interests of the tribal people otherwise a day may come when the tribal people of the State will be forever alienated or parted ways with Manipur.

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