Tribes urge for radio time
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2018: United Tribal Civil Organisations' Manipur (UTCOM) has submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding prompt and necessary actions to set up a separate radio station for the tribal communities of the State so that they can protect, preserve and promote their cultures and traditions and display their talents through radio programme.

According to the memorandum, there are more than 30 tribal communities living in Manipur and even though Manipuri language is the common language of the State, the different tribal communities have their own separate language with distinct cultures, folk lore, traditions and folk songs etc.

Pointing out that around 41 percent of the total population of Manipur are tribal communities, it claimed that even though All India Radio Imphal was commissioned on December 15, 1963, not many of the tribal communities have been provided proper time allotment except to a few major tribal communities which is discriminatory and biased.

It claimed that only 20-30 minutes each are allotted in favour of six, out of 34 tribes, namely Tangkhul, Thadou, Kabui, Hmar, Paite and Mao tribe while the remaining tribes have not been given any time allotment till date.

Pointing out that radio plays an important and vital role for promotion and protection of the traditions and cultures of the various tribes, it conveyed that radio is a means to educate the people and spread awareness, a field in which the tribes of Manipur are much deprived of.

It asserted that many smaller tribes of Manipur are in grave danger of extinction as their population is small and they have no platform to present their talents, traditions and cultures.

Claiming that development and promotion of tribal languages and cultural cannot be achieved until and unless a separate AIR station is set up for broadcasting programmes which include all the tribes, UTCOM appealed to the Governor to take up necessary steps for establishing a separate radio station for the endangered tribal communities of the State.

A separate radio station would also create employment opportunities for many educated but unemployed tribal youth, it added.

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