UTCOM apprises TA & Hills Minister on various issues of hill districts
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 25 2018: The United Tribal Civil Organisations' Manipur (UTCOM) has apprised Tribal Affairs and Hills, N Kayisii on various issues of hill districts of Manipur and the people.

The UTCOM team led by its president, Dr Gairiangmei M had a meeting with the Minister yesterday and submitted a memorandum in connection with hill related issues.

The UTCOM urged the Minister to construct tribal guest house at Imphal.

It also urged Kayisii to amend the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 wherein UTCOM demanded to insert reservation provisions for 2 (two) ADC seats for women and 1 (one) seat for persons with disabilities in all the Hill Districts, and to increase the number of seats from existing seats 26 to 35 .

The UTCOM also asked the Minister to amend the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act, 1956 to suit in the present context.

The tribal body further urged the Minister to issue the creation or recognition of hill villages by Tribal Affairs & Hills Department through the recommendation of concerned Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) .

The UTCOM then demanded for declaration of all the hill districts as hill areas.

According to the UTCOM, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (MLR&LR Act, 1960) "extends to the whole of the State of Manipur except the hill areas thereof: Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, extend the whole or any part of any section of this Act to any of the hill areas of Manipur also as may be specified in such notification.

Under Section 2 (j) of the MLR&LR Act, 1960 stated that the 'hill areas' means such areas in the hill tracts of the State of Manipur as the State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare to be hill areas" .

The UTCOM stated that, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Section 2 (j) of the MLR&LR Act, 1960, is discriminatory and not in the interest of the hills people of the State.

We demand the concerned authority to declare to all hills districts of Manipur as hill areas, UTCOM said.

It then asked the Minister to frame/make "Manipur Hill Tribal Land Laws" for the hill districts of Manipur.

It also demanded to upgrade Tribal Research Institute (TRI) as Directorate.

According to the UTCOM, the Minister, after a long discussion, expressed that the above mentioned points at this juncture are very important to safeguard, uplift, develop, and strengthen the unity in diversity of the tribal people.

Seeking cooperation and support from UTCOM, Minister Kayisii assured to take up possible action and work at his best ability to turn the points into actions.

President of UTCOM, on behalf of his team, expressed gratitude towards the Minister for sparing some time to discuss the matters.

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