State upholding tribal rights: Gaikhangam
'Media should not magnify 'quit notice' against Meiteis in CCpur'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, May 14 2013: The issue of protecting tribal rights in Manipur was deliberated today by tribal intellectuals on the first day of the two-day seminar today christened as "District Council & It's Function In The Protection of Tribal Rights" organized by the Tribal Research Institute, government of Manipur at the Auditorium of the Institute at Chingmeirong, Imphal.

Addressing the inaugural function of seminar, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the Government is putting its maximum effort to uphold the tribal peoples' rights and recalled how the election to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) was held three years ago after a gap of 20 years.

"Conducting of elections to the ADCs was part of the State Government's effort to uphold the tribal peoples' rights," he said, while rubbishing the allegation that tribal Ministers and MLAs will be left powerless if power is decentralised to Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) .

"The allegation that all the tribal Ministers and MLAs will be dwindled if power is given to the District Councils is groundless," he asserted.

The Deputy Chief Minister went on to inform the gathering that the elections to the Village Authorities in the hill districts are about to complete.

"Once these elections to the Village Authorities are done, the Government will find it easier to function while ensuring better governance with a shift to a participatory and decentralized system of Government," the Deputy Chief Minister assured.

He pointed out that absorbing in illegal activities while demanding rights harm the Government's developmental activities and noted that the state will be able to join the development pace if different hierarchies like the members and other machineries beginning from Panchayat level to Parliament level work with earnestness.

Sadar Hills ADC chairman Haokholal Hangshing, Senapati district ADC chairman R.S.Henry, Churachandpur district ADC chairman V.Langkhanpau Guite, Ukhrul district ADC chairman John Raleng, Tamenglong district ADC chairman G.Soihem Haomei and Chandel district ADC chairman Lhukhosei Zou also participated in inaugural function of the seminar as Guests of Honours.

SK Dev Verman IAS, Commissioner of Tribal Affairs and Hills, government of Manipur attended the programme as the functional president.

Resource persons of the seminar included Advocate Siamzading Valte and Advocate R.Daniel, Manipur High Court while Vareso Ningshen Associate Professor of LMS Law College, Imphal and Dr..RHoram Associate Professor moderated the seminar.

Meanwhile, on the sideline of the programme, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, urged the media not to magnify the 'quit notice' of Churachandpur district.

He dismissed that it was done by a handful of miscreants.

He was referring to the leaflets asking the Meiteis to quit Churachandpur few days ago.

Gaikhangam then reiterated that those police personnel indulged in drug trafficking be dealth with drastic actions.

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