JCILPS gears up for renewed campaign
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2016: JCILPS convenor in-charge Khom-dram Ratan has stated that they are preparing for a renewed campaign for enacting a constitutional safeguard for all indigenous people of the land.

Speaking at a public meeting held under the banner 'Save Indigenous People's Campaign' at Keithelmanbi along Imphal-Jiribam highway today, Ratan said that the campaign has been deferred on account of the catastrophic earthquake which rocked the State on January 4 although the campaign was already scheduled to kick-start from January 3 .

After the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly for enactment of a constitutional safeguard for protection of indigenous people was submitted to the President of India, the State Government has done nothing to get the Bills transformed into Acts nor does it bother to translate into action all those points it agreed with JCILPS even though those points don't require Centre's permission.

JCILPS gears up for renewed campaign

None of the MPs, MLAs and political parties have spoke to the Centre about the three Bills.

Even though the then Chief Commissioner Himat Singh abolished ILPS from Manipur in 1950, the same system is still enforced in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Naga-land.

The Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution in favour of enforcing ILPS in the State but the same resolution was swept under carpet after some time.

After a sustained people's movement during which Ananda Higher Secondary Academy student Sapam Robinhood was killed in police action on July 8 last year, three Bills were passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 .

Now the Government of India has been virtually sleeping over the three Bills and this attitude of New Delhi is highly questionable.

The Constitution of India has been amended several times and it can be amended again, if required, Ratan asserted.

Citing the case of Tripura, he said that indigenous people of Manipur have been facing severe threats from incessant influx.

In order to protect indigenous people of Manipur, immense pressure needs to exerted upon both the State Government and the Government of India, Ratan asserted while appealing to all the people to join the renewed campaign.

There are some areas where the indigenous people can act without the Government's assistance.

For instance, indigenous people should take over the primary occupations of migrant workers.

JCILPS held a meeting with the Kuki Inpi Manipur on January 8 at Kuki Inn and the meeting ended on a very positive note.

Condoling the loss of nine lives in the course of public uproar against the three Bills in Churachandpur, Ratan confided that he was deeply worried in case the three Bills divide the indigenous peoples irreconcilably.

But the uproar was largely due to communication gap which was exacerbated by fabricated propaganda floated by some elements.

The meeting was jointly organised by the JCILPS Support Committee NH-53 and the New Keithelmanbi Ima Meira Paibi Lup.