Demand for tribal DDO peeves MTPRM
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, October 13 2012: Irked by by the demand made by a hill based organisation that the DDO post at the Tribal Affairs and Hills, government of Manipur should be given to a tribal officer, the Movement for Tribal People's Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) terms the demand of that hill based body as not constructive.

The MTPRM did not mention the name of the hill based body in question but it is obvious that they are pointing at the Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) who had demanded on October 9 in Chandel that the DDO post be given to a tribal officer.

On Saturday, the MTPRM said it is not necessary at this point of time to demand that the DDO post be given to a tribal officer.

"Tribal Affairs and Hills, the only department exclusively to deal with any matter relating to tribal people is presently safe as one senior tribal (IAS) officer taking the charge as additional chief secretary of the state is the commissioner of the department (Tribal Affairs and Hills) and the incumbent director and the DDO are equally effcient.

Therefore, let the department function freely and fairly without any bias and prejudice so that the department is effective enough to deal with affairs of the tribal.

And every tribal has every right to say regarding the functioning of the department therefore, every demand and suggestion should be based on constructive policy, focusing for the welfare of the tribal people who are comparatively backward economically," the Movement for Tribal People's Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) asserted.

The tribal rights body then said some improvements have also been made in the tribal affairs department by effecting transfer and posting allocation of works with interchange of works among the staffers so as to vail equal opportunities and privileges in serving the best interest of the tribals, while at the same time lauded the modification order with four tribal employees being given to take care of the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) in addition to the already existing staff to deal the PMS.

It then reminded the Tribal Affairs and Hills department to work sincerely and consult the tribal people for their overall upliftment.

Meanwhile, the MTPRM said the new creation of the posts of five Parliamentarian Secretaries and their recent swearing-in ceremony on October 8 last; MLA K Meghachandra of Wanggkhem assembly constituency, MLA M Prithvirraj of Moirang constituency, MLA Victor Keishing of Phungyar constituency, MLA Vungzagin Valte C of Thanlon constituency and MLA Md Amin Shah of Kshetrigao constituencynotwithstanding some opposition as extraneous and a financial burden to the state coffer.

The tribal rights body then while congratulating these newly inducted Parliament Secretaries.

"It is for accelerating developmental activities in the tribal areas in poarticular and the state governement in general," the MTPRM added, and terms the five Parliamentary Secretaries as 'young and dynamic legislators' who would be instrumental in lightening the workload of the different cabinet ministers to bring about rapid development in the far flung areas, according to their hope expressed.

In the past, there was no ray of hope for the development of the tribal areas in all areas for no exclusive portfolios of tribal affairs being given.

However, with the new reshuffle in the ministry and the inclusion of two tribals in the Parliamentary SecretariesVictor Keishing and Vungzagin Valte Cinstilled in the people more confidence with the portfolio of Tribal Affairs and Hills given to a promising, young and dynamic leader and the only eclusively existing department to deal with the tribal people, the tribal rights body stated.

Comment