MTU blames MLRLR Act for present crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 16 2024: Meitei/Meetei Tribe Union (MTU) has maintained that the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (MLRLR) Act 1960 is the major cause responsible for the present crisis in the state.

Attending the concluding day of a Manipur State Level Consultancy programme jointly organised by MTU, Gandhi Seva Ashram and Manipur Relief Works and Sustainable Livelihood at District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Centre in Keikol from March 14 to 16, MTU secretary administration Mutum Churamani said that after minute discussion of the prevailing crisis it has come to light that the MLRLR Act is the main culprit which has led to tensions among different communities settling in the state and ultimately leading to the present crisis.

Therefore, it is time for the government to come up with a uniform land law by abolishing the MLRLR Act.

Such a move of the government can bring peace and harmony in the state, he said.

He further stated that Kenya stands at the top among the highest number of people living without their own houses and land in the world with 67 percent of its population with no houses and land, followed by Thailand.

According to the socio economic caste census report of 2011, 71 percent of the people of Manipur are without their own land and houses.

The percentage would have been increased drastically by now.

It is estimated that the number of people without land and houses due to the present conflict in the valley would have been increased by 59 percent.

Churamani also said that though all people in the state have their own land, it is not clear whether the land are actually under their names and they hold their respective land pattas.

When MTU surveyed the valley areas during the present conflict, it was found that residents of around 40 villages in the valley districts did not possess land patta.

These villages have existed for the last 60 years and over.

The main reason why the villagers do not possess land pattas is due to the MLRLR Act and this is a clear indication that the Act is a crime against humanity.

While maintaining that the indigenous people who have been living in the state since early days should not be made to live with a begging bowl like refugees, he said that the MLRLR Act should be abolished at the earliest.

The state government should also take up welfare schemes for the people to enable the landless indigenous people to obtain their own lands.

The Meeteis should also be given the right to settle in the foothills and hills just as the people of the hills are given the right to settle in the valley, he reasoned.

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