TYCM urges Governor to address tribal issues
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 13 2025: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), General Headquarters, has extended a warm welcome to Ajay Kumar Bhalla on his appointment as the new Governor of the state.

In a press communique, TYCM highlighted critical issues affecting the tribal communities and called for immediate intervention by the Governor.

Referring to Article 371C of the Indian Constitution, TYCM emphasised that the Governor is the custodian of the constitutional provisions for the tribals of Manipur and is responsible for overseeing developmental and constitutional safeguards for the hill tribals of the state.

TYCM noted that since the onset of ethnic clashes and violence on May 3, 2023, the state government successfully conducted the 18th Lok Sabha General Elections from March to June 2024 and carried out recruitment and appointments in various departments.

However, it criticised the government for neglecting recruitment and development activities in key tribal institutions such as the tribal affairs & hills department, Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (MSCST), and Tribal Research Institute (TRI) .

TYCM described this as discriminatory and contrary to the government's proclaimed slogan of "equal development for both the valley and the hills".

The council also expressed deep concern over the non-conduct of elections for the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), mandated under Section 13 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 .

These elections, due in 2020, remain withheld, resulting in a four-year lapse and denial of democratic rights for the hill tribal population.

TYCM stated that the absence of ADCs has led to lost development opportunities and the abandonment of numerous beneficial schemes, which cannot be easily recovered by future generations.

TYCM accused the state government of suppressing the constitutional and democratic rights of the hill tribal people by failing to conduct the ADC elections.

It argued that if the government could conduct the Lok Sabha elections during the ongoing ethnic crisis, there is no reason for its inability to hold ADC elections.

The council expressed hope that the Governor would take immediate action to ensure the restoration of grassroots local self-government by facilitating the timely conduct of ADC elections and addressing the pressing issues faced by the tribal communities of the state.

Comment