Tribal bodies condemn eviction drive
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, February 21 2023: Various tribal organisations have condemned the eviction drive at K Songjang village which is situated along Old Cachar road, about 30 kilometres from Bishnupur district headquarters.

In separate statements, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) and Kuki Inpi Manipur termed the eviction drive as 'unlawful and inhumane' .

The eviction drive in hill areas which it designates as reserved forests, protected forests, etc., is inhumane and cruel.

This inhumane act of the state government is strongly condemnable, they said.

Pointing out that the tribals are tradi tionally forest dwellers, who depend on its produces for livelihood, ATSUM maintained that "the creation of reserved forests and protected forests has curtailed the means of livelihood of these tribal people and affected their way of life" .

There are many reserved forests, protected forests, and wildlife sanctuaries in the hills today.

However, these forests which are now under the control of the government have been created without following due procedures.

That was why the Hill Areas Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly in its Resolution No.38/2020-(HAC) adopted on 11th March 2021 resolved that there is a procedural error in the declaration of Reserved Forest after 1972 9nd maintained that any declaration of Protected forest, reserved forest, and wildlife sanctuaries on or after 20th June 1972 shall not be enforced by the Department until the approval of the Hill Areas Committee, since it pertains to Scheduled Matters of Article 371C of the Presidential Order 1972, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur has termed the eviction drive at K Songjang as violation of human rights alleging that the villagers were evicted without any resettlement arrangements.

KIM, while charging the authority concerned of forcing women and children to sleep, eat and survive outdoors, said that the eviction is a deplorable deprivation of livelihood "as the tribals are directly dependent on forests for their subsistence" .

The Inpi appealed all concerned to develop and implement more prudent measures which will recognize and respect the rights and privileges of the indigenous tribals, and regard their human life and values.

On the other hand, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Leimata Block has condemned the eviction drive as "violation of the Manipur Extra Ordinary Gazette No 124-E100 dated 17-09-1966" .

The manner in which the eviction drive was conducted negates humanitarian values, leaving many homeless; and also violates right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, it added.

It maintained that Manipur Extra Ordinary Gazette No.124-E100 has clearly stated that, "the Private and Government ownership of land including Bonafide patta lands don t come under the purview of the much debated Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest" and appealed to the government to stop step motherly treatment of the tribals.

The KSO unit also appealed to all concerned to implement sagacious measures and rehabilitate the displaced villagers and added that the government must come out with a clean chit on the contentious proposed Churachandpur Khoupum Protected Forest.

The Government of Manipur must come up with a rehabilitation programme and rehabilitate K Songjang villagers who are victims of forceful and illegal eviction, the student body demanded.

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