AMUCO against districts on ethnic lines
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 18 2011:
All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has observed that there is no harm in creation of more districts in Manipur but the Government should be cautious at the time of granting district status.
In a statement issued by its secretary (publicity) NC Modhuchandra, AMUCO pointed out that prior to 1969, there was only one district in Manipur.
By 1971, the number of districts increased to five, namely Manipur Central, Manipur South, Manipur North, Manipur East and Manipur West.
However after the creation of Tamenglong district in 1974, Manipur Central have been divided into three parts.
Consequently, Imphal too was bifurcated as Imphal West and Imphal East district in 1997, thus increasing the total number of districts to nine so far.
So, there is no harm in creation of more districts.
In fact, Nagaland, which is smaller in size and less populated than Manipur, has more districts.
However, the Government has to be cautious at the time of creating any new district.
Some of the existing districts too need to be re-organised.
Stating that creation of any district on ethnic and linguistic line may pose challenge to the unity and integrity of Manipur in the future, AMUCO said that in the interest of the future generations to come, the present generation has to create or re-organise district in such a way that all communities can settle together and for administrative conveniences.
The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 is 50 years old and needs to be reviewed for re-organisation of the existing districts to make them more cosmopolitan from the view of administrative conveniences, suggested AMUCO.
Taking into consideration of all these points, AMUCO has no objection to creation of Sadar hills as a district.
However proper demarcation should be carried out and the proposal raised from the side of some SHDDC volunteers in this regard should be looked into.
On the other hand, the Naga organisations have expressed opposition to upgradation of Sadar hills to a district without consultation.