MLR and LR Act divisive : MMTU
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30 2024:
The MLR & LR Act 1960 violates the rights of the people and Article 14 of the Indian Constitution which assures every citizen to be treated equally irrespective of their religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, said the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) as it spearheads "Our Land, Our Right" campaign.
In a statement it released to the media today, MMTU said the State land law, The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960 is one of the many reasons for the fissure between the valley and the hill people, and thousands are still without patta (land documents) because of it.
The implementation of the MLR & LR Act divided the people and challenged Manipur's unity and integrity, it added.
While the Act has always been a problem causing tension in the State, the issue and the trouble has now compounded due to increasing influx of illegal immigrants, said MMTU.
It asserted that the Act which would have bound the communities together was unfortunately drafted by a committee which was represented largely by non-native people who couldn't possibly have enough understanding of the land and its people.
26 of the 30 Members of the drafting committee were non-natives and only four were of Manipur.
The 4 included three Meiteis from the valley and one from the hill, said MMTU.
The people of Manipur were not fairly represented by the committee, and it is doubtful that the 26 non-native Members may have kept Manipur's unity and integrity in their mind while drafting the Act, asserted MMTU.
Further, in 1972, "Partly Hill Areas" was inserted in the Manipur Hill Areas Committee's "area of operation" bringing many valley Constituencies under the administration of the Autonomous District Council.
While these Constituencies belong to a valley district, they have been brought under the administration of the ADCs, said MMTU listing some of the places--
1) Areas of 6-Keirao such as 211 Lilong Kabui, 222 Phunal Maring, 223 Keirao Chingdong, 224 Leiphrok Maring, 227 Lemba Khul, 228 Waithou Chiru, 229 Saman Tangkhul, and 230 Poirou Tangkhul and 231 Kaprang village are under the Sadar Hills East sub-division.
2) Areas of 8-Lamlai such as 200 Tombihabuk (a) Heinoupokpi, 201 Thayong, 202 Ayokpa Kabui, 203 Nungkot Kom, 204 Nungkot Khuman, 205 Nongmaiching, 206 Nongmaipal, 207 Nongmaichingkhong, 208 Khalong Chingtek, 209 Luwang Pukhri, and 210 Uran Chiru are under Sadar Hills East sub-division.
3) Areas of 9-Thangmeiband such as 214 Tharon, 215 Langol Tarung are under Sadar Hills West.
4) Areas of 10-Langthabal such as 212 Langthabal Chingthak, 213 Langthabal Chingkha and 219 Langthabal Khoupum village are under Sadar Hills East sub-division.
5) Areas of 24-Nambol such as 216 Phoijing Tongba and 218 Maibam Lotpa Ching village are under Sadar Hills West.
6) An area of 25-Oinam, 217 Chingkhaa Oinam Kabui village is under Sadar Hills West.
7) An area of 30-Lilong, 220 Chingkham Kabui village is under Sadar Hills East.
8) Areas of 32-Wangkhem, 221 Chaobok Kabui and 232 Lisamlok village are under Sadar Hills East sub-division.
9) Areas of 33-Heirok, 237 Saram Tangkhul and 238 A-Kwarok Maring village are under Sadar Hills East.
10) Areas under Khundrakpam AC, 22 Happy Valley one, Happy Valley two, Frezol, and S Phailen village are under Sadar Hills.
While the Land Protection Committee Sekmai Assembly Constituency, in 2011, had urged the Government to exclude Sekmai, Kanto, Chirang Koutruk, Kadangband etc from Sadar Hills, no steps have been taken up till today, said MMTU.
Even though the Government had created 7 new districts in 2016 for "administrative convenience", the proper demarcation of the boundaries between the bifurcated districts have not been done till today, said MMTU.
The United Naga Council (UNC) which had vehemently opposed the creation of the districts has not yet called off its demand to roll back the order, it added.
In documents NCST's Research Officer RS Misra sent to then Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi in August 2023, it was mentioned that "463 hill villages are to be included in the valley".
This mention deserves discussion, said MMTU.
Further, when every nook and corner of the earth have been surveyed, 90 percent of the land in Manipur have not been surveyed till date, said MMTU, adding the last survey was carried out in Manipur 1960 .
Due to the land law and lack of survey, hundreds of Meiteis who have inherited land for generations are still without Pattas, said MMTU, asserting that they should be given the land documents by the Government without further delay.
It urged people to support its "Our Land Our Right" campaign.
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