Meet decides to christen June 20 as Hill Peoples' Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2016: The Tribal Youth Council, Manipur (TYCM) and All Tribal Lawyers' Forum, Manipur (ATLAM) have jointly adopted four far reaching resolutions for the tribals of Manipur after minutely discussing the provisions of 371C, order, 1972 and the ADCs during the 1st Hill Peoples' Day observation at Tribal Research Institute yesterday.

After minutely discussing the finer aspects of the said clauses, the meeting decided to declare June 20 as Hill Peoples' Day, the day the then President of India VV Giri issued the Manipur Legislative (Hill Areas Committee) order, 1972 .

In a statement issued to the press TYCM and ATLAM said that henceforth, June 20 will be observed every year as Hill Peoples' Day.

The other resolutions said that Manipur tribals will support only those candidates who are fully conversant with the provisions of 371C and the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly and the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 and those who are ready to work in the interests of tribal people, in the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly election, 2017 .

It was also resolved to fight for full autonomy of ADCs and explore every means to extend 6th Schedule to the hill districts of Manipur so as to empower the ADCs and safeguard the rights and interests of tribals.

It was also decided to fight for the economic development of the tribal people so that the equilibrium in the economy of hills and valley can be achieved to the most possible level.

This is the only way to maintain communal harmony between the hill people and plain people, said the statement.

No voter shall give his/her vote to the incumbent MLAs who have been declared anti-tribals by the apex bodies of tribals in the upcoming Assembly election 2017, decreed the two bodies.

A candidate needs to become fully conversant with the aforesaid provisions, order of 1972 and Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business at Resolution 2, then only he/she shall represent the hill people in the State Assembly and serve the tribals.

A candidate without knowledge of 371C, Order, 1972 and ADCs are not qualified to become a member of Hill Areas Committee, it said and added hence, no vote for them.

TYCM and ATLAM also conveyed gratitude to resource persons, Prof J Doungel, HoD, Department of Pol Sc, Mizoram University, and BD Behring, former-MP and Ex-MLA for their valuable contributions.

The two bodies also extended their gratitude to Haokholal Hangshing, Chairman, ADC, Sadar Hills, Joseph Hmar, President, ATSUM, all the ADC chairmen and vice chairmen, ADC members, and leaders of civil organisations who attended the programme as chief guest, functional president, guests of honour and participants.

Comment