Committee for Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) apprises issues to NCST
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 04 2012: Committee for Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has apprised the National Commission for Schedule Tribe (NCST) in New Delhi today about the issues pertaining to tribal community of Manipur.

A five-member delegation of COPTAM led by its chairman Letpu Haokip and general secretary Thangkam Lupheng met Dr Rameshwar Araon, chairman of the National Commission for Schedule Tribe in New Delhi and submitted a lengthy memorandum containing the plights of the tribal people of Manipur.

COPTAM leaders informed Newmai News Network over phone from New Delhi that Dr Rameshwar Araon gave a patient hearing when apprised about the tribal issues of Manipur by the tribal leaders this afternoon.

Issues such as Land record and District boundary, MLR & LR Act, 1960, Proposed Manipur (Village Authority in Hill Areas) 2nd Amendment Act, 2011, Proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council, 4th Amendment Act, 2011, Forest Acts, Moreh Rural/Urban issue, Panchayati Raj/Municipality in the hill areas, police boundary and Constitutional provisions for protection of tribal land rights in Manipur are mentioned in the COPTAM memorandum.

COPTAM leaders with Dr Rameshwar Araon

According to the tribal leaders, on October 15 in 2010, they had submitted similar memorandum to the National Commission for Schedule Tribe (NCST) and today's intimation was a reminder of it.

COPTAM leaders claimed that the NCST had asked the state government of Manipur to furnish certain reports on the matters pertaining the tribal people of Manipur in the year 2010 but the state government is yet to reply to the Commission till date.

"We are shock to learn about the attitude of the state government for its reluctance to co-operate with the NCST on the matter," said the COPTAM leaders.

Prior to their departure to New Delhi, COPTAM leaders in a meeting had resolved that it would oppose tooth and nail regarding the government decision which says that recognition of any new village in the hill districts of Manipur should be done with the consent of the state Revenue department.

COPTAM general secretary Thangkam Lupheng said that they along with the support of the tribal people will oppose the decision.

"The final authority with regard to the recognition of a new village in the hills is the Hills department," stated the COPTAM resolution.

Thangkam added that another thing that was taken in the recent meeting in Churachandpur has been on the Jiribam issue.

The COPTAM leader says that the Committee does not oppose to the "declaration" Jiribam subdivision as a full fledged district.

"However, if at all the state government grants the Jiribam subdivision to district status, it should be declared as a "hill district" and not otherwise," said COPTAM resolution.

According to the tribal committee, in case the state government declares Jiribam as a district but still not as a hill district status then tribal villages should be adjusted to include in either Churachandpur or Tamenglong districts.

Driving home its point to prove Jiribam is in a hill district, COPTAM claimed that in the 1970s any government employee posted in Jiribam was given the 'hills allowance' by the government.

"This has proved that Jiribam is very much in the hill district," said COPTAM.

On the hill land survey matter, COPTAM meeting resolved that no agency or government department should be allowed to carry out the survey.

COPTAM's move on this came after the state Revenue minister had stated in the last assembly session that hill land survey would be carried out soon.

However, expressed if certain acceptable mechanism is done by the state governmentfirst then the tribal committee may review its decision.

COPTAM cited that all land record should be submitted to the respective Autonomous District Council (ADC) and followed by proceedings acceptable to the tribals before the hill land survey is done by the state government.

On the Autnomous District Councils (ADCs) in the hills, COPTAM said that for namesake it is 'autonomous' but in reality it is a hollow ADCs in Manipur hills.

"COPTAM demands from the government to make the ADCs in Manipur hills fully 'autonomous'.

"Since the elections to the ADCs were held and though it is only a namesake in existence we can do little now to reverse the whole process except to demand for the real autonomous district councils and empower the local people so as to make the grass root level democracy meaningful," said COPTAM.