TSA appreciates Central Govt's letter to Manipur State Govt. regarding 6th Schedule

Imphal / The 1st July, 2015

The Thadou Students’ Association, General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ), which had been demanding extension of 6th schedule in the hill areas of Manipur, appreciates the Government of India for its readiness for its extension by sending a missive to the Government of Manipur on 7/5/2015 regarding the issue as reported by the Imphal Free Press (29/6/2015).

The letter sent from the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (North East Division) dated May 7, 2015 under the subject “Extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the Hill Areas of Manipur,” addressed to the chief secretary of Manipur, P C Lawmkunga is a clear indication of the Central Government's genuine interest to find a permanent solution to the plights of the tribal peoples and bring about an amicable solution to the long-standing problems between the schedule (hill) and non-schedule (valley) peoples without a violation of Manipur’s territorial integrity.

Any positive step or measure for implementation of 6th schedule will be fully supported by the TSA and the whole Thadou tribal community.

Mention may be made that the State Government of Manipur in its Cabinet Meeting Agenda No. 1 dated 13/5/1991 during the tenure of Shri RK Ranbir Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur decided to recommend the extension of VI Schedule in the Hill Areas of the State. And, the Cabinet Meeting Agenda No. 1 dated 17/8/1992 under Shri RK Dorendra Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur decided to recommend to the Government of India extension of 6th Schedule to Hill Areas of Manipur. Also, in the Cabinet Meeting Agenda No. 10 dated 28/3/2001 under the chief ministership of Shri Radhabinod Koijam stated that the state Government had no objection to the extension of VI Schedule of the Indian Constitution to the Tribal areas in the Hill Districts of Manipur with certain local adjustments and amendments.

The Lok Sabha on 23/8/1984 and the Rajya Sabha on 25/8/1984 discussed a bill on implementation of VI Schedule in the Hill Areas of Manipur. In response to that, the then Minister of Home Affairs Shri PV Narasimha Rao had assured the house that Provision of Sixth Schedule to the Constitution may also be extended to the state of Manipur at the earliest opportunity.

In spite of all the recommendations for VI Schedule extension since 1978, when the Hill Area Committee recommended for 6th schedule implementation on the ground that provisions under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 were insufficient and inadequate to meet the needs of the tribal people and for the realisation or their aspirations, the State Government has shockingly repeatedly failed to act on it. This has only exacerbated the already miserable conditions of the tribals and increasingly deepened their sense of alienation and mistreatment by the Manipur Government.

Therefore, we urge the Government of Manipur to submit the long pending report in relation to implementation of the 6th schedule of the Indian Constitution in the Hill Areas of Manipur to the Government of India and act on the issue at the earliest in the best interests of the tribal communities of the state.

Sd/-
James Haokip
Secretary General
TSA-GHQ