ATCF objects to Govt move
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 23 2013 :
All Tribal Chiefs' Forum (ATCF), Manipur has expressed its strong reservation over state government's proposal of introducing urban planning and development in the hill districts under Panchayat system and said that it might undermine the Chieftainship institutions and Tribal Village Council wherein the Chiefs are custodians of the tribal customs, culture and their land use.
In the wake of state government's proposed revision of Manipur (Village Authority) in Hill Areas Act-1956 and the constitution of an expert committee to monitor the Act as well as the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act-1971, the forum had intimidated to include leaders and scholars who are well versed in the tribal customary laws, tradition and cultural practices but so far there has not been any positive response from government's side, ATCF lamented in a statement.
Subsequently a consultative meeting of senior tribal leaders, resource persons, NGOs was convened last week and formed an expert committee representing all the tribes of Manipur to examine and revise the Acts, and submitted the findings to state government to reconcile with the findings of the expert team constituted by government, the statement added.
It has also demanded to enact and frame laws that are suitable for the development of the hill districts other than urban development under Panchayat system so that the identity, rich tribal heritage may preserve if the government is so determined to uplift the backwardness of hill districts.