Imphal, December 05: Taking the demand for the implementation of the Delimitation of Assembly Constituencies a notch or two higher, Chandel AC MLA BD Behring today said that the Assembly seats of the hill districts should be increased as per the 2001 Census and asserted that it is the Constitutional rights of the tribal people.

Speaking at the �Open Dialogue on Tribal Problems of Manipur� seminar at GM Hall today, the MLA said that the State Government is intent on not implementing the Delimitation process on the basis of the 2001 Census.

Going on the offensive, the MLA said that the efforts of the State Government to nullify the Delimitation process is nothing but denying the Constitutional rights of the tribal people.

Asserting that the agenda of the State Government should be defeated at all cost, the MLA said that the dialogue or discussion held today should adopt a resolution to demand the increase in the Assembly seats of the hill districts on the basis of the 2001 Census.

Due to the step motherly treatment of the State Government, the hill districts are today lagging behind the valley areas in all respect, claimed the MLA and added that even though there are many tribals in the Council of Ministers, they have not raised their voice for the welfare of the hill people.

This is what is really shocking and surprising, added Behring. Hill Areas Committee Chairman Songchinkhup, who also attended the function said that such an open dialogue to discuss the issues and problems confronting the tribals of Manipur is long over due.

Organising such a dialogue will go a long way in charting out the future of the tribal people, he noted.

The HAC Chairman acknowledged that half the problems facing the tribal people are all self wrought and added that lack of unity amongst the tribal people is the chief factor for such a condition. To overcome the problems facing the tribal people, what is needed is unity of thought and action amongst the hill people, observed Songchinkhup.

If the tribal people refuse to see the merits of unity, then there is every possibility that the basic identity of the tribal people will be lost, he added.

Today's open dialogue was divided into two phases.

The morning session dwelt on the theme, �Political Aspirations, Autonomy and Empowerment of People� with MLA Samuel Jendai as the Chairman.

Former Minister and president of the 6th Schedule Demand Committee K Vungzalian and Valley Rose Hungyo, editor of Aja daily gave the introductory remarks. The second session discussed the theme, �Land Reforms, MLR and LR Act, Land And Forest, Infrastructure, Road and Transport, Power and Education and Health.� MLA Danny Shaiza was the chairman of the second session while Dr TS Gangte and JK Shimray delivered the introductory remarks.

Professor Lal Dena of MU gave a special comment.

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