Imphal, March 06: The Autonomous District Council (ADC)'s latest Act of 2008 was declared to be defective, detrimental and discriminating towards the rights of the tribals of Manipur and therefore get it rectified at the earliest by the competent authority.

This was echoed by the participants of the workshop on open dialogue on Autonomous District Council election vis-à-vis tribal rights held on Friday at Tribals’ Research Institute in Imphal.

The open dialogue was participated by various leaders, social workers from various hill districts of Manipur where they resolved unanimously to get the Autonomous District Council election, 2010 under 2008 Act rectified at the earliest by the competent authority.

The Autonomous District Council elections, 2010 is likely to be held either in the month of April or May. The participants of the open dialogue also stated that the Autonomous District Council's latest Act 2008 was enacted after amending the 1971 Act and repealing the 2000 Act. Under 2008 Act, there are no constitutionally guaranteed provisions in practical for safeguarding the inheritance and Constitutional rights of the tribals and therefore it was stated that 2008 Act was totally against the interest of the tribal people, voiced the participants in the workshop on open dialogue.

They also discussed that the Autonomous District Council Act of 2008 be rectified after consulting the tribal people and appropriate act be enacted with full autonomy to the tribal people permissible under the Constitution at the earliest by the competent authority.

Failure to enact appropriate act would compel the tribal people to consider the government of Manipur as biased towards the tribal people, said the participants of today's meet. The Autonomous District Council election would be held after a gap of 20 years. The workshop was organized by Movement for Tribal People's Rights, Manipur (MTPRM).

Dignitaries like prof. Gangumei Kamei, Dr. Horam, BD Mehring, a former Member of Parliament, Somi Keishing, (retd MCS), Nehthang Haokip, president Kuki chief assistant , Chandel district, Athuan Abonmai, social worker, Tamenglong district, TK Kipgen, Paojeng Kamei, president, MTPR attended the workshop on open dialogue on Autonomous District Council election vis-à-vis tribal rights.