IMPHAL, April 24: The Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur have submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohon Singh today urging him to intervene and direct the Manipur Governmentto diffuse the present stalemate between the state government and the tribals of six district on the imposition of district Council Act (Hill Areas) of 2008. The official memorandum to Prime Minister of India which was jointly signed by the president of the FATYCM, Mayoshang Ningshen and its information secretary S Lethang Haokip, mentioned that in order to ameliorate the socioeconomic development of the tribals of Manipur, the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 was given to the tribal areas of Manipur, which cover an areas of 20,0085 Sq. Kms and a population comprising all 32 scheduled tribes.
However, it is generally felt that in the absence of adequate administrative and financial powers, the District Council Act, 1971 had not served as effective instruments of socioeconomic development of Manipur Hill areas and its tribal population.
The memorandum further mentioned that consequently there have been protest against the continuance of the state Act and elections to the district Councils have not been held since 1993.
There has been consistent demand that the Hill Areas of Manipur should be brought under the purview of the Sixth Scheduled of the Indian Constitution to provide administrative autonomy and to catalyze development.
This Act (Amended Acts 2008) is not acceptable to the Hills people for they consider that political freedom and individual liberty are more essential than any kind of paternalism.
The memorandum also further mentioned that, Manipur is burning for all to see, and the delay is solving this issue shall tells on the peace and tranquility of this part of the country. And the club requested that to issue directives to revoke, recall cancel of the District Council Acts, 2008 of Manipur to ease the situation because the tribals never seek to take vengeance by wholesale mass reprisals, the memorandum of the club added.
