Dimapur, April 22 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Baudi Assam, Manipur, & Nagaland (ZB-AMN) today submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur, Nongthombam Biren Singh demanding for the extension and sanction of “Tribal Sub-Plan” for the tribal people of Imphal valley, Manipur.
The Chief Minister assured to the delegation that he would look into the matter so that the grievances of the people would be addressed, said a press statement appended by ZB (AMN) President Raitu Chawang and General Secretary Dr. Gairiangmei Maringmei.
In the memorandum, the Baudi pointed out to the Chief Minister that the valley tribal populace of about 55,000 scattered in the valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching have been deprived of the various tribal facilities due “un-survey habitation in the midst of the majority section of the people.” The General Caste, the OBC and the Minority class which go in the line of religious sects, resulted in the Valley Tribal being denied tribe status, it said.
Some of these tribal communities like the Zeliangrong people of 70 villages scattered in all districts of the valley are the indigenous inhabitants since time immemorial. Likewise, there are many other tribal people/villages are also settled in Manipur valley but have neglected for centuries together, it added.
The Zeliangrong (Kabui Naga) villages seen today have made huge contributions towards the erstwhile Manipur kingdom for centuries which the chronicles of the palatial recorder acknowledged well, the memo highlighted.
Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur (ZSUM) launched a demand day with “10,000 people procession” around Imphal city on the 6 points charter of demands including the extension of Tribal Sub-Plan and the protection of Religion (by random prohibition of local wine and sacrilege manner) on October 1, 1980, it said adding that the then Chief Minister of Manipur, R.K. Dorendro Singh assured to concede to these demands of redressed.
However, it lamented that reminder memoranda submitted to the successive Governments from time to time by the ZSUM did not yield the fruition till yet. The poor valley tribal inhabitants are reduced to almost non-entity due to the absence of any proper survey and official attention of a political will on the part of the previous Governments and the hill-valley leaders and people’s representatives, it said.
Stating that the past leaders in both the hills and the valley did not take note of the long sufferings of the Valley Tribal populace despite repeated reminder, it appealed and expressed hope the New Government will “surely take up step to redress the grievances of the unfortunate section of the people in the valley.”
