Hmar body demands district in Manipur

The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Churachandpur: Adding to the headache of the Govt that is cornered by the another spate of Nagas economic blockade and a sense of denial by other tribal bodies, the Hmars, a dominant tribe of Tipaimukh where the multi-crore Tipaimukh dam is set to developed now wants a separate district under the provisions of the sixth schedule in the Indian Constitution.

‘We were aware that this (demand for sixth schedule) is a state subject, but hopeful of its realisation with Tipaimukh dam as the bargaining chip,’ Chawngthanglien, the Chairman of Tipaimukh district demand committee said today.

Under the slogan ‘No safe guard, no dam’ the committee said there is an urgent need to solve the existing plights and grievances being faced by the Hmars.

The demand for creation of autonomous district under sixth schedule was meant for political safeguard and socio-economic security to the people affected by Tipaimukh dam, it added.

The area surrounding Tipaimukh is the ancestral land of the Hmars, which was listed as schedule tribe in the constitution and entitled to enjoy political safeguards. The demand for Hmar district in Manipur is not new. The Hmar District Demand Committee (HDDC) in the early 90s had already submitted several memoranda to the Govt of India.

There is apprehension that without that safeguard the local people will eventually be deprived of their ancestral land and properties.

Otherwise, the chances of public unrest and political instability are huge, said the committee.

Thirty polling stations under Tipaimukh sub-divisions, seventeen in Thanlon, six in Henglep and eight in Jiribam were included in the map the committee has presented before the media.

When asked the reason for demand for the sixth schedule and a full fledge district for Tipaimukh, the committee said they were just initiating issue.

On their course of action to realise the demand, ‘it will be non-violent’ for now said the committee’s chairman Chawngthahlei.