Indigenous Tribals resolve to oppose all forms of land survey

The people of Churachandpur, under the aegis of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), resolved to oppose all forms of land survey in the district.

The resolution was adopted during the one-day "Public Consultative Meeting" on Reserved Forest/Protected Forest/Wetland/Wildlife Sanctuary, held at Young Paite Association Hall, Hiangtam Lamka, Churachandpur, on Wednesday.

The meeting unanimously agreed that all forms of survey in Tribal lands be opposed and objected at any cost by all groups and organisations as there were procedural lapses; therefore, the survey amounts to illegal and unconstitutional. The peoples' representatives .i.e. elected MLAs from the district should also take a common stand against the ongoing survey or supposed to take place the survey on PF/RF/wetland preservation/wildlife sanctuary in the tribal areas and the plan to complete cancellation of Pattas/Jabamandis on 30th April 2023 by the Government, if they all represent the public. They are expected to declare their stand within 7 days from the date of the Public-Consultative meeting, i.e., March 19, 2023.

The meeting also resolved to move the issues legally to the court for justice and unanimously resolved to support ITLF in any issues taken up in future. The August gathering in the strongest term rejected the office Memorandum dated 7th November, 2022 by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) & HoFF, which cancelled the Orders issued by ASOs/FSOs setting aside/excluding forest lands from all other Protected Forests of the State, and urged the same be nullified.

It may be noted that the Forest Department and Revenue department have been carrying out joint surveys in Churachandpur - Khoupum Protected Forest bypassing the knowledge of village chiefs and Village Authority which was met by stiff opposition from the KSO Churachandpur and the ZSF. Thereafter, the several village chiefs alongwith Churachandpur AC MLA LM Khaute met the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in his chamber and raised their objections on the joint-survey. The CM reportedly told them that survey would be put on hold. The joint Kuki CSOs of the district had also submitted their objection against the joint survey.

The public consultative meeting was attended by various CSOs leaders like the RPZI, KSO Churachandpur, Zomi Students' Federation, Hmar Students' Association (HSA), All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU), Women's Union leaders, Church leaders and tribe based organisation leaders and Chief Associations.