In a free and frank talk with Mizoram Express’ Churachandpur team member TIMOTHY Z. ZOTE, Manipur Tribal Council president H K JOUTE says that the answers to Manipur’s integration lies in non-discriminated all round development of the hill areas.

What is Manipur Tribal Council’s stand on the District Council elections in Manipur?
Willy-nilly decision and delaying tactics played by the Government of Manipur spoils the process and the flow of the District Council elections. Had the election been held a bit earlier by at least two to three months earlier nothing of the problem we are facing now may crop up. Now that the government is firm on conducting elections by all means as no objection has come. Had objection been raised a bit earlier by ANSAM and ATSUM, the crisis could have been avoided.

On ANSAM and ATSUM demand for 6th Scheduled status in the hills?
By holding election and having MDC elected I though the members elected would try and fight for the Act (6th Scheduled status). But the way the District Council election is pulled shows seeds of fissiparous tendencies even at the start. I find now that my expectations are going to be a cry for the moon. Now, ANSAM and ATSUM demand for 6th Scheduled Status is more relevant, more so as to protect and uplift the Hill Tribal people against continuous deprivation.

Some organisations say that if there are 6th Scheduled District Councils it will mark the beginning of disintegration of Manipur. What’s your take on this?
We all know very well, even people with whom we never dwell together and in far off places and regions as far as or even farther than two to 3000 km away have understood that we the tribal people in North East India need attention and special care. The sad part is people with whom we’re living do not want to understand our needs.

Knowing the conditions of tribals living in Assam at the start of the functioning of Indian Constitution Sixth scheduled District council provisions was created to protect them. However, the tribals in all north eastern states are still not happy as the state governments do not want to share powers. For instance at one point of time Manipur was at least 20 to 30 years ahead of Mizoram in terms of development but now it’s the reverse. Why this? It’s because successive Manipur governments have paid no heed to the development of the hills. Jiri-Tipaimukh Road has not been even half done and Barak Bridge at Tipaimukh to be constructed 10 years ago is still not built. These are only just few examples.

In such position can we say that we can nicely maintain Manipur integrity? Manipur’s territorial integrity does not depend on the existence or absence of the Sixth Scheduled District Councils. Manipur as a state will remain intact only if the happiness and the satisfaction of the people are assured by the State government.

What is your view on the proposed visit of Shri Th. Muivah to his birth place, Somdal, Ukhrul district?
As I am not a man in the same position as Shri Th. Muivah is, I think it will be very difficult to give the true answer. But if I put myself in his shoes I shall be very unhappy and annoyed.

Even than I feel the objections made by some organizations against the entry of Shri Muivah into Manipur is politically understandable beyond which I think it is too much. I think it is like objection made to the introduction of the 6th Scheduled Districts.

I would like to ask Manipur government this: How many times the government has sincerely acted in the interests of the hill people? Threatening one another will never pull us all together but will only lead towards disintegration. To get the cooperation of the people Ibobi government must win back the wounded hearts rather than using of force.

What alternative solution do you propose for Economic Blockades?
I don’t remember the exact years when there was blockade as we are facing now for more than a month and even before this it was extremely difficult. Just after cessation of blockade we met Chief Minister Ibobi Singh at his office chambers where he said: “The Road through which all things required are taken in and exported are passing through Naga inhabited areas and in the event of blockade made in these lines nothing of our requirements can be imported and exported ; and as such Iiri-Tipaimukh Road recorded as been in existence but not really passing through can be made passing through with improvement of NH 150 NH passing through Tipaimukh Sub-division and even when blockade is imposed in these two lines-39 and 53NH we can take in whatever commodities required from Silchar through Jiribam.” But, where is all that now?

He also stated that: “It is true adding that the government of Manipur survey road line from Bishnupur to Jiribam which will be only 90km.” In the case of the new Road surveyed and proposed I don’t know what has been done so far. I think it is not yet finished and as for Jiri – Tipaimukh Road nothing has been done so far, the Road is not even half completed and the bridge over the Barak River over Tuivai river is still not in existence. Had Jiri-Tipaimukh Road been constructed and completed and this bridge over the Tuivai River been made, the blockade by Naga students would not make much difference.

Now, we are forced to conclude that even when it is an important matter (survival) of the state, the government is still reluctant to develop NH 150 and Jiri-Tipaimukh Road. This is happening because of petty politics and some ‘unwilling ears’ in the Manipur cabinet.

Source: Mizoram Express

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