The Kuki Students’ Organisation General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) has issued a strong condemnation of recent comments made by Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, a Member of Parliament representing the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, concerning the relevance and existence of the Hill Areas Committee within the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The KSO characterized the remarks as “surprising and disappointing,” suggesting they either indicate a misunderstanding of the constitutional framework governing the hill areas or an attempt to undermine established protections for indigenous tribal communities.
The Hill Areas Committee was established under Article 371C of the Indian Constitution to safeguard the political, administrative, and land rights of tribal communities residing in Manipur’s hill districts. The KSO underscored that the constitutional protections for tribal communities in Northeast India are part of a comprehensive framework acknowledging the region’s distinct historical and social realities. It referenced additional provisions, including Article 371A for Nagaland, Article 371G for Mizoram, and Article 371B alongside Article 244A, which relate to tribal governance in Assam, all demonstrating India’s commitment to safeguarding the identity, land, and governance of indigenous communities.
The statement clarified that when Manipur became a full-fledged state in 1972, the inclusion of Article 371C was critical, as land matters fall under the State List. The KSO warned that without constitutional safeguards, tribal land in hill regions may become exposed to legislative decisions from majority groups. Furthermore, it highlighted that land ownership and governance in these districts have been historically managed through customary tribal institutions, a system crucial to protecting tribal identity, culture, and livelihood.
The KSO asserted that the Hill Areas Committee is essential to ensure that laws affecting hill districts, particularly regarding land and forests, cannot be enacted without the consent of elected representatives from Scheduled Tribe communities. They warned that undermining the committee raises serious concerns about intentions, emphasizing that this matter transcends individual communities and impacts all indigenous tribal groups in the hill districts. In a tense communal landscape, they deemed it irresponsible for public figures to question constitutional safeguards designed to uphold tribal interests, as such remarks could erode trust and destabilize relations among communities in Manipur.
The KSO-GHQ has called on Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and the Indian National Congress to provide an immediate clarification regarding their stance on constitutional protections for hill areas, customary land ownership of tribal communities, and the potential implications of extending Scheduled Tribe status to non-recognized tribal groups within Manipur. They reaffirmed that the constitutional protections for the ancestral land, identity, and governance systems of indigenous peoples are inherent rights that must be maintained, stating, “The rights of indigenous tribal communities will be defended with unity, vigilance, and unwavering resolve.”
