Tribal women’s groups protested in New Delhi, seeking “separate administration” for the hilly districts of Manipur to “ensure peace, development, and a balance of power.”
Demanding a “separate administration” for the hilly districts of the violence-hit Manipur, groups of tribal women from the northeastern state staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on Thursday. The protesters stated that a separate administration headed by tribals is the “only solution” to ensure peace, prosperity and balance of power for the tribal community in the region.
“We gathered here in solidarity with the violence-hit people. We hope violence shall end as soon as possible. As Indian citizens, we have the right to seek a separate administration. We want the tribal community people to govern us,” a spokesperson for the tribal women’s group, Mercy, said.
She also urged the central government to ensure that “all the relief materials and efforts shall reach the needy in hilly tribal areas too.”
“Those who live in the hilly areas of Manipur do not have direct access to the airport, where most of the relief materials are being sent,” she said.
Another spokesperson of the tribal group, Grace, also said, “A separate administration will help improve the situation, and peace will prevail in the valley and the hills.”
She added that the community has the “right to demand representation” under the ambit of the Constitution of India.
Meanwhile, 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs from Manipur wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the creation of posts similar to the chief secretary and director-general of police (DGP). The MLAs said that these posts would ensure the “efficient administration” of the five hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Tengnoupal, and Pherzawl.
The MLAs argued that these posts were necessary for the “efficient administration” of areas inhabited by the tribal community, which had become completely cut off from the capital, Imphal, due to the ongoing conflict.
