IMPHAL, Feb 15 NNN: Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) in its executive meeting today in Churachandpur has seriously deliberated the issues and problems of the hill districts and its people. The meeting also castigate the state government of Manipur for its indifferent attitude towards the \u2018genuine and reasonable demands\u2019 of COPTAM. After a several hours deliberation, COPTAM has taken five resolutions.
\nThe first resolution has been on the demand made by a valley-based Committee for inclusion of Meiteis in the Sheduled Tribe (ST) list . \u201cSince the demand is unreasonable and illogical, COPTAM would staunchly oppose the demand for the inclusion of the Meiteis in the ST list. It is nothing but an overt attempt to expand the settlement of valley people in the hill areas of Manipur,\u201d COPTAM stated.
\nThe meeting demanded that the state government rectifies the lapses on its part by correcting the over- lapping villages in the Panchayat election at the earliest time. The meeting also resolved that all land records should be transferred to the respective district at the earliest time.
\nThe meeting also resolved that hill villages should not be included or incorporated in the valley districts in the name of police district boundary or on security reasons.
\n\u201cRegarding those people who had contested or involved in last year\u2019s Panchayat elections, COPTAM executive resolved that since the repeated date-lines given to them are being neglected by those involved, they are taken as anti-tribal people and COPTAM will no longer take responsibility over these persons for failing to comply with COPTAM\u2019s notification,\u201d it added.
\nState government should look into the demands of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and also empower the ADCs at the earliest. \u201c As per the laws and acts of the ADC, it is the only institution of the tribal or hill people for the development and protection of tribal people\u2019s lands and their rights,\u201d COPTAM noted.<\/p>\n\n