IMPHAL, Sept 13: Maring community of Manipur under the auspices of Maring Uparap Assembly has set September 25 as deadline for the state government to review the recommendation of the Hill Area Committee (HAC) vis-à-vis the recommendation for recognition of `Khoibu village` as a new tribe of Manipur.
Maring Uparap Assembly, the apex body of Maring tribe, along with Maring Students’ Union (MSU) and Maring Napuiya Yinglam (MNY), has stated through a joint press release that the deadline for the review of the HAC recommendation has been extended from August 23 to September 25.
The Manipur government constituted an expert committee to examine the prospect for inclusion of Khoibu in the list of recommendation for recognition of Scheduled Tribe. The committee, headed by Dr H Kamkhenthang, joint director (research), submitted its report in October 16, 2002. Dr W Nabakumar, associate professor of Manipur University’s Anthropology department and Dr P Binodini Devi, Lecturer in Anthropology, DM College of Science are other members of the expert committee.
“The committee unfortunately relied on the office bearers of Khoibu (Uipo) Maring Assembly for all verbal information on the Khoibu,” said Maring Uparap Assembly (MUA) and has summoned members of the expert committee “to come and clarify without fail about the report to the branch office of the MUA on September 14 at 10 am sharp.”
“The deadline for the review of the HAC recommendation which was set for August 23 has been relaxed until September 25 because of the assurance given by the chief minister of Manipur to the leaders of the Maring community,” said the MUA press statement signed by its president Th. Angdun.
The Maring apex body however warned that if the state government remains indifferent even after the expiry of the deadline of September 25, “we the Maring people will be compelled to take up stern action.”
The concerned authority should take full responsibility of the outcome if the charter of demands of the memorandum submitted to the chief minister is not fulfilled under the condition and deadline expressed thereto, asserted the Maring assembly.
Meanwhile, a public meeting of the Maring tribe on August 30 and a joint meeting subsequently of MUA, MNY, MSU and MLS have resolved to boycott legislator from Tengnoupal assembly constituency W Morung Makunga.