1. The Manipur government is preparing to implement the law to abolish hereditary chieftainship in hill regions, as revealed by BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh.
2. Chief Minister N Biren Singh announces the decision to enforce a 1967 Act aimed at ending hereditary chieftainship during the Manipur assembly session.
3. Move seen as a step towards fostering equality and democratic governance in the state’s hill areas.
Imphal, March 06: The Manipur government is poised to implement a law aimed at ending hereditary chieftainship in the state’s hill regions, according to BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced the government’s decision to enforce a 1967 Act aimed at abolishing hereditary chieftainship during a session in the Manipur assembly.
The Act, which received Presidential assent in June 1967, has yet to be enforced, allowing chieftains to continue establishing villages based on hereditary practices.
Imo Singh, a BJP MLA and son-in-law of the Chief Minister, emphasized the importance of implementing the Act, citing Manipur as the only North Eastern state where it remains unenforced. He noted that Mizoram implemented a similar act in 1954.
The hereditary chieftainship system has faced criticism for its potential for exploitation, often resulting in nepotism and autocratic rule.
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Manipur, bordering Myanmar, continues to grapple with unrest following violent clashes between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis over land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies.
In the wake of these clashes, 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs have advocated for a separate administration to be established outside of Manipur.
