Highlighting the growing discontent over decades of neglect, the Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM) has submitted a memorandum to the President through the Governor of Manipur, demanding urgent constitutional and administrative reforms to empower the Hill Areas Committee (HAC).
The memorandum, issued from the General Headquarters of TYCM in Devalahland, asserts that the Presidential Order of 20th June 1972 under Article 371C has failed to serve its intended purpose and must be amended to reflect the evolving needs of Manipur’s tribal hill communities.
The youth body expressed deep concern over the HAC’s prolonged ineffectiveness, citing its lack of legislative, financial, and executive authority as the root cause of the persistent underdevelopment in hill areas.
The TYCM has called for the automatic designation of the Chairman of HAC as the authority in charge of tribal welfare in Manipur, arguing that such a measure would bring much-needed clarity, responsibility, and accountability to the governance structure.
Furthermore, the memorandum highlights the absence of a dedicated Secretariat for the HAC, demanding the establishment of a fully staffed office to enable efficient functioning.
Drawing attention to Article 164 of the Constitution, which mandates a Minister in charge of tribal welfare in states like Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, the Council questioned why Manipur lacks a similar constitutional provision.
Calling the current system outdated and disconnected from the realities of tribal life, the TYCM urged the President to take decisive steps to restructure the institutional framework for tribal welfare in the state.
The memorandum was signed by Momo Tantanga, President of TYCM, and Robert Gonmei, its General Secretary.
