Northeast Desk, 6th March: The Manipur government is poised to introduce legislation aimed at abolishing the practice of hereditary chieftainship in the state’s hill regions, as revealed by BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). This move is perceived as a significant step towards fostering equality and democratic governance in these areas.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh, addressing the Manipur assembly on Monday, declared the government’s intention to enforce an Act dating back to 1967, which seeks to abolish hereditary chieftainship. Despite receiving Presidential assent in June 1967, the Act has remained unimplemented, allowing chieftains to persist in establishing villages based on hereditary traditions.
Imo Singh, a BJP MLA and the son-in-law of the Chief Minister, emphasized the urgency of implementing the Act, highlighting Manipur’s unique status as the only North Eastern state where such legislation has not been enforced. He pointed to Mizoram, which enacted a similar act in 1954, as an example to follow.
The hereditary chieftainship system has faced criticism for its potential for exploitation, often resulting in nepotism and autocratic rule.
Manipur, which shares a border with Myanmar, continues to grapple with unrest a decade after violent clashes erupted between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis. The conflicts stemmed from disputes over land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies. In the aftermath of these clashes, 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs have advocated for the establishment of a separate administration distinct from Manipur.