NVCFM against call for abolition of hereditary chieftainship
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Our Correspondent
SENAPATI, Oct 17: The Naga Village Chiefs Federation of Manipur (NVCFM) has reacted strongly to the statement issued by the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) which called for abolition of hereditary chieftainship.
To set the record straight and avoid future complications, the twin word - "hereditary" and "chieftainship" as the name suggests is an inherent and inalienable right bestowed upon the rightful village chief that no other clans, internal or external forces could challenge or take away because the chief was the first to discover and settle in the new found place/home called "v village", the NVCFM said.
Calling for abolition of hereditary chieftainship would be tantamount to disputing the history of Manipur, which has long been sustained by village chiefs from various aggressors.
The demand to abolish hereditary chieftainship is a direct attack on the institute of village chief. Even Governments have no authority to usurp this legitimate ownership, it said.
Appointment of village chiefs solely depends on hereditary lineage and not with State or Central Government for it is purely hereditary.
Reckoned anointed ones, the chief was revered and respected by the villagers and in return he looked after their affairs by protecting and preserving their lands, customs, traditions and culture.
Citing hereditary chieftainship as the root cause for influx of illegal immigrants and mushrooming of villages in Manipur's hill districts holds not an iota of water, the NVCFM contended.
“No self-style individual or group has the right to break away from their original village and become a new chief. To establish a new village, certain parameters have to be fulfilled in letter and spirit”, it said.
Village chieftainship is not a new development but it has been there since ages, it said.
The federation no doubt agrees with some of the simmering issues mentioned by the MMTU, however indigenous and non-indigenous must be clearly defined.
Concerning surges in numbers of villages reportedly taking place in the State, NVCFM urged the Government to monitor the developments and act on it head on before the situation escalates for the worse.
It suggested the Government put in place strong measures to contain entry of illegal immigrants from the porous border and shun benefits to unrecognised villages in addition to exercising punitive legal action against illegal encroachers.
Through the rejoinder, NVCFM secretary SN Darthot Peter urged the MMTU to refrain from clubbing the said issue with the avalanche of villages and entry of illegal immigrants.
If it finds such inconsistency taking place in certain areas and districts of the State, as pointed out, there are proper channels to navigate and streamline the same in consultation with all the stakeholders, Darthot Peter added.
SENAPATI, Oct 17: The Naga Village Chiefs Federation of Manipur (NVCFM) has reacted strongly to the statement issued by the Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) which called for abolition of hereditary chieftainship.
To set the record straight and avoid future complications, the twin word - "hereditary" and "chieftainship" as the name suggests is an inherent and inalienable right bestowed upon the rightful village chief that no other clans, internal or external forces could challenge or take away because the chief was the first to discover and settle in the new found place/home called "v village", the NVCFM said.
Calling for abolition of hereditary chieftainship would be tantamount to disputing the history of Manipur, which has long been sustained by village chiefs from various aggressors.
The demand to abolish hereditary chieftainship is a direct attack on the institute of village chief. Even Governments have no authority to usurp this legitimate ownership, it said.
Appointment of village chiefs solely depends on hereditary lineage and not with State or Central Government for it is purely hereditary.
Reckoned anointed ones, the chief was revered and respected by the villagers and in return he looked after their affairs by protecting and preserving their lands, customs, traditions and culture.
Citing hereditary chieftainship as the root cause for influx of illegal immigrants and mushrooming of villages in Manipur's hill districts holds not an iota of water, the NVCFM contended.
“No self-style individual or group has the right to break away from their original village and become a new chief. To establish a new village, certain parameters have to be fulfilled in letter and spirit”, it said.
Village chieftainship is not a new development but it has been there since ages, it said.
The federation no doubt agrees with some of the simmering issues mentioned by the MMTU, however indigenous and non-indigenous must be clearly defined.
Concerning surges in numbers of villages reportedly taking place in the State, NVCFM urged the Government to monitor the developments and act on it head on before the situation escalates for the worse.
It suggested the Government put in place strong measures to contain entry of illegal immigrants from the porous border and shun benefits to unrecognised villages in addition to exercising punitive legal action against illegal encroachers.
Through the rejoinder, NVCFM secretary SN Darthot Peter urged the MMTU to refrain from clubbing the said issue with the avalanche of villages and entry of illegal immigrants.
If it finds such inconsistency taking place in certain areas and districts of the State, as pointed out, there are proper channels to navigate and streamline the same in consultation with all the stakeholders, Darthot Peter added.