Manipur MLA RK Imo has written to the Manipur Legislative Assembly members, seeking their support for amendment in the land reform law, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960, as he advocates for equal land rights for the residents of the hills and valley.
In the letter, the MLA wrote, “Manipur is a very small state, with the valley areas concentrated in less than 10 per cent of the total land of the whole state,” adding that every person is allowed to buy land in the valley and settle down here as per their wish and choice.
“However, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960, a law enacted by Parliament is only applicable and extended in the valley areas and some areas of the hill districts, thus it is not extended in the hill districts in general,” he wrote.
This literally means that any person belonging to the valley is not allowed to buy land in the hill districts of their own state, while they can buy land anywhere else in the country and even in other countries too, the MLA said, terming it “one of the most illogical, controversial and biased law ever enacted by Parliament which forbids the valley people from buying such lands, except for few areas mentioned in the Act”.
The MLA also stated that in the period between 1988-90, his late father RK Jaichandra Singh, as the chief minister, had initiated to amend this MLR and LR Act so that it is extended across the whole state. To ensure the smooth passage of the Bill, he had discussed with various village chiefs from the hill districts along with the legislators and other stakeholders to allow the MLR and LR Act, be extended in their areas, which would entitle them as legal owners of per the revenue records and bring more development and progress in their localities.
However, this failed to see the light as the majority legislators, including the valley legislators, were apprehensive to this amendment in the Act, RK Imo said, adding that his father had warned that there will be a day when most people would regret this move to block the amendment and despite being the chief minister, his father could not enforce his idea to have a settled Revenue Department across the state and prepare survey and records of rights in respect of permanently settled areas, including the hills.
It is ironic that most powerful tribal leaders, politicians, businessmen, village chiefs have created an imaginary threat perception that the valley people will go and settle there in the hill districts, the MLA said. On the other hand, these leaders have their properties in the valley area, enjoying the benefits while the poor tribal people in the hills are not able to enjoy the same as the land belongs to the chiefs, few individuals, community as per the customary law, Imo said.
He also stated that extension of this Act in the hills does not mean that the land will be taken over by the government and the valley people. It is more about determination of an individual and his rights over his property, which at this point of time is mostly enjoyed by village chiefs and other powerful leaders. It will also be a protection from illegal migrants settling in the hill districts, as the Act will protect illegal settlement as there will be proper revenue records for the whole state, the MLA stated.
“In the year-2020, as a Legislator of Sagolband, I had moved a motion against the State Government for a failure to bring a policy to have an equal land law for the hills and the valley. I had brought to the notice of the chief minister on the floor of the Manipur Assembly that the valley people cannot buy land from the tribals even in the valley areas without taking due permission from the DC concerned, which is in fact a shocking and negative law for the people in the Valley.
The chief minister had assured in the august house that due amendments would be made to ensure this was rectified, which the State Government ultimately amended it recently. The amendment now allows non-tribals to buy land from the tribals without taking permission from the DC in the valley area.
The government has taken more positive steps to allow sale/purchase of lands in the valley to only the native people living in the state, to protect all the indigenous people. A committee has been formed to oversee this new land law,” the MLA stated in the letter to his colleagues.
“It is at this juncture, perhaps the most important moment in history of the people of our state, to seek for a new law which allows equality for everyone, a land law, which is equal for all citizens of the state,” the MLA said and sought the cooperation of all the members of the August House to stand united and amend the MLR and LR Act in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
