Manipur, April 4: Ahead of the visit of Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to Jiribam, the Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee (ITAC) has called for a political settlement under the Sixth Schedule for Pherzawl district and tribal areas of Jiribam, raising concerns over the purpose of the outreach.
In a statement issued on April 3, the committee, representing Pherzawl and Jiribam districts, questioned the focus of the Chief Minister’s visit, which is aimed at interacting with internally displaced persons affected by recent ethnic violence. ITAC asserted that the situation cannot be resolved through compensation and rehabilitation measures alone.
The organisation emphasised that a lasting solution requires addressing the political rights and land-related concerns of tribal communities in the region. It stated that without a structured political framework, temporary relief efforts would fail to tackle the root causes of the conflict.
Among its key demands, ITAC called for the implementation of a Sixth Schedule-based political arrangement, removal of checkpoints and restrictions along the Tuiruong (Barak) River to ensure free movement, and a comprehensive resettlement and compensation package linked with broader political and economic measures.
The committee also urged authorities to restore unhindered connectivity between Pherzawl district and Assam, noting that movement restrictions along key routes have adversely affected livelihoods in tribal areas.
While expressing willingness for dialogue, ITAC appealed to groups and individuals not to cooperate with the Chief Minister’s visit until tangible progress is made on its demands. The development comes as the state government steps up efforts to restore peace and rebuild trust in violence-affected regions.
