Skip to content Skip to navigation

NGO concerns on indigenous peoples rights

Imphal: The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRA) extends warm greetings to all the indigenous peoples in Manipur and beyond on World's Indigenous Peoples Day on 9th August 2020. At the foremost, CRA expresses our concern with the increased case of infection of indigenous peoples to Covid 19 infection, abetted by limitations in health infrastructure and inadequate testing facilities in Manipur. The increased loss of lives due to denial of urgent medical needs of non-Covid patients by medical establishments in Manipur on the pretext of following Covid 19 regulations is a matter of serious concern. 

CRA also expresses our concern with the aggressive pursuance of extractive industries, unsustainable energy projects and large infrastructure projects under India's Act East Policy. Several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed for dam building, oil exploration, mining, agribusiness etc in Manipur. The Jubilant Energy and Oil India Limited commenced oil and gas exploration works in the year 2012 and 2017 without peoples' consent in Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Imphal West Districts etc. The oil companies failed to recognize indigenous peoples' rights over their land and resources. 

Similarly, the Government signed MoUs with mining companies to commence Chromium and Limestone mining in Manipur without the consultation and consent of indigenous communities and without conducting impact assessments. The Government of Manipur signed MoUs with M/s Sarvesh Refractories Pvt. Ltd, M/s Rourkela Minerals Pvt. Ltd, 14/s Gulf Natural Resources, M/s Balassore Alloys Ltd etc in 2017 without informing and discussing all implications of mining in Manipur. 

The building of large dams continues to be pursued despite the controversies, adverse impacts, failure, and wastage of public resources by large dams in Manipur. The Government notified expression of interest for building large dams despite the devastations of Mapithel dam and Loktak project. The 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam, 190 MW Pabram, bang dam etc will destroy indigenous peoples' livelihood sources. 

The dilution of policies to facilitate India's neoliberal development agenda abetted with financing by the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency etc is a matter of urgent concern that will undermine indigenous peoples human rights and entrap Manipur into debt. The Draft Forest Policy 2018, amendment of Indian Forest Act, 1927 in 2019 will alienate communities from the traditional forest. The Draft Environment Impact Assessment notification 2020 will intensify pursuance of extractive industries etc without Environment Impact Assessments. 
The Government of Manipur should withdraw MoUs and all licenses granted to oil companies, mining companies, dam building companies etc without recognizing peoples self-determined rights over their land and without their consent. The production sharing contract and petroleum exploration licences to oil companies should be withdrawn. All MoUs signed for mining and to build dams should be revoked. 

The Government should urgently ensure the right to health of all in Manipur during the Pandemic and accord primacy in improving health care and facilities. Development aggression pursued with militarization should not be pursued in Manipur. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, should be repealed. The government must uphold the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 and recognize indigenous peoples' rights to self-determination over their land & resources and their right to free prior and informed consent before development interventions on their land. 4 44-46 4.71AbetrIM/ Preskint Cents far alma& Advocacy 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Narrow escape for Chirang

8 Mar 2015 - 8:08pm | AT News
Chirang district had a narrow escape from a powerful explosion when security forces defused Improvised Explosive Device on Sunday.Police told Assam Times that Red Horns Division troops carried out...

NRHM scam at Golaghat, one suspended

30 Jul 2011 - 4:13am | Ritupallab Saikia
The Commissioner to the Department of Health, Govt of Assam vide its letter HLA/641/2011/B/8 dt 28-07-11, today suspended Dr. Tralokya Saikia, Chief Health and Medical Officer(Family Planning) of...

Gogoi holds crucial meet

18 Jun 2014 - 9:45pm | AT News
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi held a special round of talks with four ministers and MLAs hours after he arrived in Guwahati on Wednesday. The ministers and MLAs are tightlipped on the crucial meeting...

Journalist attack condemns

22 Mar 2019 - 9:40pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Kokrajhar: Various organisations, including Assam minister for Social welfare Pramila Rani Brahma, BTAD Journalists Association ,All Bodo Students Union, Kokrajhar Press Club, Kokrajhar district...

Other Contents by Author

Preparing of the comprehensive memorandum by the sub-committee of different political parties on the issue concerning the Indo-Naga peace talks is nearing completion, its chairman said on Friday. Addressing media at his chamber, new Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister and chairman of the sub-committee Y Joykumar informed that the memorandum will be first submitted to the Chief Minister in two-three days. “Then it will be presented before the next meeting of all political parties. If approval is given on the memorandum by the meeting, it will be finally submitted to the Centre,” Joykumar said. He said the memorandum mainly touches on no compromise on the question of territorial...
 The banned CorCom (Coordinating Committee), an umbrella group of six militant organisations, has boycotted the visit by President Ram Nath Kovin to Manipur on November 21, announcing a 27-hour state wide general strike.  Kovin is scheduled to open the upcoming 10-day long Sangai Festival at Hapta Kangjeibung here on November 21 on the invitation of the Manipur government.  A CorCom statement on Thursday described Ram Nath Kovin as the head of the Indian state which it said has colonised the state of Manipur where the security forces have been committing serious human rights violations.  However, the outfit’s statement said emergency services...
The Congress in BJP-ruled Manipur today led nine other political parties in observing Black Day on note ban anniversary decrying the NDA government’s move which they said still has serious impact on the country’s economy and the poor.   INC, RSP, AIFB, BSP, CPI, NCP, AAP, CPI-M, AITC and JD-S also staged a huge protest rally passing through important roads of Imphal city, as part of the observation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this day, November 8, 2016 announced demonitisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes then in circulation. The rally kicked off from Congress Bhawan and culminated at Iboyaima Shanglen, Palace Compound where a meeting was held. Speakers at the meet said the...
 The All India Students Federation (AISF) on Sunday threatened that all unrecognised schools currently running in Manipur will soon be closed down. “The federation is all-prepared to shut down all such schools across the state,” AISF state secretary Khundrakpam Rameshwor announced during a press meet at the federation office here. The left-wing student union leader also noted that four attached-private schools have been found functioning without proper infrastructure in Imphal East and Imphal West and drew the attention of the state government in initiating action against these institutes. Rameshwor warned of going over the state-run schools allowing attachment to such...
With an aim to encourage making good movies in Manipur, the Critic Association Manipur (CAM) is all set to organise a 5-day long Canadian film screening session at Usha Hall, Imphal.  Nearly 20 different Canadian movies will be screened during the session to be held on November 13-17, CAM chairperson Laimayum Surjakanta Sharma told a press meet at Usha Hall on Thursday.  “We’ve got nearly 20 Canadian movies now. Movies from other countries will also be screened in future,” Surjakanta said.  Flanked by CAM convenor Salam Rajen, Surjakanta said the event is aimed at making good films in Manipur and that more movies from across the globe will be screened in next...
Most parts of Imphal and its surrounding areas witnessed water logging due to continuous rainfall in the past 24 hours.  The state witnessed incessant rainfall throughout Monday giving trouble to people across the state. Rain began to lash the state since late last afternoon. Due to continuous rainfall, there is water logging in many areas of Imphal and other parts of the state.    Rain has left paddy farmers tense as harvesting of the crop is around the corner.  More or less the entire region of Northeast India has been witnessing dry conditions since past few days, however now the weathermen expect rain to increase significantly over NMMT (Nagaland,...
 Any peace deal between the Centre and NSCN (IM) that affects the sentiments of the people of Manipur will be opposed “tooth and nail,” the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has reiterated. “We’ve the sneaking suspicion that the Government of India may make another move similar to the ‘Framework Agreement’ which was a furtive step,” UCM president Johnson Elangbam said a press meet at committee office, Lamphel here on Monday. He said the Centre and NSCN (IM) have been conducting all moves to end the over six decades old Naga political issue and warned of another June 18 Uprising in Manipur in case the Government of India makes any attempt to hurt the state’s interests in...
The Dalai Lama here on Wednesday stressed on peaceful solution for every problem and expressed his belief that world peace begins with inner peace. The Tibetan spiritual leader was in the Manipur capital city in his maiden visit to the state. A grand reception function “Peace and Harmony” was organised by the state government to honour the Dalai Lama who arrived here on Tuesday in a two-day visit to the north-eastern state. At the event, he noted that the European countries ultimately grouped together to form the European Union after they learnt that nothing comes from war. The Dalai Lama stated that violence and conflict are pointless because bring no any good result at all. Peaceful...
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama embarked on his maiden visit to Manipur on Tuesday.  The Dalai Lama was accorded a warm welcome by the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Assembly Speaker Y Khemchand Singh at the Imphal International Airport.  Upon his arrival in the capital city on a two-day visit to the state, he went straight to Raj Bhavan here to meet Governor Dr Najma Heptulla. The state government has declared him a state guest. The Manipur government will organize a grand reception ceremony in honour of the Dalai Lama tomorrow at City Convention Centre, Imphal located at Palace Compound, officials informed. His Manipur trip comes on the invitation...
Assam Rifles seized 12,125 pieces of WY tablets worth around Rs 60.62 lakh in the market and arrested five suspected drug peddlers in two separate incidents at Khudengthabi security check post on Imphal-Moreh sector of NH-102 on Monday. In the first incident, the 12 Assam Rifles of 26 Sect Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) apprehended four individuals with 3000 pieces of WY tablets at Permanent Vehicle Check Post (PVCP), Khudengthabi of Tengnoupal distict, according to a statement released by PRO of IGAR (S), Imphal.   At around 9:30 am, one blue colour ‘Maruti A Star' vehicle bearing registration No DL 8C P 3710 moving from Moreh to Imphal was...