In an effort to bring about democratic governance and equality in the State’s hill regions, the Manipur Government is set to enforce a law that will put an end to the practice of hereditary chieftainship, stated BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh on X.
The Manipur Government will enforce an Act from 1967 aimed at abolishing hereditary chieftainship, announced Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the State Assembly.
The Act, which received Presidential assent in June 1967, has not yet been implemented, permitting chieftains to continue establishing villages based on hereditary practices.
Imo Singh, the son-in-law of the Chief Minister and a BJP MLA, pointed out towards the need for the implementation of the Act in view of Manipur being the only Northeastern State where it has not been enforced. Mizoram implemented a similar act in 1954.
The practice of hereditary chieftainship system got backlash for its potentially exploitative nature, often leading to autocracy and nepotism.
Manipur, which borders Myanmar, is still suffering the consequences of unrest for the last 10 months following violent clashes between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis over land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies.
