Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Saturday that the government is there to protect all indigenous communities of the state and that no community should discriminate against or threaten smaller communities with forced assimilation.
Biren Singh was speaking on the inaugural day of the two-day-long Berkap-Reiju Festival, a cultural extravaganza to revive and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Kom Tribe at Ichum Keirap Kom Village, Kangpokpi district.
The Chief Minister stressed that the COVID pandemic had hampered the work execution of the government in the previous term, nonetheless, the government sent out the message that the government recognises and is there for every small tribe and community residing together in the State.
He said to strengthen this message, the government has constructed replicas of traditional huts of all 34–35 indigenous tribes and communities at the Sangai Ethnic Park, where they can showcase their identity through their traditions, culture, and lifestyle.
Warning against any threat of forceful assimilation of smaller and weaker communities, the Chief Minister said every indigenous tribe or community, regardless of their population or size, should be allowed to live freely without any threat.
The Chief Minister said that the government is fully ready to meet any threat to any community. Stating that the government is also working to properly represent minority tribes and communities, the Chief Minister assured his commitment to ensuring that government nominees in the Autonomous District Council are from minority tribes. He added that a budgetary allocation for only minorities has been included in the budget.
Stressing further the beauty of democracy, the Chief Minister said India’s beauty lies in its secularism, and unity in diversity, and we should encourage these characteristics.
Biren Singh also assured to consider the demands submitted by the locals, including the widening/expansion of the road, the upgrade of UJB School, and the construction of a primary health centre, among others. He further stated that the construction of a Hills Leaders’ Bhavan in Imphal will be completed soon.
Stating that Manipur received the highest number of foreign tourists in the Northeast region, the Chief Minister encouraged the locals, especially the youth, to develop their location naturally to attract more tourists.
He further encouraged the villagers to ensure that the economically weaker families were receiving the benefits of the government’s welfare schemes.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also beat the gong as part of the inaugural function of the festival. SN. Biren Singh also opened the festival with the shooting of an arrow aimed at an image of a bird hanging from a pole. Traditional dances and cultural performances were the main highlights of the inaugural function. On his arrival, the Chief Minister and the other dignitaries were accorded a warm traditional welcome by the villagers.
