Imphal: The celebration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples recently concluded in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh. Organized by the Arunachal Indigenous People’s Forum under the aegis of the North East Indigenous People’s Forum (NEIPF), the event highlighted the distribution of prizes for an Essay Writing Competition on the topic, “The Role of Youth in Nagaland’s Juli R. Aye Wins First Prize in North East Essay Writing Competition
Juli R. Aye from Nagaland won the First Prize, while Marjing Mayanglambam from Manipur secured the Second Prize. Phenya Wangsu of Arunachal Pradesh and Pankita Hazarika of Assam shared the Third Prize. The winners received cash prizes of Rs 40,000, Rs 30,000, and Rs 20,000 for First, Second, and Third places, respectively, along with a Citation Certificate and a Trophy. Additionally, ten consolation prizes of Rs 5,000 each, accompanied by a citation and a trophy, were also announced, with distribution to be managed by the NEIPF State Chapters.
As per tradition, the celebration began with the hoisting of the UN, NEIPF, and AIPF flags.
During the event, Anup Chetia announced that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will be hosted in Manipur next year. He also revealed that the Essay Writing Competition will become an annual feature of the NEIPF.
“The North East Indigenous People’s Forum was established to safeguard the future generations of indigenous peoples in the region, who are now marginalized in their own land due to the gradual influx of people from different parts of the country and foreign nations. A mechanism must be in place to protect the indigenous peoples of the Northeast,” said Anup Chetia.
He also emphasized that changes in the demographic profiles of the northeastern states pose a threat to the indigenous peoples, and their political and economic rights are under threat.
The Chief Guest of the occasion, MLA Toko Tatung, highlighted the importance of empowering the youth of the region to preserve indigenous cultural values and protect traditional ways of life. “Our younger generation can excel in any field, and it is the society’s responsibility to guide them in the right direction,” Toko Tatung remarked.
In his keynote address, NEIPF Secretary General N. Ibungochoubi stressed the urgent need for the formation of the North East Indigenous People’s Forum, urging the youth to take an active role in preserving and promoting indigenous culture. “The awareness shown by the youth, as reflected in the essays submitted for the competition, is overwhelming. Providing a platform and fostering an environment for youth interaction is a priority for the NEIPF,” he stated.
Earlier, during the Executive Meeting of the North East Indigenous People’s Forum, it was resolved that the Essay Writing Competition would become an annual event of the forum, and that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples would be hosted in Manipur next year.
