IMPHAL, July 4: The New Lambulane Tribal Welfare Committee (NLWC), Imphal has threatened to shut down the tribal market Imphal, if the Tribal Affairs and Hills, and SC Development Department fail to review its appointment order of Management Committee/Tribal Market Welfare Committee within a week.
Speaking to media persons at the Tribal Market complex, SL Paosei Vaiphei, chairan NLWC, said that the NLWC is formed by different ethnic tribal communities of areas covred by New Lambulane, Imphal East and looking after the welfare of the tribal people residing within the jurisdiction of New Lambulane since the past 60 years.
Accordingly, the committee has assisted and extended maximum co-operation to the TAH&SC Dev. Dept right from the construction of the market complex and it maintenance and smooth functioning of the market complex since its inauguration, it said.
The chairman said that as a reciprocal gesture, the NLWC has been granted a privilege to a say in any appointment for the smooth functioning of the Tribal Market Complex.
Subsequently, in line with the tradition norms which have been in practice down the years, and as per the authorisation of the Director (TA&H), the NLWC had submitted list of its proposed member for smooth management of the market complex for a new term on March 19, 2015.
However, to the surprised of the committee and the general public, the department through its order (No.34/30/2011-11-TD (T/Market), dated June 24, 2015, appointed members of the management committee in total violation and suppression of set norms, he maintained.
Moreover, the NLWC chairman further alleged that some of the members it had appointed does not exist in New Lambulane area and its jurisdiction.
Claiming the appointment was done with vested interest, without even consulting NLWC, the Paosei said that it cannot accept the appointment order in any way.
It further warned that the NLWC is prepared to go to any length in collaboration with other tribal apex organisation until their demand is fulfilled including the implementation of its proposal submitted on March 19, 2015.