Close

Tribal Affairs and Hills

Profile:

The Tribal Affairs and Hills ,Department , Manipur works on a three dimensional approach viz. Protection of Scheduled Tribe people from atrocities through the provisions made under the Protection of Civil Rights Act,1955 and the Scheduled Castes & scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,1989,  Promotion of socio-economic condition of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) people through  implementation of various developmental  programmes and Preservation of rich cultural heritage of the ST people through systematic collection, documentation and preservation through the Tribal Research Institute.

The Department is headed by the Commissioner who is assisted by 2(two) Joint  Secretaries,1 (one) Deputy Secretary  and 1(one) Under Secretary at the Secretariat level. At the Directorate level, the Director  is assisted by one Joint Director , three Deputy Directors and four Assistant Directors. In the field of Engineering / technical works, the Director is assisted  by one Executive Engineer, three Assistant Engineers and twelve Section Officers.

The sources of funding for taking up development & welfare activities of the Department are Normal State Plan, Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan, Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constituition, Centrally Sponsored Schemes on 100% , 90:10 and 50:50 funding of the Central Government and the State Government, Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and North Eastern Council (NEC).

In view of strengthening the Autonomous District Councils, the Department has devolved certain functions and powers to the Councils , and to streamline the activities of the ADCs, the  Department has been re-structured by adding the Hills Administration as one of the functions of Department.

Further, as per decision taken by the Cabinet, the affairs related to Scheduled Castes have been transferred to the Other Backward Classes & Scheduled Castes Department , Manipur. Accordingly, the Department  is renamed as the Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, Manipur. Schemes/Programmes for the development & welfare of Scheduled Caste people  from the financial year, 2017-2018 will be implemented by the Other Backward Classes & Scheduled Castes Department, Manipur.

As part of devolution of  functions, 50% of fund under certain developmental schemes/ programmes are devolved to the ADCs for implementation at the District Council level. Implementation of the remaining  50% of the fund is implemented by the Department on the recommendation of  the State level Screening Committees. Necessary guidelines  have been issued and it is expected that the above reforms would ensure more inclusive development of the poor Scheduled Tribes people of the State.

The Department is considering adoption of  the recommendation of  the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes wherein  it was suggested to pass an Act in line with the Andhra Pradesh SCCP and TSP (Planning, Allocation & Utilization of Financial Resources) Act,2013 mandating  allocation of funds  for STs & SCs proportionate to their population in the annual Budget and its proper utilization through establishment of  a statutory authority to design and finalize welfare schemes meant for the Scheduled  Tribe & Scheduled Caste people, mechanism for monitoring of the utilization of funds and accountability of the concerned government authority. The matter is under active consideration of the Government.

At present , the TRI is engaged in Publication of monographs, booklets, documentation of tribal culture, organizing of Training/ seminars & workshops on various matters related to the tribal people apart from maintaining a Museum and  a Library . The Tribal Research Institute is also organizing State Level Tribal festival annually wherein all the Tribal communities of the state  both from the Hill and the Valley Districts are participating.

Under the Grant of Article 275(I) of the Constituition , the Department has constructed 3(three)nos. of the Eklavya Model Residential School one each at i) Tamenglong District Head Quarter , ii) Moreh Ward no.1,Chandel District and iii) Gamnom Sapermaina,Sadar Hills , Kangpokpi District. As per guidelines of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India, the Department has constituted the Board of Governors for proper functioning of these three residential schools at the State Level. School Management   Committees at the District level chaired by the concerned Deputy Commissioners have also been constituted for proper running of these Residential Schools. All these 3 schools were started functioning  from the academic session 2014-2015. With the functioning of all these 3(three) EMRSs, the M/o Tribal Affairs, Govt.of India has released   funds for establishment  of 2(two) more EMRS in the State one each in Churachandpur & Ukhrul District of Manipur.

In accordance with the emphasis laid down by the M/o Tribal Affairs, the Department has taken up skill development for the S.T youths. The Department in collaboration with the JETTWINGS, Guwahati a well known skill development training provider of the North East region recognized by the Govt. of India, provided training in trades such as Aviation and Hospitality & Tourism. Out of 111 tribal youths selected and sent to Guwahati for skill development training, 103 trainees have successfully completed the courses and have been secured placement (16 trainees under Aviation and remaining  87 trainees in Hospitality & Tourism) in prestigious brands across India and abroad. 8(eight) trainees opted out of placement on personal ground like higher studies etc. The Department will continue such and other skill development  programme for the ST youths of the State.

Following are the major achievements of the Department during the period under report.

Family oriented income generating programmes:  

During the year, 2016-2017, the Department covered 428 nos. of S.T. families under income generating programmes.

Welfare Programmes:

  1. 2116 nos. of S.T. families were assisted with GCI sheets for roofing of their dwelling houses during the year under report.
  2. 140 nos. of tribal women societies/organizations were assisted financially for carrying out various activities during the year under report.
  3. 2666 nos. of water storage tanks were distributed to the S.T. families during the year under report.
  4. 30873 S.T. and 6002 S.C. students were awarded with Post Matric Scholarship during 2016-2017.
  5. 27340 S.T. students were awarded with Pre-Matric Scholarship during the year, 2016-2017.
  6. 1131 nos. of tribal patients were assisted financially for their medical treatment.
  7. Under the Skill Development Programme, the Department is having a target to train 200 nos.of S.T. and 18 nos. of  C. youths in various trades.
  8. 3 (three) nos. of Health Centres one each at  Thingpuikuol village, Churachandpur District, Impa village , Tamenglong District & Chamu village , Ukhrul District were established during 2014-15. Medical personnel like one  Doctor, two ANM, one GNM, one Pharmacist and one Gr. IV have been engaged by outsourcing the services in each of these health centres  along with providing of one Ambulance and medicines for reaching out to the ailing tribal patients. These three Health centres were continued during 2016-17.
  9. 30 nos. of First Aid Centers were opened during 2014-15 by the Autonomous District Councils for providing first aid to the tribal patients. Another  30 nos. of First Aid Centers will be opened during 2016-17.

Infrastructure development programmes:

Following infrastructure development programmes were taken up in the hill areas  of the State:

  1. Construction / improvement of inter village roads , Bridge & Culverts.
  2. Construction of Barrack type quarters for the Primary teachers under Autonomous District Councils.
  3. Construction of Sub-Divisional level tribal Market complex at Khompum(Tamenglong District),Jangnomphai(Chandel District), Kangvai(Churachandpur District),Chingai(Ukhrul District),Phaibung Khullen(Senapati District)(NEC).
  4. Construction  / Upgradation of ST  hostel buildings.
  5. Construction of Community halls.
  6. Construction of Multipurpose cultural-cum-Indoor Hall at Purul (Senapati District),Longmai(Tamenglong District)(NEC).