Kuki Inpi Urges Assam Govt to Establish Kuki Welfare and Development Council

 Haflong: March 10: The Kuki Inpi Assam (KIA), the apex body representing the Kuki community in the state, has urged the Government of Assam to fulfill the long-pending political aspirations of the Kuki people by establishing a Kuki Welfare and Development Council (KWDC).

At a press meet held Tuesday at the Agriculture Guest House, KIA President H. Haolai read a statement in the presence of Vice President Dimpu Thangew, General Secretary L.K. Hengna, Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Nem Chongloi, KWA President, James Doungel, and KSO Dima Hasao President.

 The organization noted that the demand for a political platform has persisted for decades. It recalled that a proposal for a Kuki Tribes Regional Council was acknowledged in principle during former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's tenure but failed to materialize due to administrative and political hurdles.

The Kuki Inpi highlighted the community's historical role in forming and developing hill districts like Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong. Several Kuki leaders held key positions in the early years of the former North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council, it added.

Kuki tribes are primarily concentrated in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong, as well as the Barak Valley districts of Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi. Historical records show they were among the region's early inhabitants.

The organization pointed out that prolonged delays once prompted some youth groups to take up arms, but these groups entered a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Governments of India and Assam in 2012, witnessed by then-Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

In the interest of peace and stability, the Kuki Inpi has moderated its demand from a full Kuki Tribes Autonomous Regional Council to the KWDC as a minimum arrangement. It appealed to the Assam government to take immediate steps, settle the issue, and announce the council before the upcoming elections. Such a move, it said, would address community aspirations, foster trust, harmony, and inclusive development in the hill districts.