Salkhan: Reform tribal self-governance system

Jamshedpur: “Chief minister Hemant Soren and his party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have not made any significant contribution towards the holistic development of tribal communities after coming to power,” Adivasi Sengal Abhiyan (ASA) president Salkhan Murmu has said.
Making the statement on Wednesday, Murmu said the self-governance (Munda-Manki) concept has become unproductive due to several issues that remain unaddressed. “The issues of the tribal communities such as witch hunting, superstition, intoxication and anti-woman outlook still exist due to illiteracy. The Wilkinson Rule system of 1834 has only promoted dogmatic thoughts. Progressive thinking and wiser approach to the basic issues concerning the tribal communities are missing. The government must take urgent steps to reform the self-rule governance system,” Murmu told TOI.
The system advocates reserving the post of village headmen based on blood ties, which is paving the way for illiterate and ignorant villagers to take the posts. “The government should promote merit in the election.”
“Droupadi Murmu is the President now. The state government should take the lead in giving a representation to the President seeking reforms in the self-rule governance system,” he demanded.
Murmu criticised the state government for not encouraging Santhali as the first official language of the state. “It was also not sincere in demanding a separate religious code for the practitioners of Sarna faith,” he added.