Apex body of Monpa tribe formed

Our correspondent

Itanagar, May 8: The dream of an apex body of the Monpa tribe residing in West Kameng and Tawang districts was finally realized on Monday, with the adoption of a constitution and bye-laws by the Monpa Mimang Tshokpa (MMT) during its first general conference.

 The conference was chaired by Chief Minister Pema Khandu at Kalawangpo Convention Hall at Tawang.

“The wish to have a common platform for all the Monpa people was first felt in 2009 by former CM Dorjee Khandu and former MLA TG Rinpoche,” Khandu said in his address during the conference, which was attended by around 500 delegates from both the districts.

“Besides working for uplift of the Monpa people, the apex body will help them in reaching out to other tribes of Arunachal and building bridges for peaceful and cordial relation,” he said.

Extending greetings to all other communities in Arunachal on behalf of ‘Tshokpa’, the Chief Minister said the Monpa apex body would also work along with other tribal apex bodies in the State for spreading communal harmony and promoting a sense of brotherhood.

Underlining the importance of the community apex bodies in culturally diverse States like Arunachal, Khandu said the apex bodies have helped resolved conflicts between tribes by giving opportunities for dialogues and bridging the differences. He said the apex bodies in Arunachal have also strengthened peaceful co-existence and harmony among tribes.

To strengthen cultural harmony within the Monpa tribe, Khandu emphasized the use of Bhoti as a common language by the tribe.

He thanked former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki as it was under his tenure that the State government had assured creating of about 100 posts of Bhoti teacher to teach the language.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health & Family Welfare Phurpa Tsering suggested of bringing oneness among the Monpas through language- exchange programmes among the Monpas of Tawang, Dirang and Kalaktang, the release added.