By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 20

UNESCO in its report under ‘List of Endangered Languages in the Online Version of the World Atlas of Endangered Language (vis-a-vis census) 2009’ had classified the Tarao dialect as one of the extinct languages suggesting either dilution or nonexistence of the tribe.

In a move to save and revive the tribe, Relief Centre for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, Manipur under the coordination of Thokcom Chandramani, took a survey recently and found that the tribe has not actually gone extinct.

He told IFP that the population growth rate of the Tarao community is slow and is far short of 1000.

Chandramani said that he had started his survey since 2010 and through his survey he managed to get Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL) implemented for the Tarao tribe under HRD department.

Factors such as geography, social practices, low fertility, genetic defect leading to low fertility, disability, nutritional habit among others make the tribe almost extinct, said spokesperson of the relief centre, Chandramani.  

Tarao is a minority community in Chandel district speaking Taraotrong. It is said that Maharaja of Manipur, Ching-Thang Khomba had an orchard at a place near Pallel and his orange trees were looked after by the Taraos at Komlathabi.

They are concentrated at four villages, Tarao Laimanai, Leisokching, Khuringmol and Heikakpokpi. As per Cheitharol Kumbaba (The Royal Chronicle of Manipur) the Taraos had been in existence since AD 1263-1467.

Tarao tribe leaders had complained to the government in the past of having no MLA and ADC members in its populace.

With an endeavour to save the endangered tribe and its language especially, in a first of its kind, Imphal Hospital has adopted the tribe to extend every possible medical technology to help the tribe from further extinction. 

Managing director of Imphal Hospital, Dr. Salam Maipak Singh said that he does not want any indigenous tribe of the state to be extinct and would do anything to help them in population stabilisation health wise.

Retired HOD of RIMS gynaecology department, and also an advisor of the relief centre, Dr. Chanam Manglem Singh said that population is important for existence of a tribe. The population of Taraos during the time of Ching-Thang Khomba was 700 and that was some 219 years ago.

The population have in a way increased but no so much, and that is a worry for the tribe as well as the state.

According to the official records of Tarao Tribe Union’s member, K. Mila Tarao said for 2016-2017, there are a total of 894 populations concentrating in five villages of the state. Of which Khuringmul at Tengnoupal district, has the largest concentration level at 55 household and a population of 270.

Leisokching which serves as the hub for the tribe is situated at Tengnoupal district and is home to 40 household and a population of 240 persons.

Sanakeithel at Ukhrul district have the least population with 70 and 20 households, respectively.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 20

UNESCO in its report under ‘List of Endangered Languages in the Online Version of the World Atlas of Endangered Language (vis-a-vis census) 2009’ had classified the Tarao dialect as one of the extinct languages suggesting either dilution or nonexistence of the tribe.

In a move to save and revive the tribe, Relief Centre for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, Manipur under the coordination of Thokcom Chandramani, took a survey recently and found that the tribe has not actually gone extinct.

He told IFP that the population growth rate of the Tarao community is slow and is far short of 1000.

Chandramani said that he had started his survey since 2010 and through his survey he managed to get Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL) implemented for the Tarao tribe under HRD department.

Factors such as geography, social practices, low fertility, genetic defect leading to low fertility, disability, nutritional habit among others make the tribe almost extinct, said spokesperson of the relief centre, Chandramani.  

Tarao is a minority community in Chandel district speaking Taraotrong. It is said that Maharaja of Manipur, Ching-Thang Khomba had an orchard at a place near Pallel and his orange trees were looked after by the Taraos at Komlathabi.

They are concentrated at four villages, Tarao Laimanai, Leisokching, Khuringmol and Heikakpokpi. As per Cheitharol Kumbaba (The Royal Chronicle of Manipur) the Taraos had been in existence since AD 1263-1467.

Tarao tribe leaders had complained to the government in the past of having no MLA and ADC members in its populace.

With an endeavour to save the endangered tribe and its language especially, in a first of its kind, Imphal Hospital has adopted the tribe to extend every possible medical technology to help the tribe from further extinction. 

Managing director of Imphal Hospital, Dr. Salam Maipak Singh said that he does not want any indigenous tribe of the state to be extinct and would do anything to help them in population stabilisation health wise.

Retired HOD of RIMS gynaecology department, and also an advisor of the relief centre, Dr. Chanam Manglem Singh said that population is important for existence of a tribe. The population of Taraos during the time of Ching-Thang Khomba was 700 and that was some 219 years ago.

The population have in a way increased but no so much, and that is a worry for the tribe as well as the state.

According to the official records of Tarao Tribe Union’s member, K. Mila Tarao said for 2016-2017, there are a total of 894 populations concentrating in five villages of the state. Of which Khuringmul at Tengnoupal district, has the largest concentration level at 55 household and a population of 270.

Leisokching which serves as the hub for the tribe is situated at Tengnoupal district and is home to 40 household and a population of 240 persons.

Sanakeithel at Ukhrul district have the least population with 70 and 20 households, respectively.