Anal Naga Tribe

Anal Naga Tribe Latest News

For generations, the Anal Naga tribe in Manipur has followed Uju and Rangkang, community-led forest systems that protect trees, water sources and village life.

About Anal Naga Tribe

• They are an indigenous Tibeto-Burman ethnic group found in Manipur, India, and in Myanmar.
• They are one of the first settlers of 19 Naga tribes in Manipur. 
• They are confined mostly in Chandel District, Manipur. 
• They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India.
• The population of Anal, according to the 2011 census, is 24,301.
• They speak the Anāl language, a Northern Kukish dialect of the Sino-Tibetan family.
• Religion:
  • The ancient religion of Anal is ‘animist’. 
  • At present, the overwhelming majority of the population are Christians.  
• Livelihood:
  • They make their living by farming and animal husbandry.  
  • For generations, the Anal Naga tribe has protected forests through Uju and Rangkang-community-led systems.

‹ ›

What is Uju? 

• It refers to community-managed reserved forests located near Anal villages. 
• These are protected collectively, usually under the supervision of village authorities and elders, who regulate how resources can be used. 
• Decisions are made collectively during annual assemblies attended by residents. 
• Discussions range from land disputes and road repairs to forest regulations and jhum cultivation cycles. 
• Commercial logging is prohibited. 
• Trees cannot be cut without permission.
• Forest products such as mushrooms, herbs, wild vegetables, flowers, fruits, berries, and medicinal plants may be gathered carefully for household use, but extraction for profit is restricted.

What is Rangkang?

• It refers to untouched forest areas located deeper within jhum cultivation landscapes.
• Unlike Uju, which is actively managed, Rangkang forests are left largely undisturbed. 
• Over generations, communities have intentionally avoided cultivating these regions, allowing dense ecosystems to regenerate naturally.

Source: BI