IT News
Imphal, Mar 20:
Seven students bodies of the state have submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the updation and implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the available records as done in Assam, with 1951 as the base year. Earlier, the students’ bodies staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar New Delhi, demanding the same.
The memorandum signed by the leaders of All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM), Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK) Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) and another major students’ body stated that the state of Manipur is just 0.7% of the country have witnessed a sharp increase in the decadal growth rate since the regulation to check the outsiders has been lifted by the Chief Commission Himmat Singh in 1950.
The memorandum further stated that the unnatural increase in population growth can only be explained by migration from neighbouring countries and states and just can’t be explained by natural birth. When one examined the composition of the population based on the mother tongue spoken, one comes to the conclusion that the immigrants are mostly from the cognate tribes from neighbouring Myanmar, Nepali from Nepal, and Muslims from Bangladesh, the latter now a distinct force in Jiribam District bordering Assam. In Tripura, Hindus were the main migrants from erstwhile East Pakistan and Bangladesh and most Muslim migrants from this country reached Assam and Manipur with some settled in Nagaland.
The students’ bodies stated that as Manipur joined the Union of India on 15th October 1949, the NRC must also be updated in Manipur with 1951 as the base year.
“Our demands are strictly based on the need for small communities in the region and the state to survive. Manipur as you are fully aware comprises almost 90% hills where land cannot be bought by non-ST, while in the valley, the population density is as per the 2011 census 730 and will not be able to cater to aliens as our growing population needs to be catered first. This high population impacts the hills as many aliens are staying there as sharecroppers and it will be difficult to dislodge them later. This impacts our indigenous hill brethren also and conflict had arisen now and then, including violent reactions. We have raised concerns over the abnormal surge of population in hilly areas and the mushrooming of villages. A report last year indicates that there is an explosion in the number of new villages in the state, with many seeking recognition from the government. It was mentioned that in addition to the existing 2803 villages another 996 villages are seeking fresh recognition”, the memorandum stated.
Even the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime which the union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has graciously extended to Manipur has little impact as there is no definition of the term inhabitant. The state cabinet has decided to adopt 1961 as the base year for identifying the inhabitant of Manipur. It is our hope that at least the State Government can regulate the inflow of visitors. However, the most important is the regulation of visitors from other countries who have the habit of settling down in the state through marriages, etc.
The seven student bodies appealed to protect the indigenes of the State, which are being swamped and marginalised in their own home state, the NRC for the state with 1951 as the base year is prepared and the State Government is advised to establish a Manipur State Population Commission in line with the National Population Commission at the earliest.
