A tribute to Martyr Robinhood

Pince Tan-Ngamba Ranjit *

ILP : Thousands of mourners joined funeral procession of Lamjing Meira at Awa Ching, Imphal East on 3rd Sept 2015 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

When transformation vociferously -penetrates through the society, the difference between the dreams we had and the growing situation is augmented to a large extent. Now a days globalization, urbanization, industrialization etc. become inevitable components which are trickling down the local stream of labour. Such basis in the name of development has left many people to starvation and rendered multitudes of others homeless due to the lack of proper management of labour. Faster the pace of industrialization, smaller occupations are sucked up. The more the industrialization advances, the more increase the number of beggars in the face & management of labour.

And when urbanization spreads its wing to every nook and corner, many wretched inhabitants lose their habitats. Many living souls who are want of food, clothing and shelter left home their homes and lead the life of a vagabond as a result of the ignorance of the responsibility of a welfare state. This is really the fruit of the faulty administration, the fruit of fhe British India Colonial rule and the succeeding neo-colonial administration.

But the complicating thing is that such wide spread accommodation of the immigrant anywhere in the world specially in the areas where indigenous people settle, pose a threat against the wisher of the native landers. To mentioned a few example of Indian immigrants in other countries is that the settlement and the forced replacement of labourers by the Indian immigrants in the South East Asia, South Asia and many other gulf countries, have led to the outbreak of serious crisis in many such countries.

The permanent settlement of the Indians in Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Hondures, Bahren, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Morrocco, Manritins, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Kattar (Quattor), Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Shri Lanka, Suriname, Sudan, Britain, etc. has made such countries in a great mess. The seriousness of the crisis is too high that not only the smaller countries but also the big and developed countries' economic conditions have been seriously affected as well as their future prospects. As a consequence, the societies in such countries have initiated a new economic policy in order to save themselves from economic crisis.

The population for instance, of the Fiji island located in the Southern Pacific Ocean is about 84900 but of the total population number of Flindu population is 35% and that of Muslim is 8%. In other source reported by Manorama Yearbook (2011), the descendants of the Indian labour who were imported by the British rule in 1879 into the islands to work on European sugar plantation, now a days form about half of the total population while Melanesians. The original inhabitants (indigenous people) make up 43 P.C., the rest being made up of European, Chinese and other. Hence out of the 70 member Parliament, Indians have been able to secure at least 29 seats. This changing fact has started to affect the condition of the indigenous people of the Fiji Island day by day.

Owing to the obviousness of the fearful fact of the administration and accelerating peace for social identity, the Fiji administration has reserved some important places exclusively for the Fiji indigenous people as well as new rules and regulations have been adopted.

To pick a new nation where Indians could outnumber and gradually exercise the pen of judiciary, Mauritius is one where the population is 1288,000. In this island, the Hindus occupy 48% Roman Catholic 23.6%, Muslim 16.6% other Christian 8.6%. During British rule, Indian were brought to the island and employed them in sugar plantation farms. Now not only prevalence of the Indian culture and tradition and apparent mastery of Indian heads in the administration, it has become independent nation of the India society where Indian influence runs successfully.'

Likewise, the nations where Indians live are Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Fiji, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Malasia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, U.K., Vietnam, Uganda, Oman, Seychelles Republic, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, Qatar, etc. as above mentioned. Too number of Indians living in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia etc. more than 2500000; 90,000; 299; 300; 250,000; 400,000; 50,000 and 82000 respectively in 2007 as answer to question number 5980 in Lok Sabha (India Parliament). Now it might increase to a degree. An initiative to safeguard these Indians had been discussed for the welfare of these people. Opinions were exchanged to improve the conditions of the NRIs and linking network of the people of Indian origins. The Car Rally which was held earlier and Trans Asian Super Highways and Railways projects which are due to be undertaken have their interest.

The exodus of India labourers to West Asia in quest of job has been increasing during the past few decades. According to a report by a high level committee, the immigration of the Indian workers to Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Oman. Qattara. Saudi Arabia. UAE and Gulf countries were nearly one crore. Among the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia is the place where highest number of Indians settle (above 20 lakhs)

But according to immigration clearance the immigration workers in the Gulf countries are of contract type. Whereas in Britain, among the foreigners, high skilled migrant professionals are given rights for permanent settlement as British Citizens. "But their activities have greatly affected the ordinary citizens", said Lord Navnit Dholakia, the Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat, the Britain's House of Lords on January 23, 2008.

Experts in information technology and financial trade were permitted to stay permanently. As a consequence, Britain began to degrade. As a precautionary measure, the British Govt, are enacted new .criteria which finally declared that only those who could be helpful to Britain would be permitted to stay in Britain.

Likewise, since the Indian migrants have seriously affected the geographic, economic, social and political conditions of the countries like Mauritius, Fiji, Malaysia and South East Asian countries these countries have established their own protectionist safety rules and regulations.

Settlement of more than 21 lac Indians in Malaysia whose geographical area is only 330434 sq. km. with a population of only 28306700, have outnumbered the Malaysian citizens in finding jobs. Hence the country has taken up precautionary measures. Even though the total prohibition cannot be made effective due to India's staunch diplomacy, Malaysia is determined to sub-stantially reduce 150% i.e 10 lacs of the Indian immigrants by 2015.

The reduction of the migrant workers will be replaced by local labourers and those emigrant's would be permitted to work only in construction and plantation only for time being, declared deputy minister for human resource, AR Bakan. Likewise, Malaysia, one of the South East Asia countries affected by the impact of emigrant labour forces has enacted new regulations to fight the menace.

What is importance to relook from acute angle is Manipur's labour force had been gradually controlled by the labours coming from other states. As a consequence the economic, social, cultural and political conditions of the state is totally affected. To hold true, the migrants in this state don't buy even a cat from other community. Business transactions are kept on among themselves stealing a march on the indigenous people.

More apprehensive emigrants who sprang up like the weird monkeys, tendency of purchasing goods from migrant-monkeys, tendency of hiring them for jobs. Seems that they have been bestowed with a social status. As a result, many new alien people are seem these days everywhere. And this is widespread across the rank and file of the land. Not only in the valley, but in the hills also, these migrant are multiplying. This fact is the symptom of the pangs begot by the colonial rule and irresponsible political leaders.

As a result of it, our society is trembling in the balance by falling asleep. None seems to ponder over their grim future which is really empty. Rather the society is floating in the ocean of pleasure seeking festivities. As it was before, the valuable man-power is made useless by converting crisis to festivities. One Meitei feels proud throwing money at the temples. Worships different deities in a bid to mar the idea of work culture. Worships the god of forgiveness after having committed theft and robbing and other sins every day. It has been considered a decent thing to steal in a clandestine moment. Many are racing in converting religion into a lucrative business.

If we don't retrospect ourselves of the dreaded outcome of the continually fading work culture, we don't have our future. There is dire need for proper management of our labour force.