Possible Urgent or time bound Actions proposed
- Part 6 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

1. Need for Greater Autonomy of Manipur to fulfill the aspirations of all ethnic groups for finding permanent solutions to the myriad issues of Manipur through comprehensive constitutional amendments.

2. Need to re-organise the boundaries of all existing districts by a high powered District Re-Organisation Committee solely for the sake of improving effectiveness and efficiency of governance

3. Rigorous Implementation of Foreigners Act-1946

4. Need for bringing a legislation to ban all forms of bandh and economic blockade with heavy fines and jail terms for those who sponsored bandh and blockades. Perhaps Manipur is having the highest number of bandhs and blockades in India. On 28 July 1997, Kerala High Court declared bandhs and blockade as illegal. On 12 November, 197, the Supreme Court upheld the Kerala High Court judgement declaring bandhs and blockade as illegal. On 6th January, 2010 Gauhati High Court declared that "Bandh" is illegal and unconstitutional.

On 6 March, 2017 , the full bench of the Manipur High Court has declared the economic blockade as illegal.,On 24 July, 2004 the Bombay High Court fined the Shiv Sena and BJP Rs 20 lakh for organising a bandh in Mumbai to protest bomb blasts. The Government is duty bound to prevent unlawful activities like bandh which invades people's life, liberty and property. The Government is bound to pay compensation to those who suffer loss of life, liberty or property as a result of a bandh because of the failure of the government to discharge its public duty to protect them. (AIR 1999 Pat 169).In appropriate cases, even the organizers of the bandh may be directed to pay compensation.

The legal and judicial position is very clear. But it will be more appropriate if we have a specific law to deal with the instances of bandhs and blockades , On 20 December, 2011, a House Committee of the Manipur State Legislative Assembly had tabled s bill entitled "The Manipur Bandh and Economic Blockade (Prevention) Bill, 2011" but after several rounds of discussions, the bill has not seen the light of the day. Considering the gravity of the situation, the BJP led government may consider passing "The Manipur Bandh and Economic Blockade (Prevention) Bill, 2017 with adequate compensation and punishment clauses.

5. Need for improving the inter-district and inter- village roads of the hill districts

6. Need for providing 24x7 electricity to all village of hill districts in Manipur by 2020 CE

7. Need for providing 24x7 domestic piped safe drinking water supply to all houeholds off all village in Manipur by 2020 CE

8. Need for construction for store houses for storing Petrol, Diesel, K-oil. Rice, Dal etc for storing materials sufficient for three month consumption.

9. Need for providing domestic piped LPG connections in Imphal and all district headquarters

10. Need for expansion of the Imphal City by shifting the Governor's Bungalow, the Chief Minister's Bungalow, the MLA Hostel, Quarters and Political Party Offices to appropriate places.

11. Need for for constructing multistoried Car parkings at appropriate places in Imphal city.

12. Need for Construction of a beautiful Ring Road around Imphal City.

13. Need for speedy completion of Broad Gauge Railway Lines from Jiribam to Imphal and then to Moreh

14. Need for to protect the inter-state boundary of Manipur

15. Need for taking up tourist-friendly tourism industry in Manipur on a greater scale involving all sectors in collaboration with foreign countries like USA, Japan, Canada, UK, China, Thailand, Myanmar etc.

16. Need for enhancing State's economy by reviving the MSRTC, Spining Mill, Sugar Factory ,Cycle Factory, Cement Factory, Electronics Companies etc on Public-Private Partnership Model(PPP) involving management experts and not necessarily IAS/MPS officers

17. Need for enhancing State's economy by inviting investment from private, national and international investors.

18. Need for long-term plan for active participation at the Act East Policies

19. Need for starting a national TV channel through PPP model so that people around the world may become aware of the existence of Manipur

20. Need for starting training courses in spoken tribal dialects in the valley.

21. Open Free Trade with Myanmar including Petroleum, Diesel, Kerosin, rice and other food items with permission from the Government of India

22. Construction of a beautiful 4 lanes gate between Moreh and Myanmar like the gate between Mae Sai (Thailand) and Tachilek (Myanmar) or Wagah border between Amritsar ( India) and Lahore (Pakistan).

23. Reconstruction and beautification of Singjamei Keithel, Kongba Keithel, Kwa Keithel , Lamlong Keithel, Kongba Keithel

24. Construction of a modern Exhibition Centre

25. Expansion , Remodelling and Re-construction of State Zoo

26. Establishment of a Pony Firm at Heingang . There will be no Manipur Polo Game if there is no Manipuri Pony.

27. Manufacturing and export of Sekmai liquor and Andro liquor (not for Sale in Manipur). American and European tourists usually do not visit places where there is prohibition

28. Plantation of Poppy plant (Papaver Somniferum), Cannabis Sativa Plant with permission from the Government of India for manufacture of drugs as done by other States.

29. Development of a sound Drug Policy- embracing all narcotic drugs, alcohol etc.

30. Construction of a modern Cricket Stadium and other associated infrastructure

31. Construction of an Amusement Park

32. Deletion of names of foreigners and illegal migrants from the electoral roll of Manipur.

33. Construction and display of huge Khamba- Thobi Statue of 30 feet high) near Loktak lake.

34. Introduction of House Boat, Night Shelter at Floating Huts, Ferry and Hovercraft Services at Loktak

What are the top priorities ?

In my opinion, the ethnic clash between the various indigenous people of Manipur and the present tension between the hills and valley, tribal and non-tribal is the making of the Government of India under the Indian Constitution in the name of secularism and democracy. We have two options (1) Granting Greater Autonomy of Manipur by amendment of Indian Constitution or (2) Restoration of Pre-Merger Political Status of Manipur by granting shared Sovereignty to Manipur.

If the people of Manipur, all ethnic groups, all political parties, all civil societie, all insurgent groups stand united as one man, then we will be able to achieve this objective and bring equality, mutual trust, mutual respect. love, unity, peace and development in Manipur. If we continue to talk only for Meites or only for Nagas or only for kukis, then we will never be united and we will remain as barbarians and we will be doomed. Why not we sit together at different levels and discuss all issue among ourselves.

We should decide our own destiny. Let Meiteis talk about the grievances of Nagas and Kukis, let Kuki talk about the grievance of Nagas and Meiteis , let Nagas talk about the grievance of Kukis and Meiteis. There should be consultation and free exchange of ideas and opinions. This way, we will be able to feel the pains and pulse of the different ethnic groups.

If the Meitei rushed to Delhi demanding something without consulting our Naga and Kuki brothers, we will fail and we will be doomed. By seeing our disunity , the national leaders are laughing and they are happy. They will be happier if we fight with each other. Freedom is not free. It comes at great price.

Greater Autonomy of Manipur

1. Amendment of Article-3 of Indian constitution - We need to insert a clause that the Article 3 of Indian Constitution regarding alteration of state boundaries shall not apply in respect of Manipur to protect the 3394 years (1445 BCE to 1947) years old territorial integrity of Manipur and to bring unity, solidarity, communal harmony, peace and development.

2. Amendment of the Article 371C of Indian Constitution: The amendment of Article 371C of Indian Constitution is required for bringing Equality among all ethnic groups of Manipur so that one community can not blame another community for atrocity, oppression and also to provide constitutional safeguards to the majority Meiteis.

2.1. It divides Manipur into Hill and Valley although there are many hillocks in the valley and many valley areas in the hills. Manipur is more than 90% hills.

2.2. It divides the same Manipuri people from a common ancestor into valley people and Hill people, into Nagas, Meiteis and Kukis. It creates a false sense of superiority among the non-tribal over the tribal There is no equality of people in Manipur, leading to hatred and conflict situations among the ethnic groups.

2.3. It divides the same people into Schedule Tribes and General , Schedule Tribes and OBC creating in-equality among the various tribes of Manipur.

2.4. It leads to enactment of a discriminatory law. The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 came into force on 1st June, 1961 vide order no. 140/1/60(vi) dated 31 May, 1961. The Act was passed by Indian Parliament vide bill no. 95-F of 1959 Act, no, 33 of 1960 to make a special provision for protection of Scheduled Tribes under section no. 180. This creates a sense of discrimination against non-tribal leading to disunity, distrust among the ethnic groups in Manipur. This Act encouraged the violent minority to violate the human rights of the sleeping majority. This Act also violates the Article 19(e) of Indian Constitution.

To be continued....