Bandh hatao, Manipur bachhao!
- Use of banking, technology and financial services for eradication of violent protest and bandhs in Manipur-

K Vaiphei *

A picture of a burnt truck which has become a regular affair ( August 2010) :: Pix - TSE

From Garribi Hatao to Bandh Hatao! Manipur, Sanaleibak (Land of Jewels) and also fondly called the Switzerland of the East by the 1st Prime Minister of India, Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, has, of late, become famous for many wrong reasons and one of them is bandhs and strikes. Nowadays Manipur is more popularly known as the land of bandhs.

Over the years this bandh culture has destroyed economic, social and political aspects of the life of the people of Manipur. We are all familiar with the terms like lightning bandh, dawn to dusk bandh, 12 hours, 24, 36, 100 hrs, 100 days bandh, economic blockade, counter economic blockade, bandh supporters bandh, anti band supporters bandh etc. We are very confident that Manipur is unofficial Guinness World Record Holder as far as Bandhs and Strikes are concerned.

The three main communities responsible for calling frequent bandhs are the Meiteis, the Kukis and the Nagas. In addition, there are also organisations or pressure groups promoting particular interest calling bandhs and strikes. This has become a way of life for the people of Manipur.

The Government of Manipur has been trying to solve these problems through various means available to them. On many occasions, the government machinery becomes mere spectator not because it is not capable but to avoid human casualty. In some cases, armed forces are successfully used to counter the bandhs and protests.

Despite the Apex Court orders declaring bandhs as illegal and Governments efforts to implement them, it is observed that the number of bandhs and strikes are increasing day by day in Manipur and it seems we are all helpless to reduce or control this social evil.

Protest is a democratic right of the citizens of this great country but not the way we do in our state. Sometimes, non violent protest for highlighting issues without disrupting the life of others is very much required in democracy to awake sleeping Government machinery and concerned authorities but not the violent bandhs and protests we have been practising.

So we need to find a solution to stop this violent bandhs and protest disrupting the normal life and activities of the people of Manipur irrespective of caste, creed or community.

Recently, Manipur Government has requested from the Centre for sending additional paramilitary forces for manning the two national highways connecting Manipur through Dimapur and Jiribam. This is a method using maximum forces which is costly and may be more harmful in the long run. We need to think of alternative solutions in place of Armed Forces.

One of the most powerful tools invented by man, with the God given Wisdom and Intellect, for his convenience, is Money and Technology. Almost all our activities are centred around or directed towards this MONEY. Money affects and controls almost all of our activities. The power of Money has been demonstrated more clearly with the Demonetisation of Rs 500 & Rs. 1000 notes announced by Hon’ble Prime Minster of India on 08th November 2016.

It affected the poor, the rich, the powerful, terrorist, militants etc. Its affect is still continuing and we do not know how long it will continue. The power of this demonetisation action has been so great that it has shaken many including the decision makers. We are yet to know at what cost its intended objective would be ultimately achieved.

The technological knowledge and advancement is another powerful tool in the hands of the people and become indispensable in their day to day life. In the Present day scenario of our move towards CASH-LESS OR LESS CASH SOCIETY Technology and Money have become inseparable. Technology is the driving force behind cashless society we and the present government at the centre aspired for. The point here is not to discuss DEMONETISATION or MONEY or TECHNOLOGY but how to use these powerful inventions of mankind to our advantage especially for eradication of Band Culture in Manipur.

Let’s come to the point. Realising the powerful tools of Money and Technology on which Government machinery has a great control, it is humbly suggested that concerned authorities should use them to find a solution to this bandh culture of Manipur by resorting to temporary withdrawal of all banking, mobile and financial services in the areas wherever bandhs are called or enforced. The following steps are suggested:

1) Government of Manipur to issue notification declaring all bandhs except non violent and non disruptive protests as illegal based on Supreme Court orders.

2) Peaceful protest however should be allowed as means of highlighting grievances

3) Government of Manipur should take steps for temporary withdrawal of all banking, mobile and financial services in the particular areas where bandhs and strikes are enforced or observed by any community whether Meitei, Kuki or Naga.

4) Government of Manipur in collaboration with Central Government, Reserve Bank of India should work out a modus operandi for TEMPORARY WITHDRAWAL of all banking, mobile and financial services in the areas where bandhs are called.

5) Relocation of officials and staff of banks and service providers to other places may be done during such temporary period when the above services are withdrawn.

6) In case of destruction of banking, mobile and financial services infrastructure during the period of withdrawal , the facilities may be withdrawn permanently from those particular places.

7) The duration for temporary withdrawal of such services may be fixed by the Government. It may be decided in ratio of the number of hours of bandhs called. It may be 1:4, 1:5, …..1:10 etc . For example 12 hours bandh may lead to 48, 60,120 hrs withdrawals of banking, mobile and financial services in the ratio of 1:4. , 1:5, 1:10 hrs etc

8) Commencement of the withdrawal of services can be from the date of announcement of the bandh.

9) The Experience of the people since demonetisation will really make them give second thoughts, third thoughts etc to call or support bandhs which will lead to withdrawal of banking, mobile and financial services expected to be more difficult than demonetisation.

10) This will make calling bandhs a real participatory approach and it will make it very difficult to call bandhs by a few leaders unless the people in the area support the bandh for genuine causes.

11) Access to these facilities in the neighbouring state of Mizoram, Nagaland or elsewhere in the country by opening other accounts can also be effectively checked by seeding (linking) Adhar Card with bank accounts.

12) This will be more effective and less harmful compare to the use of Armed Forces as loss of human life, the most precious gift of God due to firing and bullets will not happen and impact will fall on the bandh callers directly. The method should be adopted in place of more Paramilitary Forces.

My beloved Brothers and sisters of Manipur we have our own grievances and issues because we are human beings. However, these issues should be sorted out through dialogue and sitting across the table.

Let us change our attitude and shun the path of violence through bandhs, strikes and guns because time has changed and these are no more the most effective methods any more. If we don’t change, we will be humiliated and marginalised more and more. The above suggestions are meant for our common good and arose out of the love for the people of Manipur and is expected that these steps will bring us to right path.

I hope, the authorities concerned will think over these suggestions seriously and take action. The Government of Manipur may consider this method in place of deploying additional forces. This I hope is the best Christmas and New year gift which can be given to the people of Manipur.