Demand for ST by the Meiteis-An Economic Analysis

Paikhomba Khuman *

Lai Lamthokpa of Yumnam Leikai Lairembi Lai Haraoba :: Pix - Khaba Yumnam/Bond Armando

For the last couple of months, I have been keenly following the discourse on the issue of Demand of ST by the Meiteis. However, the various views and counter-views on this very issue are more interesting than the issue itself, as these are reflections of the hidden distrust which might have been generated by the vertical application of the policy of reservation. Rationality Axiom implies that the vertical application of the policy of discrimination shall lead to a vicious circle, in which the society as whole shall be worse off. The final outcome shall be a low-equilibrium trap where the Hobbesian State and the Hobbesian Trap will prevail. In such trap, there shall be no trust and no contract shall be honoured by the parties involved. In my observation, the prevailing situation in Manipur if not improved in time will plunge into a nadir. It is better to learn from the experience of others from a situation rather than experiencing it ourselves for a better off society.

I-Micro level

At the individual level, most of the people are generally short-sighted implying they are more guided by the sense of more is better, and they will try to accumulate to the maximum in a given situation. In fact, choice and preference of most people at the micro level are vertically oriented. This is what we can describe as Rationality Axiom. But, the crux of the matter is-whether this can lead to a better off position for the society as a whole. So, it is here where a bit of irrationality from among a section of the people can improve the societal welfare to a great extent.

There are so many rickshaws plying on the roads of Imphal. Suppose a passenger on the basis of Rationality decides to default on giving fare to the rickshawala, his probability of being caught next time is negligible although this very act increase the welfare of the passenger but the societal welfare has suffered more than the gain to the passenger. However, if most of the passengers decide to default on rickshawalas’ fares, the market for rickshaws will vanish. This implies that aggregate rationality on part of the people can lead to a very worse off societal welfare, but aggregate irrationality can lead to very better off societal welfare in some scenarios.

II-Macro level

From the above analysis, it is clear that policy of reservation in the present form will be generally guided by Rationality Axiom at the micro level and the final societal outcome is a fall in the level of societal welfare. This will be become crystal clear if we analyse in a neutral manner the following Tables.

In Table A, there is no doubt that literacy rates have improved considerably in all the districts of Manipur and the improvement is significant in the hill districts, which may be attributed to the externality effect of policy of reservation. General education, being a merit good plays a vital role in human and societal development and this is essential in the pre-take off stage of development. However, in the take-off stage, general education should be supplemented by technical education to drive the economy in a high trajectory of economic growth and development. Skill base of the Manipur Economy is generally low. However, it is even lower among the SC/ST (As shown below at Table 3.24a and Table 3.24b) and this can be mainly attributed to the existing policy of reservation, flawed HRD Policy and geographical constraints.

In the Indian context, sex-ratios are generally higher in the rural areas and among the lower-income groups. However, in Manipur, it is observed that there has been a drastic fall in sex-ratios in the hill-districts despite improvement during the last decade in some hill-districts (As shown in Table B). What could be the plausible explanations for the skewed sex-ratios in the hill-districts of Manipur?

One plausible explanation could be the easily reach facility to sex determination test and easy termination of pregnancies (if the determined is baby girl) which pushed the female birth less than male birth. But, why would they have preference for a baby boy? My observation is that externality of the policy of job reservation could be one of the factors for baby boy preference in the hill-districts, although this needs to be empirically verified. Another plausible explanation is there could be traditional and cultural preference for boys in the hill-districts because of historical factors. However, in the existing hill-economy of Manipur, unpaid labour by the womenfolk plays a vital role for sustenance of household life, thereby implying non-existence of traditional and cultural preference for boys. Still another plausible explanation could be the influx of migrants and their assimilation in the hill-districts, but this need to be empirically verified.

III-Demand for ST by the Meiteis: Need for Introspection

The Meiteis need not be a tribal to preserve their culture, tradition and ethical values. The better way to preserve better shall be the Meiteis remain as the Meiteis. Even if the Meiteis want to be tribal, why do they need a badge from others to become a tribal? This is where our fallacy lies-to be guided by the Axiom of Rationality for some shorted, illusory gains but unknowingly they will plunge into a low-equilibrium trap where the masses will compete for the mediocrity. The existing SC/ST of Manipur has been enjoying the riders of Policy of Job Reservation for the last 60 years, but whether the under-privileged masses among the SC/ST are accruing any benefit from it is rather very questionable.

The policy of job reservation because of its inherent vertical orientation will only benefit those who have been accruing the benefit of it, and it is rational on their part to keep intact the present form of the policy in toto, even at the cost of societal welfare. Besides, there are also external diseconomies and other undesirable social issues which may accompany with the policy of job reservation, which are examined above under paras I and II.

There is no denying fact that policy of reservation has lead to the domination of top bureaucrats by the ST in Manipur Secretariat and those occupying prominent positions in the Central Secretariat/Ministries are also from the ST of Manipur. But, the crux of the matter is why these top bureaucrats/prominent bureaucrats are still unable to close the economic divide between the valley and the hills despite 60 years of enjoying the benefits of policy of job reservation. The reason is very simple and does not need further elaboration-it is the lack of basic skills essential for moving towards a progressive economy. We need to find out why there is severe shortage of basic skills among the ST when compared with the Meiteis in Manipur. The representation of the ST in the technical, medical and basic sciences areas is extremely very low, and this can be empirically verified from the faculties of MU, RIMS, JNIMS, etc. despite the fact that the top bureaucrats/prominent bureaucrats overseeing them are from the ST. This really sounds paradoxical and it is here the Meiteis need to introspect on their demand for ST.

IV-Conclusion

At a first glance, the demand for ST by the Meiteis seems to be reasonable and rationally guided at the micro-level. However, it is very doubtful if this will lead to improvement in societal welfare even among the Meiteis. Tribal economy is just a stage of economic growth and development, and it is prevalent in a traditional society. The basic features of a traditional society are-characterized by subsistence agriculture or hunting & gathering; almost wholly a "primary" sector economy; limited technology; and static or 'rigid' society. And, one cannot remain in tribal economy forever. Why is that the Meiteis are merely guided by the Axiom of Rationality in their demand for ST? This demand will only lead to the death-race towards the bottom where the society as a whole will lose and plunge into a low-equilibrium trap. So, it is better to learn from the experience of others from a situation rather than experiencing it ourselves for a better off society.