Is Manipur burning?
With malice towards none and all

Siehzahau T Singsit *

Truck burnt at Keithelmanbi by Sadar Hills Band supporters in September 2011 :: Pix - Paojel Chaoba / Jimmy Leivon

Introduction:

Manipur is a plural society with her diverse population of different ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural affiliations. With her pluralistic social fabric consisting of the main groups namely, the Meiteis, the Nagas, the Kuki/Zomi and other small communities present a picture of ethnic pluralism with their homogenity and heterogeneity. A political and social system of Manipur should preserve and respect the ethnic and cultural identity of every social group under the gambit of social federalism, a unity in diversity in social and cultural life.

It is necessary to build a cohesive society based on social justice and harmony with full protection of the cultural identity of the people. Such a society will fulfill the social aspiration of the various communities. The present socio chaos and social fissures can be resolved and eradicated by a political system, based on ethnic pluralism and social federalism. And a just social order which checks the dangerous social Darwinism will emerge. Yes, Manipur is really burning under the captioned issues:

Corruption fever and the Economic stagnancy:

Corruption and Economic stagnancy is the epidemic plague of Manipur. The two cannot be separated for they are inter-related intimately. Added to the social chaos and disorder due to the corrupt administration and unprincipled political leadership is the economic stagnancy of Manipur. Manipur is a victim of internal colonialism. Its economy is at the mercy of the capitalist economic system of mainland India. True, the Government of India invested money in Manipur through the massive development plans. But Manipur is just a market for the Indian goods, industrial and agriculture.

The rampant corruption in the administration led by a highly irresponsible political leadership and manned by a non committed bureaucracy, has been the sole cause of the economic crisis in Manipur. The development funds have not reached the needy people, the urban poor, the rural and the tribal peasantry. While the cheap money created by the ill regulated spending of the government has promoted market consumerism, it has not led to the desired industrial and agriculture development. Instead of self-sufficiency, Manipur has become dependent heavily on the central Government. Production is far below consumption requirements. The per capita income of Manipur is '.36,290/- (2012 – 2013) which is extremely low at the present inflationary rate.

All the state enterprises and undertakings have failed. What is going on is an uncontrolled state capitalism. There is a frightful increase in educated unemployment... a frightful increase in fake appointment especially in Education Department. There are no employment opportunities, no employment generating enterprises or undertakings. The state government is the greatest employer of the people; but it has become purely a salary giving agency only. Getting job has become very difficult and they are given only to the highest bidders. Corruption is on full swing and there is now complete economic stagnancy and bankruptcy. The capital is fleeing from Manipur.

The financial institutions have failed to make effective investments. Under the Economic Policy, the government of India may withdraw the special category status in financial assistance provided to Manipur, if it still follows the present trend of corrupt transaction that pollutes even the financial institutions. This will lead to the complete bankruptcy of the state government. A tiny state like Manipur will be strangled to death economically. Is this the benefit of the new economic policy of India? In Manipur, everyone is ready to sacrifice money in everything, even at the cost of their own life. And everybody expects to live at the cost of others.

Today, people are consuming one another in blood and flesh. There is exploitation of the poor by the rich and powerful. The neo-rich who are the creation of the economic development programme have controlled the government and the economy of Manipur. The class has merged in Manipur. The urban middle class has become a dependent social and economic group The rural and tribal peasantry are now a deprived section. The influx of illegal immigration from the neighbouring countries has aggravated the economic situation. The internal immigration of people from others part of the country complicates the matter. The unchecked influx has caused constraints on land, natural resources, trade and commerce has caused demographic imbalance and social tensions. Thus, the economic future of Manipur is extremely grim and infact, corruption has become the pillar of Manipur.

Insurgencies and Revolutions: need for Dialogue:

Manipur is a cauldron of revolutions, insurgencies and ethnic violence. The Naga nationalist movement, The Meitei, Kuki/Zomi revolution and other movement have been going on for years which have greatly weakened the state and caused social tensions. However, no political problem is insoluble; either it will be solved by time in a natural course or through conscious efforts. But state terrorism in the name of maintaining law and order is no solution of the problem. The law enforcing machinery, namely military, para-military and police forces are chocking the state and they have made Manipur a police state. The ruling clique which is a motley group of opportunist politician and selfish bureaucrats has totally failed. The state as an 'institution' has declined in Manipur, if it has yet to wither away in the Marxian way.

The ruling clique who has failed to perform basic duty of protection of lives and properties of the citizens has forfeited the right to rule. Yet they still cling to power on the basic of their arithmetical majority in the state Assembly. The tragedy is that they neither have the moral courage nor the political will and vision to deal with the revolutionary situation. It's a pity that the people of Manipur elect their representatives who are that power hungry, glutton in all their dealings. The ethnic clashes, kidnapped for ransom, free trespasses of the militants or thugs under the very nose of the security forces etc, etc; has further deteriorated the situation. The state government is in quick sand exposing its weakness and impotency. In Manipur, nobody has the sense of belongingness but all are for sales and profits only.

These militant or revolutionary movements are more or less nationalist movement expressed in a violent form. These political expressions are to be accommodated by the national government at the political level. The reaction of the central government is in the form of counter insurgency measures which resulted in the human right violations.

The policy which enunciated by the different leaders at the time of independence is worth recalling. Mahatma Gandhi's philosophic stand of nonviolence and voluntary participation in the force and democratic Indian Republic was a glaring example cordial to be followed. Further, in spite of such social and political problems, if the government should ensure that there is always a corner for people like me who can play and dreams and think esoteric ideas. I am in a firm opinion that all forms of conflicts should be resolved on the negotiation table and proposed that there should be negotiation between the government of India and the various revolutionary groups of Manipur without any pre-condition from both sides.

In order to pull out Manipur from the present political and social morass created by insurgency, revolution, ethnic clashes, incompetent and selfish government etc. It is necessary to initiate dialogue between the Central Government and the revolutionary groups through the services of some dedicated peacemakers.

Autonomy for Manipur:

Amidst these intracidle problems, Manipur has been depending too much on the central government for its own survival. In the existing constitutional and political system, Manipur does not have adequate autonomy, political and financial to deal with the complex socio-economic and political problems confronting the state. The national political leadership and the central government decide on the issue concerning the political and economic future of Manipur. And the state leadership and the state government just dovetail their decisions. A state of the Indian republic should have enough autonomy to make the people participate in the decision making concerning their future.

It should be considered necessary to raise the question whether Manipur state should be restored to the status of internal autonomy under the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 during the period 1947-1949 before merger into India and the terms of the stand still Agreement between Manipur and Indian Government (August 11, 1947) should be the basis of Manipur's autonomy and her relationship with the Government of India. This of course, does not mean return to monarchy. This issue requires an extensive and intensive public debate and ultimately the constitutional amendments would be necessary. The recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State relation are relevant in this context.

Since the pattern of autonomy for the state is not uniform, special category autonomy being the case of the special status for Kashmir (Art, 370) and special autonomy for Nagaland (Art, 371)(A). It is considered appropriate and necessary, in view of the extraordinary circumstances of the merger of Manipur into India that the pattern of autonomy for Manipur should be a combination of the spirit of Article 370 and Article 371-A.

The autonomy at the District and village levels through the existing local self government institutions is not adequate. The delegation of enough financial power for development should be provided for these institutions to accommodate the aspirants of the various local and social groups in the state. Sixth Schedule district autonomy for the hill and tribal areas should be introduced. And district autonomy under the Panchayati Raj system should be provided for the valley districts through relevant legislations, as it ought to be.

Zilla Parishad under the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 as required by the 73rd Amendment should be made functional with necessary Amendment. Gram Panchayats in the valley districts should be made real governing democratic administrative units.

A separate land law suitable to the tribals in the hill areas to make hill land mortgage-able commodity for economic development through institutional finance in tribal areas should be introduced. The village authority Act 1956, operating in the hill areas should be reviewed or replaced by a suitable Jaw in commensurate with the spirit and letters of the Manipur Hill Peoples' Regulation, 1947 to provide adequate infrastructure and financial powers and effective administrative and development unit, free from party affiliations.

Conclusion:

We are deeply aware of the fact that Manipur is a state where different ethnic groups, cultures and languages flourish right from historical period. These ethnic, cultural and linguistic pluralism have played and will continue to play an important role in social development. They have many facets and aspect of the whole complex of problems connected with the interactions of different ethnic groups and relations of people of different ethnic groups and relations within any ethnic groups, the process of nation building, ending of the existing imbalance in the development of ethnic features inherent in an ethos and need for education in a spirit of respect for members of the other ethnic groups.

Keeping all these in view, the people of Manipur should solemnly resolve to wage a united and resolute struggle to achieve:

(I) Transparency in all financial transactions, to check and measure for clean and complete eradication of corruption and economic stagnancy.

(II) Amicable political solution with insurgencies and Revolutions and,

(III) Granting of adequate autonomy for the state.

Until then, the future of Manipur as a human habitat and the cradle of civilisation in the annals of human history would completely cease and collapse and sink into abyss.