The intricacies and complexities of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency

T Haokip *

People going to the poll on Election Day in Manipur on January 28 2012

Across the vast spectrum of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency we see cross section of three main ethnic groups Viz. The Nagas, Kukis and Meiteis. The total number of voters here is 9 Lakhs approximately. In the 20 Assembly segments of the hill region there are approximately 7 lakh voters of which 3.8 lakhs are Nagas and 3.2 lakhs are Kukis. There are 2 lakh Meitei voters in the 8 Assembly segments of the valley which by and large remains the deciding factor. There are many factors which will decide the outcome of the ensuing 16th Lok Sabha Election 2014. The main issues will be the preservation of Manipur state territorial integrity, the interest of Tribal in general, demands of the various tribal militants and the ongoing peace talk with the Kuki and Naga U.G. groups and several important developmental programmes.

The Manipur State Assembly has 60 elected representatives, 40 from the valley Meiteis ( including Muslims) and 20 members from the hill tribal reserved constituencies. In the 60 member House Assembly the Meiteis outnumber the tribals (Kukis & Nagas) by 2 : 1 ratio. Therefore being heavily outnumbered while framing the policies and programmes of the state the Meiteis get all the preferences be it in matters of allocation of Annual Budget and development funds, development of road communication, establishment of Education, Health, Agriculture and other institutions. To prove this point we can cite example of - establishment of Regional Medical Colleges (RIMS), J.N. Hospital, Manipur Agricultural University, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Manipur Forest Institute, Police Training Institute, and the Manipur University itself all located in the valley is indicative of the fact that the policies and development programmes of the state is tailor-made for the Meitei community.

This disparity and discrimination in framing and implementation of the state's developmental policies and programmes means gross deprivation of the tribal community in sharing the cake of prosperity of the state. Therefore, in all sectors of development focus is mainly directed to the valley and the hill area is grossly deprived and neglected. As the saying goes –"only when the Can is full the grass gets the water" is factually true in the case of Manipur. This deprivation and marginalization of the tribals in all round development give rise to bitter feeling and a sense of alienation created in the mind of the tribal community of Manipur. Therefore, the Kukis and the Nagas have remained emotionally embittered all through the decades passed and developed a mindset that they do not belong to the state. There is no mechanism to set right this discrimination and no legal remedy either. The only weapon that remains is our voting rights in a democratic state.

Now, focussing on the larger issue of the Tribal interest, it remains to be seen that the Congress Government under Mr. O. Ibobi Singh is certainly anti-Tribal. The grievances of the Tribals are manifold but to list out a few are the following. Article 371 C of the Indian Constitution provides safeguard for the tribals of Manipur but over the years these provision has been amended and fabricated and reduced to non-entity. The Autonomous District Council was done away with for the last 20 years and its recent revival does not bring any visible improvement. No financial power has been given to the Autonomous District Councils in spite of the Third Amendment of the Manipur Hill Areas Dsistrict Council Act, 1971 in 2008.

The MLR & LR Act, 1960 has incurred and intrude into the jurisdiction of the Hill districts by way of bringing the river valleys of the hills and thereby including them under the valley districts which is a clear violation of the provisions of Article 371 C of the Constitution. The non-acceptance and resistance of the Manipur Government for transferring the land records of the tribals to the respective Deputy Commissioner of the Hill district is indicative of the sinister design of the Congress government. The recent move to include many Tribal villages of the hill Districts under the Valley Police Stations with the objective of bringing them under the jurisdiction of the Valley Districts is a matter of great concern to the hill people. The latest move of the Congress Government in giving birth to the Village Development Committee Act, by divesting the powers and functions of the traditional Village Chief and Village Councils is nothing but attempt on the part of the government to demolish and destabilise the valued traditional institutions of the tribal people.

The other issues concerning non-release of fund under the MGNREGS at the appropriate time as the government is believed to be diverting such fund for other purpose, failure to safeguard and implement the Reservation Quota as a result of which the tribals have been deprived of 31% entitlement to the 100 or 200 points roster of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in posts and Services for ST and SC s. Interestingly, the proposed restructuring of the Manipur Assembly Constituencies on the basis of 2001 and 2011 Census in order to increase the number of Assembly seats to at least 5 more in the Hill districts has been kept in cold storage and the delimitation process has been deferred by the State Cabinet meeting on 21-07-05 and as a result the share of the additional 5 AC seats have been forfeited by the hill people.

In view of the above factual position of the political situation prevailing in Manipur, the battle line is likely to be drawn and the battle formation by different political parties is in the process. For fear of losing the Meitei votes of the 8 Assembly segments of the valley most of the political parties have not boldly come out for safeguarding the interest of the tribals. Most of the Manifestos talk about in general the problems of development focusing on Education, Power and Electricity, Water policy, Environment & Ecology, health, AFSPA, Human Rights, Women empowerment, Territorial Integrity, Finance and Youths and Sports.

In Outer Manipur P.C. none of the parties' Manifestos have touch the central cord of the tribal issues. For the 7 lakh voters of the Hill districts what is vital and significant is the protection of tribal rights, land, customs, tradition and self determination. The Constitution of the land provides for preservation and protection of the Tribals in the State of Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal and Assam (6th Scheduled) provision. Unfortunately, in Manipur and Tripura neither the 6th Schedule is applicable nor is the protective provision of Article 371 C is implemented in its full form. The Hill Area Standing Committee constituted after attainment of Statehood in 1972 is a toothless and passive body. It is no longer a Standing Committee but is a "Sleeping Committee" and it not only has lost the will to bite but has no energy to bark. The tribals of Manipur are aware of these facts but are not able to unite and that is the very reasons why they are being deprived and marginalised.

In the ensuing Lok Sabha poll there is a growing trend of disappointment and disillusion with the incumbent government. Everyone wants a change but the search for an alternative is difficult and frustrating. Whereas the anti-Congress wave appears to be ringing in the air and sending ripples across the hills there can never be any consensus candidate among the Nagas and Kukis to confront the Congress candidate. Talk of boycott of Congress by different tribal bodies buzzing in the air but will this common sentiment be translated into voting is still in the realm of fancy. If the NPF can muster 80% of the Naga votes the party can hope for victory. Likewise if NCP can secured 70% of Kuki votes and 40% of valley votes chances of victory is assured. But the underlying fact is that public opinion and sentiment can be swayed with money power in the last days of poll. And for that the Congress party has the potential and capability more than any other party. The militant organizations under the SoO can even succumb to such kind of pressure and can issue a Public Whip at the eleventh hour in favour of any one party. In the present uncertain and fluid political situation no one can predict the outcome of the poll and who know the BJP and the Trinamol can turn out to be the dark horse.

The amazing facts is that almost all tribal leaders once elected to the Parliament or Assembly knowingly or deliberately ignore the core issue of tribal safety and security. They are lure away by the offer of a berth in the Cabinet or special favours and their commitment to the core tribal issues are easily compromised. But the saddest part is that the people/electorates in whose hand lie the power to change the government have always sold themselves for petty sum of money. The general public grievances supported by strong emotion and sentiment often translated into strong bond of resolution of the masses is breached by the power of money which often melt away and dissolves into differences of opinion before attaining the goal.

The 16th Lok Sabha Election 2014 will be an acid test for the hill people. Here let us recall a short passage of the "American Declaration of Independence"- which says : "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness".

The people of Outer Manipur are suffering from want of electricity, drinking water, lack of good road communication, lack of good education institution, health care and deprive of regular funding under the MGNREG Scheme. The Protective Provisions as envisaged under Article 371 C of the Indian Constitution have been totally demolish, the Autonomous District Council reduced to a mockery, the MLR & LR Act fabricated and use as tool to intrude into the protected hill areas followed by the extension of Police Jurisdiction of Valley Districts into the jurisdiction of the hill districts.

Now, there comes a time when we hear a certain call, when we all must come together as one. We cannot go on pretending day by day that someone from somewhere will come and make a change. Indian Democratic System has evolved a change by introducing the EVM system which requires the electors to simply press the EVM button. The power to change the government lies in the hands of the voters to give mandate to political party who can govern the best. Make a wrong choice – we will regret for 5 years. Make a right choice, there will be happiness for all.