House adopts resolution on population panel, NRC
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 05 2022:
A Private Member Resolution moved by MLA Joykisan on the need for constituting a Population Commission and implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state to check abnormal population growth was adopted by the House on the last day of the second session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Friday.
In his reply to Joykisan's resolution seeking constitution of Population Commission and implementation of NRC in view of the abnormal population growth particularly in hill areas of the state, leader of House chief minister N Biren Singh said that relevant officials will be pressurised to take necessary action regarding the matter as it is in the interest of entire people of the state and all the members of the House.
Moving the resolution, Kh Joykisan said that the present rate of population growth in the state needs to be examined with all seriousness as failure to closely monitor the unprecedented population growth in certain parts of the state would be an irreversible problem in the future.
As per the census data, population growth rate in the country from 1971 to 2001 was 87.6 percent and 120 percent from 2001 to 2011 .
However, population growth rate in hill areas of Manipur was 153.3 in 1971 to 2001 and 250.9 percent from 2001 to 2011 while the corresponding population growth in the valley was 94.8 percent (1971-2001) and 125.8 percent (2001-2011) .
As per an Act of the state government, no valley people could settle in hill areas which means that no house from the valley shifted to hills during the period (1971-2011) .
With many of the villages in the hills inhabited by smaller communities, there is strong suspicion that one main reason for abnormal population growth in hill areas could be influx of people from neighbouring countries, Joykisan opined and stressed the need for keeping strict vigil on abnormal population growth in the state.
While informing the House that National Population Policy allows every state to constitute own Population Commission to check population growth and identify immigrants, Joykisan said that the indigenous communities of the state are being threatened due to unrestrained influx from outside and this can be stopped by constituting a Population Commission and identify foreigners by through implementation or updating of NRC.
The House later adopted Joykisan's Private Member Resolution.