Manipuris settling in Nagaland state 'landless'
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sagolsem Bigyan
Imphal, March 16 2022:
Manipuri people, who have been residing in Nagaland state even before it attained statehood, are still unable to become landowners, in addition to facing difficulties in acquiring important documents.
Around 7000 Manipuri people are settled in Phom Colony, Y Zhimo Colony, Matha Colony, West Yard Manipuri Colony, Manipuri Colony near Samaan Ghat, Half Nagarjan, Burma Camp, and Ghorapatti villages in Dimapur district of Nagaland.
A joint team of United Committee Manipur (UCM) and media persons led by Committee president Joychandra Konthoujam and general secretary Ngangom Deba, visited and interacted with representatives of Dimapur Meetei Council at Thahekhu village on Wednesday, as part UCM's "Eegi Khongul Liba" (Tracing the Blood) which commenced on March 12 .
The UCM team then, accompanied by a team of Dimapur Meetei Council, also visited and assessed the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation, Dimapur Complex.
The joint team found the complex taken over by private individuals, aside from spotting squatters there.
In this regard, Dimapur Meetei Council president Sarat Thangjam conveyed that Manipuris have been settling in various parts of Nagaland state since 1930s, which was way before it attained statehood.
However, despite having voting rights, the Manipuris do not have land ownership rights, not to mention of the difficulty faced in acquiring important documents such as OBC, PRC and domicile certificates among others.
Informing that the base year for ILP in Nagaland is 1979, Sarat stated that the Manipuris have been residing in the state before the base year and as such, should be exempted from the Nagaland's ILP system.
He further stated that despite the long residency, Manipuri people cannot get jobs under the Nagaland government, although driver and technical posts used to be open in the past.
Thus, they (Manipuri) have no choice other than to do private businesses to earn livelihood.
Regarding Manipur State Road Transport Corporation, Dimapur, Sarat said that the Manipur government seems to have forgotten the existence of the complex.
In 1999, the resident Manipuris build a rest house in the area to aid in the development of the Complex.
However, as there was no support from the government of Manipur despite repeated requests, the undertaking remains incomplete.
He then appealed to the Manipur government to help alleviate the sufferings and difficulties faced by the Manipuris residing in Nagaland.
Urging the Nagaland government to exempt the Manipuris who have been residing in Nagaland since 1930s from the state's ILP system; UCM president Joychandra remarked that the exemption is justified as they (Manipur) have been residing in Nagaland before it attained statehood.
He then urged the government of Manipur to look into the Manipuris living in Nagaland who are facing difficulty in getting necessary certificates like OBC, domicile and PRC.
Joychandra also remarked on the present state of the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation, Dimapur Complex, adding that the complex has become a mess, allowing some private individuals to do whatever they like, while the presence of squatters is also a matter of serious concern.
If no measures are taken, the complex will soon cease to exist.
Citing the temporary compromises made by the Manipur government as the reason for the complex's decline, the UCM president urged for restoring the original state of the complex.
In addition, Dimapur Meetei Council is unable to complete the rest house for Manipuris due to lack of support from government of Manipur.
Thus, he urged the government to look into this matter as well.
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