Migration aspects in Jiribam district

Prof I Tomba Singh *

ILP (Inner Line Permit) Check point at Jiribam District in June 2022 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

Jiribam district, surrounded by Assam on the West, Noney district on the east and north east, Pherzawl district on the south and south east is an ethno-culturally isolated district in Manipur. Jiribam town is located at a distance of 224 Km from Imphal, the capital of Manipur. Since 1951, population growth rate of Jiribam has been always much higher than that of the country and the State.

Unlike in other districts in Manipur, in-migration was the prominent cause, contributing to the heavy increase in population to Jiribam district (Jiribam sub-division till December, 2016). The decadal growth rate in Jiribam district was 140.37 against 36.95 of the State during 1951-61 and 34.60 against 30.02 of the State during 1991-2001.

The geographical boundary of the district is found changing during 1971-81 due to political decisions of the Government of Manipur to protect the local tribal communities. Scheduled Tribe population in Jiribam declined in 1981 due to the transfer of 25 inhabited villages having the population of 3592 persons to the then Tamenglong and Churachandpur Districts along with relevant migrations thereof.

The period 1951-71 witnessed the highest ever rate of increase in population of the district due to heavy influx of Bengali Hindu refugees from the Sylhet district of the then East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) after the partition of India and Pakistan, 1947.

Again the communal disturbances, 1964 and Bangladesh War, 1971 resulted in the population of Jiribam on the border of Assam experiencing a peculiar type of migration pattern. This migration pattern led to the increase in the number of inhabited villages to 117 in 1961 but found declining to 102 inhabited villages in 1971 and further declined to 50 only in 2011 due to out-migration and concentration in potential villages.

Population in Jiribam sub-division was 7,531 in 1951, 18,126 in 1961, 23,368 in 1971, 26,637 in 1981, 28,077 in 1991, 37,828 in 2001, 43,838 in 2011 respectively. As stated earlier, the influx of refugees from the erst-while East Pakistan (1947), communal disturbances (1964) and Bangladesh War (1971) are the main factors for increase in population in this district.

A large portion of these refugees settled in the areas where there were no restrictions from local people. A large number of Hindu refugees, urban minded and fairly educated middle class Bengali community started settling in important and commercial areas whereas Scheduled Caste communities started settling down in village and hill areas.

The virgin and fertile land of Assam and Manipur attracted the agricultural population from the adjoining areas of Bangladesh creating "farmer migration" to Jiribam and Assam. Languages specified in Schedule—VIII of the Constitution of India (1961-91) include Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu.

Population by language specified in Schedule-VIII of the Constitution of India were 7,110 in 1961, 10,912 in 1971, 13,163 in 1981, 11,566 in 1991 of which Bengali speaking persons occupied the major portion. There were 7,061 Bengali speaking persons out of 7,110 in 1961, occupying 99.3% of the total persons speaking languages as specified under Schedule-VIII to the Constitution of India.

Bengali speaking persons constituted 97.60% in 1971 (10,651 out of 10,912), 97.15% in 1981 (12,788 out of 13,163) and 93.55% in 1991 (10,820 out of 11,566). Hindi speaking population increased from 49 persons in 1961 to 212 persons in 1971, contributing to the decadal growth rate of 432.65 percent. There were 158 males and 54 females of Hindi speakers in Jiribam in 1971, highest in-migration during 1961-71.

Male outnumbered females during the period indicating in-migration of males in Jiribam for search of better net opportunities. It is observed that out-migration of Bengali communities and in-migration of Hindi speaking persons occurred in clusters or groups.

Villages experiencing highest in-migration in Jiribam, estimated assuming the population of Manipur as standard were (I) Uchathol, Chingdong Leikai and Champanagar during 1961-71, Uchathol, Jalcuradhor, Jarolpokpi in 1971-81, Hilghat, Jarolpokpi, Jalcuradhor-II in 1981-91, Hilghat, Gualchal and Kasimpur in 1991-2001.

Out-migration experienced in Jalcuradhor (1961-71), Dholakhal Meitei (1971-81), Hilghat and Uchathol (1981-91), New Alipur, Jarolpokpi (1991-2001). Random settling by migrated Hindus in places where there is no restriction from local and tribal people after the partition of India and Pakistan (1947) created 117 inhabited villages in 1961.

Despite of heavy influx of migrated refugees due to communal disturbances in East Pakistan (1964) and Bangladesh War (1971), the inhabited villages declined to 102 showing the concentration of migrated persons in potential villages for security reasons. With the declaration of Jiribam Nagar Panchayat (Small Town) during 1971-81 coupled with the transfer of 25 villages of Jiribam sub-division to the then Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts, the number of inhabited villages reduced to 72 in 1981.

Further concentration to safer villages continued and therefore there were 50 inhabited villages in 1991 and 2001. By 2011 census, there were only 51 inhabited villages in Jiribam with 1 uninhabited village. In this modern society, physical distance does not play an important role in migration process particularly in urban areas.

However cultural distance has been the important characteristic considered in the internal migration, particularly in shifting residence from one place to another place. Will power to migrate and capability for raising the shifting cost are the main characteristics considered for shifting residence in potential areas and for internal migration. Population in Jiribam Municipal Council, initially with 9 wards and 10 wards (another ward added during 1991-2001) had the population of 7,343 in 2011.

Considering sex-ratio, growth rate of some standard population, expected male migrants, settled migrants can be determined using census records only. For determining potential wards, fuzzy parameters can be applied. During 1981-91, ward No. 8 and Ward No. 2 were the most potential areas where different communities are attracted.

During 1991-2001, potential wards were found to be the Ward No. 1 and Ward No. 2. Again during 2001-2011, Ward No. 1 was found to be the most potential area attracting in-migration from different communities.

During 2001-11, out migration from Ward No. 2 and Ward No. 7 was observed. Inhabited villages in Jiribam district, apart from Jiribam Municipal Council are named attaching the words of pur, belcra, khal, pars, nagar, thol, ghat, bosti etc. The villages having Manipuri word are Chingdong Leikai, Nungphou. Some of the villages have mixed words like Jarolpokpi, Leishabithol and Nunglchal etc.

An Aerial view of Jiribam zero point at Jiribam in June 2015 :: Pix - Momon Thoudam

The inhabited villages in Jiribam district are
(1) Abompunjee
(2) Aglapur
(3) Ahmadabad
(4) Babukhal
(5) Baiboni
(6) Bakhal
(7) Berabak
(8) Bhomikpara
(9) Bhutangkhal
(10) Binselu

(11) Borobekra
(12) Boroikhal
(13) Champanagar Meitei
(14) Champanagar Muslim
(15) Chandranathpur
(16) Chingdong Leikai
(17) Chotobekra
(18) Choudhurikhal
(19) Dholakhal
(20) Hilghat

(25) Islamabad
(26) Jakuradhor-I
(27) Jakuradhor-II
(28) Jarolpokpi
(29) Jatrapur
(30) Jirimukh
(31) Kamaranga
(32) Kashimpur
(33) Lalpani
(34) Lamabhutangkhal
(35) Latingkhal

(36) Leishabithol
(37) Madhupur
(38) Mahadebpur
(39) Makhabosti
(40) Mullargao
(41) Narandhor Basa
(42) Narayanpur
(43) Nungkhal
(44) Nungphou
(45) Rasidpur

(46) Sabughat
(47) Sonapur
(48) Tilka Compani
(49) Topidhor
(50) Uchathol etc.

It seems that the migrated persons have exercised their liberty in naming the village they settled without consulting the earlier names of the place and historical facts or everts of the Icings of Manipur and the tribal heads. While recognizing the proposed names of the villages by the Government, historical events or facts of the kings of Manipur and tribal communities must be taken into account.

Further studies on the past historical events or facts of the kings of Manipur and tribal communities can be taken up for renaming the villages. Words like pur, thol, nagar, pare, bosti, khal etc should not be encouraged in a state like Manipur.

The process will enable to show that these areas were under the kings of Manipur or tribal heads in Manipur. Based on the facts of historical events; Calcutta, Bombay, Bangalore, Orissa etc. have been renamed as Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Odisha etc.

Renaming the villages of Jiribam based on the findings of historical facts and events will enable to show that these lands were under the rulers of Manipur or tribal heads in Manipur. More knowledge and information from local elders relating with historical events of different areas in Jiribam can be collected and introduction of the words like khul, thel, Leikai, lam, pokpi etc. may be encouraged.