SHDDC Issue - Hon'ble CM, hammer is in your hands, strike the bell, but you have to pull it closer

RS Jassal *

Here author means BELL – The People . It is an open fact that every type of people in Manipur want the problem of Sadar Hills to be settled permanently without further loss of time. Everyone appreciates that economic blockades, bandhs and destruction of public property do not benefit anyone. It only adds to the sufferings of the people especially those who are not in viable position to secure Government protection.

The author feels encouraged when reads about opinion of some Naga leaders that district may be created but with mutual discussions and consent. There is also no doubt that discussions have been held earlier too, hard points moulded to reduce repugnancy, and perhaps it was because of those worthy efforts in the past which prompted previous Ministries led by Y. Shaiza, Rishang Keishing, Nipamacha to declare that Sadar Hills District must be created as Revenue District taking various odds into consideration. It is believed that maximum had been done by Rishang Ministry and Nipamacha Ministry which made it convenient to upgrade all the deptts under ADC Sadar Hills and they are almost functioning like a District in virtue.

However, following fears among the minds of some Naga people appear to be creating doubts and suspicions causing recurrent terminals:- That a certain portions or the considerable portion of land/jungles belonging to Nagas will go away under control of Kukis for their possession permanently. With the expansionism in the number of villages of Kukis as brought out by some Naga Research scholars may reduce Nagas to minority in their own ancestral lands. Kukis are asking for certain areas to be included where there are no habitation at all in miles around ranging from 20-30 miles.

Though (a) and (b) can be equated with archaic psychic think tank but definitely fear of powerful Naga UG organisation to affect Nagalim is there. Areas belong to people who live there it may be Nagas, Kukis, Meiteis and Gorkhas too. Fear of political imbalance in future may happen as democracy breeds on number game. Similar factors are affecting creation of Jiribam as a district when Nagas proclaim areas from their Sub Division will not be given.

New demands of Tengnuopal and Phungyar as districts are in the offing depending on the decision on Sadar Hills. It is worth to recall that as the then CM, Rishang Keishing had put up the statute on Sadar Hills duly approved by his Cabinet for obtaining signatures and seal of His Excellency, the then Governor of Manipur. Same was withdrawn within few days under threat from some powerful UG organization or otherwise is difficult to say.

But it is true it was to avoid the repercussions from the various Naga organizations. It is also crystal clear that Nagas and Kukis enjoy the same constitutional privileges so far as protection of lands and right to live is concerned but governance of lands under chiefship of Kuki & Village Headman under Naga system differs. People have been staying together observing their own systems since time immemorial and will continue doing so in future to come is also a palpable fact in realty till Autonomous District Councils get entrenched and the system of Chief/Headmen gets modified or quashed completely.

Theoretically some research scholars compare village of a Naga and a Kuki as yardstick to measure expansionism ignoring that average Naga village is at least 50% and at places even more than cent per cent bigger than any Kuki village. Perhaps Lacuna lied and is still there in permission being granted by Govt to do so since British times to establish any village with minimum 25 households or so/above provided no objection from surrounding village chiefs/Headmen. So a graph of increase in population need be taken than the number of increase in villages. Population now stands closer to each other. This problem can be overcome if meaning full bodies from Kukis and Nagas extend sincere and closer co-operation in preparation of National Census Register on population with the Unique identification Card issued to one and all.

In view of the above, the Hon'ble Chief Minister in capacity of his exalted, unbiased and most respected office, must gather courage and bang the bell telling with full force announcing: SADAR HILL district and JIRIBAM district will be declared within 90 to 120 days, and Tengnoupal and Phunygar districts in the offing will follow suite. WHY??

People understand reasons fully well for inherent historicos—social and Politicos accumulating since centuries due to flawed policies that this was bound to happen for present generation to confront it. Some of the factors affecting current situation can be understood better: look at the map prepared by Britisher (Ref TC Hudson–MEITHEIS) right form Cooch Behar–to Yangoon including then NEFA-NAGA HILLS and surrounding areas.

Viewer will fail to understand where which community/tribe starts/ends, each overlaps and even over jumps others just like when you look down from aero plane where and which State of NE in particular starts and ends. There were no well demarcated borders except gaps posed by apparent ending of valley and commencement of uphill slopes fortified with linguistic divides.

The nomad tribes compelled by hunger, search for green lands and due political kickings kept on moving in and out into others 'lambersum' and occupied vast unoccupied areas, somewhere Rajas brought to serve his agendas, some where Britishers created British reserves and allotted areas to their loyals. This trans village boundary moves have remained in vogue even at International Borders till recently stopped by insurgents occupied border junction points for their moves and controls.

Naga insurgency however cautioned the minor tribes and forced them to groupings with some strong groups secretively though to start with. 1990s Naga-Kuki skirmishes ended in hundreds losing their lives & many villages getting upstuck. At places where Nagas were in strength grabbed paddy fields belonging to Kukis and at places by Kukis in vice versa situation.

With 'outsiders go' call by valley based insurgent groups in valley in 1980's forced the Nepalese (Now Indian Gurkhas) to get grouped in area Kanglatombi-Kalapahar-Irangpat I& Irangpat II. This factor is also affecting the horoscope of Sadar Hills though not immediately. But how long will you ignore? Can you? Not at all.

What CM needs to do now

Prevail on blockade organizers to end this blockade, indicating breathing time as said before with declaration Sadar Hills & Jiribam districts will be formed for administrative convenience.

• Constitute a super council of all Nagas-Kukis (former and present legislator's councilors only) and two to four representatives from Church from both the tribes to work out on demarcation of areas and where absolutely necessary Kukis should also be prevailed upon to agree to keep areas out to make Sadar Hill District compact and smooth administration worthy.
• Reorganized districts should be people oriented and not ethnicity based, since it does not affect the constitutional privileges of tribals even if they are grouped with non tribals for easy and smooth administration. Gorkhas, Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis in Sadar Hills can be an ideal district to start with.
• After these four districts as have been indicated in this write-up, other districts may also be modified for administrative ease and comforts so that lateral roads can come up and developmental activities speed up.