Sangai Festival and the Universal Children's Day

19th November 2013

As the world makes a joint commitment Universal Children's Day on November 20, Imphal is engrossed in a quick makeover bid for the imminent launch of the Sangai Festival this year, a tourism promotion extravaganza sponsored and owned by the government of Manipur that seems to have no room for Manipur’s citizens, especially her children. This day is observed to promote the objectives outlined in the UN Charter and for the welfare of children. On November 20, 1959 the United Nations adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989.

Universal Children's Day is not simply a day to celebrate children for who they are, but to bring awareness to children around the globe that have succumbed to violence in forms of abuse, exploitation and discrimination. Children are used as labourers in some countries, immersed in armed conflict, living on the streets, suffering by differences be it religion, minority issues, or disabilities.

Children feeling the effects of war and armed conflict can be displaced and/or suffer physical and psychological trauma. The following violations are described in the term "children and armed conflict": recruitment and child soldiers, killing/maiming of children, abduction of children, attacks on schools/hospitals and not allowing humanitarian access to children.

Unfortunately, in the surging euphoria of tourism promotion, Manipur has forgotten that the needs of children are the foremost priority. As traffic flows in Imphal are drastically revamped for the Sangai Festival, and new and arbitrary one-way regulations threateningly imposed by gun-toting police personnel, children going to school and returning home in public transport vehicles, vans and school buses are deeply traumatised by these new restrictions supervised by armed persons in uniform. This is tourism promotion by government fiat under the shadow of armed conflict and AFSPA, promoting too a picture of bizarre bedfellows.

It is derisive that while the only great tourist attraction of Imphal City, the historical Kangla is shrouded in absolute darkness, the roads around this ancient monument are drenched by a mindless and tasteless array of blinking low-priced lights. The ancient monument of the brick gateway to the Sana Konung at Pureiromba Khongnangkhong of Imphal are also sought to be hidden from view by aesthetically revolting scaffolding and decorations instead of being highlighted for their historic importance, something the tourists and visitors are bound to have an interest in.

In the end this festival will be remembered for its extravagant last-minute spending of public moneys with no accountability, its repellent garish makeover of a beautiful city, visitors horrified by the fortress mentality of the government and the disorientated children of Imphal who are prevented from taking their normal routes to their schools.

(Dr Laifungbam Debabrata Roy)
President, CORE

(Nandini Thockchom)
Secretary, FIPA

CORE
(Indigenous Peoples' NGO in Special Consultative Relations with ECOSOC of United Nations)
Ibotombi Building FF
Babupara
Imphal 795001
Manipur, India
TEL (Office): +91-385-2441319