Understanding the migrant wave
Neutralise the pull factor
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 09, 2012 -

Statistics do not lie.

Yet at the same time it has been observed that they do not necessarily reflect the truth at all times.

The decadal headcount of the population, more popularly known as the Census, may not actually say something alarming about the demography of the land but this is no ground to dismiss the growing voice of concern aired from some quarters over the increasing number of immigrants to the land down the years.

The final draft of the 2011 head-count is pending, but there can be something other than official documents to arrive at a general understanding of the demographic composition of the State.

The coming up of new settlements in different parts of the State, especially along National Highway-2 on the way between Sekmai and Kangpokpi, on the eastern side of Manipur near the border with Myanmar and the manner in which some of the migrants have been able to meld among the indigenous population are all indications of the changing demographic composition of the State.

Immigrants to Manipur may be seen under four broad classifications.

The ones coming in-from across the porous Indo-Myanmar Border, those from mainland India most probably from the BIMARU States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and others, those coming from Bangladesh and those coming from Nepal and adjoining areas.

Clearly the pull factor of Manipur seems to be immense to these people.

As long as the migrants remain seasonal in nature, that is come here to ply their trade and return to their native land after they have finished with their trade or business then the danger to the demographic composition of the land would not be that acute.

It becomes dangerous when these migrants gradually meld into the social, political and economic mainstream of the people here that their stay starts to pose a threat.

There are enough literature and material to understand and study how unchecked inflow of human population to a place can give rise to unwanted situations.

The political, social and economic implications of large scale influx need not be elaborated here but suffice it to say that its impact on the lives of the local population can be catastrophic.

Manipur is a sma1l place inhabited by an even smaller indigenous population and this is one reason why concerns have been raised over the changing demographic face.

There are no records as such to show the inflow of people from Myanmar and Bangladesh but this a reality and the frightening prospect is the ease with which these migrants can blend with the local population. The agenda of building a vote bank is something which is a distinct possibility and this is where political patronisation can come in to play a crucial role.

Assam has already seen it and is today paying a heavy price.

Nagaland too has been hit hard and Manipur can be said to be staring at the same prospect.

The Inner Line Permit System, the demand for which has been gaining momentum recently is but one measure to help check the inflow of people from outside the State, but the situation calls for a more concerted effort from all.

While the Government should be pressurised to take up all possible measures to check the flow or immigrants, the public too need to study why Manipur has such an awesome pull power.

One way of effectively discouraging the flow of migrant workers would be for the local people to occupy the trade and labour which these people take up with relative ease.

Dignity of labour has never been felt so urgently as now.

Create a mental conditioning such that unemployed youths would willingly take up a number of vocations which have hitherto been filled up by the immigrants.

This is one basic strategy of choking the inflow line.