Nature of Disparity & Inequality in Valley and Hills
- How to solve it ? -

Philip Kamei *

This article relates to the past and present situation prevailing in Manipur. In the pre-19th centuries Manipur was ruled by monarchy (Raja) and was a princely State. The hills and valley remained isolated and mostly closed door but a little exchange or commercial activities between hills and valley existed in the form of barter economy. People from the hills came down with agricultural produce to Imphal town to barter for Ngari and Salt.

This had been done by travelling on bare foot taking nearly a week for to and fro journey. The king's domination and his administration were carried out and mostly confined at the jurisdiction of the valley, therefore no major task was taken up in the hills during those periods. The tribal in the hills confined their liberation within the village boundary and crossing from one village to another was strictly prohibited as there was an era of head hunting taking the head of other people from other villages.

The method of inter-village feud and enmity against one another was very crude and savage and was at its peak. In 1905 Haipou Jadonang was born in a humble peasant family, in a place called Kambiron 15 km away from Nungba H/Q to the west of Nungba. Since his childhood days he grew up to be very honest, sincere and never told lies even an instance of dictating to his mom for stealing crops (chillies) from somebody's field was strongly warned, he knew his mother stole it.

He had extra-ordinary power, he could even tame the python and kept as pet animals. He had got power to cure and heal the sick with some divine power. He was an architect who had introduced his own religion namely 'Tingkao Ragoung Chapriak' after rectifying and removing all the bad taboos and gennas of worshiping nature or animalism form of worship followed by his ancestor.

Within short period he gained popularity among Zelianglong people spreading in three States viz Nagaland, Assam and Manipur. He was worshiping God Vishnu in a place called Bhuvon cave. He fought the British might in retaliation to force labour (potthang) and hills house tax which was against the will of the people. He raised his own army by raising fund from charity and donation made by his Zeliangrong people in kind or cash. He introduced his parade system and told the people that 'makamei goung tupuni' meaning to say Zeliangrong people will one day become a king with free will without anybody's dictates. But, at the prime of his life he was hung to death by Britisher implicating on the charge of murdering three Manipuri's leaders.

Later his fight was continued by Haipei Rani Gaidinliu, a lone lady follower from Luongkao in the west district of Manipur. Haipou Jadonang was a great visioner, a great reformer and a revolutionary leader who does not have even elementary education. He wanted that his Zeliangrong brethren are free from the clutches of the British might. He longed his countrymen to live freely and having authority over their land and resources. He also had a deep respect for Mahatma Gandhi and drew many inspirations from his non-violent movement of freedom struggle.

Right after India's independence, Manipur State was merging with Indian Union on 1949. After which many development packages were flooding in till today. Our economies are at the mercy and whims of the centre to survive since our economies are not able to stand on our own. India being federalism in structure share resource and power, power are being devolution in the union, State and concurrent lists.

Why does valley go ahead of hills? This has a long historical issue and a typical one. The valley though small in size is a very fertile area whatever is sown produce lot of surpluses. Therefore, the valley people have no worries or anxiety to feed their stomach full whereas in the hills the pre-historic mode of cultivation still prevailing and no sign of modern farming method. As a consequence of it, returns are low and less productivity without generating surpluses for the market. The output at the harvest or annually could let them survive for 4-6 months only. The introduction of education in the hills areas are very recent activities and people awareness to learn was realised very lately.

In the 1920s some underground elements were seen fighting for the greater cause of its people against British and later fought against Indian Government on identity issue and as a unique and distinct people that did not belong to Aryan majority group of people in India. The Government of India in retaliation to fight against such element set up Village Volunteer Force (WF) to safeguard the village. As a result of which all the villagers in the hills were pacified of course in the early phase many have been killed and rendered homeless people were chased out whenever they went against the Ideology of the underground.

Such elements in the past were wholly responsible for hatred, Jealousy among the brotherhood. In those period of times when things are not well in Manipur hills The valley are struggling to go forward and were much better in position when compare with the hills. The valley are richly endow with good soil, water, stream and river along with many resources.

Say for Instances Variety of flora and fauna. Valley people have become rich on account of the early education system they attains in compare to hilly region, having better infrastructure, accompanied by productivity of the land. Many development work also being introduce in the capital of the state. The writer is a Research Scholar, (Ph.D.), Manipur University.

People are found employed in Governmental services and private sectors too. Whereas, a few tribal people of the hills were employed mostly in C and D grade post because they were not illegible for the post of A grade and B grade due to low level of education they attained in those days.

The people felt secure and safe with the many plots of land where they could cultivate and produce crops for theirs survival. In contrast, the valley people were having more population and stiff competition for betterment of the State is seen. They are highly standardised even during the Maharaja Times ie in the times of princely State.

So necessarily developmental gap, inequity and unemployment exist and leave the hill people far behind their valley counterparts. Now, a shift is seen. Many high profile Jobs or white coloured Jobs are also being held by the hill people. In the valley all sorts of modern institutions like good hospital, banking institutions, schools, colleges, university, zoos, industries etc existed as in the present times bringing tremendous changes in the valley.

In some areas the valley can compete with the outside world, yet developing the valley is just one sided and Manipur can never be a good State unless the five hills districts are given the opportunities to propel their growth. We know during the 11th and 12th plan period, the Government of India laid Emphasis on elementary education for all, rural development, electrification and rural connectivity so also MGNREGA targeting the poor by giving 100 days of employment to the rural poor. A greater change can come about when the Govt sorts out some concrete strategies that can bind both the hill and the valley people towards leading a peaceful and harmonious life in the State.

To maintain a cordial relationship between the hill and the valley people, the former as a majority community should put every effort to help the hill people and the latter should also welcome every initiative taken up to ensure development in the hill areas. While a far-sighted programme and policy is the ultimate need to bring about a positive change in any society, it is disheartening to learn that Tamenglong district is yet to see the light of development with many of its areas like Nungba headquarters still reeling under the nightmare of inequity and disparity.

Tamenglong district remains to be the most backward region among 9 districts of the State where nobody is willing to invest for any developmental work or project. Some 25 years back there was a rural bank in the town but as of now the same has disappeared. There is only one market shed where people from 6 - 10 villages come to make a sale of their produce. And the condition of this shed is in such a pathetic condition that even cowshed would be better, I Guess.

In the paper or the official reports many things undone are written. Practically there is nothing worth to consider the place a sub-divisional H/Q. Village Authority Courts are not good enough even the Quarters of SDOs are haphazardly built. One hospital was there in the past but with no equipment to treat major ailments and it seems this hospital was opened just to deal with cases of first aids. No enough doctors and nurses are seen working in this hospital. Not even a kilometre of black top road is seen. Water scarcity is a major issue in many areas of the district. When Prof Gangmumei was the then MLA of Nungba Constituency he laid a water pipe for the people of the town.

The water is brought from virgin forests of some 15 kms away from the town but this is not sufficient Nungba being a largest town with some 450 households having 6 hamlets (part). Only one Government high School is available but the Infrastructure is not up to the mark. Recently a building was set for introducing higher secondary but this has also become a mere dream.

I feel that such element is not of Nungba alone but also to other places too. Police check post is not good enough and a mere one post office exists. I feel this is too much. Without proper public toilet, fooding and lodging centre how do we go about even to entertain the VIP when they visit the town.

Now, the time is ripe for a Government to see such issue seriously then people will automatically come forward to welcome the Govt in making a democratic and better State. Some people feel that by being separated from the parent body they would be better but I feel breaking in any sense is insensible, it's a sign of degradation and a sign to become a less welfare State and in due course of time it will weaken the economy.

Therefore, we in the hills and valley need to narrow down our differences in words, deed and kind. Our State is not lacking behind others in many areas but we are not able to diagnose the real problems faced by the common people. Good governance is one, who identifies the problems and solves them by winning the trust of the people.