Defer census call gets louder
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 26 2026: A public discourse of civil society organisations (CSOs) convened by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (CJDF) held at Kwakeithel Makha Thokchom Leikai has endorsed the call to defer census operations in Manipur.

The event, attended by internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Churachandpur and Moreh, as well as representatives of various communities, including Kabui, Tangkhul, Meitei Pangal, and Thadou, was held under the theme "Present Issues of the Census".

The meeting was moderated by demographer RK Narendra.

It is reported that the CJFD will convene another public meeting on the same issue on March 29.All the speakers at the event expressed a desire for the Government to conduct census operations only after updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the context of Manipur.

Announcing their support to the CJFD, they argued that proceeding with the census without identifying illegal immigrants would fail to provide an accurate demographic picture of the State.

Further highlighting that many internally displaced people (IDPs) are still residing in relief camps, they emphasised that the current situation in Manipur is not conducive to hold the census.

They also stated that the administration has failed in certain parts of the State.

Even Assembly sessions have not been held in the full presence of the House members since the onset of the ongoing crisis in Manipur on May 3, 2023, let alone facilitate free movement across the State, they argued.

Cautioning that conducting the census in a rushed manner would impact policy-making too, they urged the Government to defer the census until the issues plaguing Manipur are resolved.

They stated that politicians have a larger role to play in advocating for the postponement of the census.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Kangleipak, a conglomerate of IPSA, PANDM, ACOAM-Lup, IPAK, KSA, Loya Lup, Kangla Mei, KIL, CLK, ERDO, AKSIL, MIKL and SWA, organised a discussion programme on "No NRC Update, No Census" at Takyel Khongbal Mayai Leikai today.

The gathering resolved that the census in Manipur should only be conducted after updating the NRG, said a press statement issued by the CSOs of Kangleipak.

They argued that conducting the census without addressing the issue of illegal immigrants would effectively legalize them.

There is a possibility of the valley districts losing some Constituencies in the delimitation process if the census is conducted incorrectly, they said and urged the Government to address the issue of illegal immigrants before proceeding with the census.

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