NPO lines up agitation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 06 2013: The Naga People's Organisation (NPO) has announced a series of agitation in protest against the exclusion of Mao-Maram, Purul and Paomata sub-divisions of Senapati district in the 2001 and 2011 census.

Speaking to media persons after a public meeting held at Senapati Indoor Stadium today on the issue of excluding the three sub-divisions from the decadal census exercise twice, NPO president ML Markson said that democratic forms of agitation would be launched if their demands are not addressed by the State Government by August 31 .

On being enquired about the mode of agitation, Markson said that there would be agitation definitely in case the State fails to act within the given deadline but the modes of agitation have not been worked out yet.

A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister O Ibobi on the issue.

Agan, an ultimatum has been submitted to the Chief Minister through the Senapati DC today.

The Committee on Census, Senapati president PT Arhai said that no democratic process was executed in wholesome manner in Senapati district because of Naga insurgency although everyone knows that the census exercise is conducted every every 10 years since 1951 .

The census exercise was never complete in Senapati district and people did not pay hill house tax.

On account of prohibition by rebels, the decadal census exercise was never executed completely in Senapati district between 1951 and 1991 .

It was only after NSCN-IM and Government of India signed ceasefire agreement that Senapati limped back to normalcy.

The census exercise of 2001 recorded a quantum rise in the population of Senapati district because people who were never taken into account in the census exercises conducted in the preceding decades were put on record.

However, population figure of the three sub-divisions was deleted from the census report because the State Government saw it as unnatural growth.

The State Government committed the same fait accompli in 2011 too.

Moreover, Senapati is a commercial centre where the most important National Highway passes through and fertility rate is high in the district.

On the other hand, mortality rate is low, all of which contributed to the population growth.

According to data collected by enumerators during the 2011 census, population of the three sub-divisions was 3.59 lakhs but the State Government rather adopted an estimated figure of 1.57 lakh.

Although the matter has been forwarded to the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs, no response has been forthcoming till date, Arhai said.

Excluding people of the three sub-divisions from the census report during the past two decades is gross injustice.

He went on to ask "Doesn't it imply that we should leave Manipur?" .

The public meeting attended by representatives of Maram Union, Mao Union, Thangal Union, Poumai Union, ZU Senapati Zone, church leaders, political leaders and village authorities adopted a number of resolutions.

It unanimously agreed to submit names of people who did not submit National Population Registry forms in 2011 to their respective tribe Hohos.

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