IPAK censures 4 child norm
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 16 2022: The October 13 State Cabinet decision to delist families with more than four children from Government schemes was a hasty one and it is flawed from a logical point of view, said Idigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) .

In a statement issued by its president Ksh Somorendro today, IPAK said the policy as a population control measure would prove detrimental to the Manipuri population.

The policy, it said, would become a reason for the extinction of the ethnic Manipuri community in future.

India has the second highest population.

In the next Census, it is expected that India would become the country with the highest population (surpassing China).

However, in India, Meetei population in ratio is about 0.09 percent meaning it is a Micro Minority.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi are among the most populous States and as such such a policy is good for family planning and population control there.

However, introducing such a policy in a State like Manipur where the population growth of the ethnic group is minimal is unreasonable.

With outsiders making 1/3 of the total population, the number of outsiders has reached about 7-8 lakh.

As a result, the 4 child policy would become a reason for extinction of the ethnic population, said IPAK.

Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) erstwhile Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FREINDS) has been working since 2005 to protect and preserve the indigenous population of Manipur.

Promoting the growth of the indigenous population, the association has been awarding mothers who give birth to more children, it said.

Asking if there is a hidden agenda to end the ethnic population, IPAK appealed to the Government to give the Cabinet's decision a second thought to promote the indigenous population.

While the Government's claim that the 4 child policy is a population control measure is right, it may be noted that the Meetei community has been following family planning limiting one or two children per family.

There are communities that are not following any family planning.

The Government should instead look into this.

Further illegal and uncontrolled influx of foreigners is one of the main reasons for increasing population.

Workers from outside are brought into Manipur for engaging in various developmental projects and schemes.

However, after the completion of the projects, most of them do not return home.

Besides the 2001 and 2011 Census had detected abnormal and unnatural growth rate at some sub-divisions in hill districts.

To control this unnatural rise in population, the Government should strictly check illegal immigrants and foreigners, IPAK said.

Further, due to lower percentage of population, Manipur has only 2 Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha.

As a result their voices are being treated as that of a minority and none have been made a Cabinet Minister so far, said IPAK.

It then reiterated that the indigenous people being a micro minority group should follow proper planning to increase the population, especially those like Purum, Tarao and others which are on the verge of extinction.

Like the endangered Sangai, the indigenous population should be protected and their growth ensured, IPAK said.

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