Ethics of ethnic crisis in North East India An unchanging phenomenon in contemporary Manipur, its solutions
- Part 4 -

Dr Priyadarshni M Gangte *

Map of North East region, India :: Pix - TSE

The state of Meghalaya, erstwhile capital of Assam province exaggerated for its exotic tourist spot is also confounded by the growing migrants from outside and within the north east sources of employment and livelihood is gradually narrowing down and whatever is available caters to mainland people, perhaps, due to lack of suitable candidates.

The states of Sikkim and Mizoram both are slightly different from other sister states is also of the same category regarding the lacks in industry, health care, higher and source of employment, etc. the state of Manipur, as maintained by Zou known for its obliquitous technical education, and role in the good, bad and ugly and the hub of patriotism in the North East is like" a land of too many masters but ownership of none", forgetting about the sons of the same soil who are, in fact, have their common origin theory. As a result the state now is surrounded by the Army and the people are overburdened by layers of Maps of Homelands and bandhs.

IX. Security Concerns (Law and Order): The freedom of democracy has always demanded or implied the imperative of peaceful living conditions. Investments on tourism sector as already mentioned and natural resources have remained unexplored for security reasons in the State. In fact, for security problems and concerns; investors or stakeholders would have preferred Manipur instead or other States in the North East.

X. Insecurity Issues: Apart from all sorts of insecurity prevailing in the State, crime against women has certain variation from other States, in fact, the highest in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, that the most women suffer atrocities from the State and non-actors in the course of armed conflict and again sometimes the dimension of crime is also interestingly changed in the sense that some unidentified armed man or terrorist acting such activities of rape and other activities against women.

This phenomenon is also acute in the societies where the ethnic minority communities belong who are already deprived, marginali-zed and socially excluded though not highlighted and recorded. They are not able to come forward and have a say for they would be more tortured mentally and physically, thus, it will be the victimization of victims.

Now, such an environment also acts as an hindrance towards the upliftment so as to empowering in socio-economic and political spheres for women are predominantly majority in the Poor, Needy and Scheduled Tribe communities.

XI. Centre's outlook: In spite of 65 years of freedom and independence, right from the historic event i.e. Merger of Manipur with the dominion of India in 1949, 21 September, and placing of Manipur an earlier Kingdom into a Part – C category in 22nd January, 1950, then as a Territorial Council in 1956 and the Union Territory in 1963. Yet, the Centre has not changed its attitude of step-motherly treatment. The Central Government has not done anything concrete and substantial in development by formulating policy and performance transparently in true spirit for Manipur. There is no fair and equitable distribution of national wealth and resources.

Whatever fund is allocated for development of the State, no matter, the lesser amount, it should be utilized properly, and it should not reach to the pockets of the ministers, middlemen, agents and bureaucrats etc. The riches and power are being concentrated in a few hands instead of needy and poor. People are frustrated, confused and demoralized. The political leaders are indulging in scams and scandal involving crores of rupees.

At my Officers and Security Personals, etc. who are meant for law and order are found highly engaged in drug trafficking. At present, it is an emerging trend. It should be ensured that a concrete steps are being taken up which will go in a long way in the advancement, upliftment of these groups in particular and development of the State in general.

XII. Displacement of people for construction of Dam: In 1950s, the Government of India initiated and under took the major and power projects of the Eastern India, viz, Hirakud in Orissa, Mayurakshi in Bengal and all Damodar Valley Hydro and thermal power projects which made the displacement of people in the upper regions, their unsettled future and the loss of forest and biodiversity of the submerged area as we have noticed in our State i.e., Loktak Project and Mapithel Dam. In this context, it will be pertinent to mention what Kurup maintains about the fallout from large dams.

"Despite substantial evidences assembled by the World Commission on Dams in the year 2000 about the problems that are created by dams exceeding a certain size, the thrust of our Government is to pursue construction of large dams as a preferred strategy for meeting the country's irrigation and power needs. As on January 31st, 2006 the installed capacity of 254 hydro electric power stations constructed in the various parts of the country is 31754.45 MW. It is a common knowledge that this capacity can be achieved only at peak levels of water reservoirs. The reduction of power from 1994-2004 is around 31 Per Cent. The Govt of India plans to add 5040 MW in the year 2031-32.

The fund requirement is estimated to the order of Rs. 30,000 crores every year as per present level for the generation component alone. Other fallouts are displacement of 0.67 million people each year and submergence of 1,00,000 hectares of land 40,000 hectares of forest land."

XIII. Human Resource: Manipur is also yet to overcome the problems of dichotomy in its economy which are generally faced by underdeveloped and developing countries. There is acute shortage of manpower that possessing critical skills and abilities which are highly needed for a faster growth of economy on the one hand and surplus of unskilled labour for which there is a less demand in the job market. The State is already facing a serious challenge of human resource management in the last many years and now.

In keeping with the complexities, engrossing the State in the wake of challenges and constraints, it becomes imperative to evolve sound, efficient and effective management of human resources in the desired manner.

XIV. Electoral Politics (Political Immaturity): This sector is extremely localize although policies in generally connotes as a science of governance of state and preservation of its property and protections of its citizens and so on. The politicians in Manipur are more or less same with their colleagues in the NE region, they are in fact hardly aware about the true role of a leader in a democratic set up of governance. People blindly contest election without having specific objective and obligation to the society.

Govt functions, conventionally without a layout development plan despite receiving hundreds of crores of rupees from the centre. In the hills, people voted on the basis of tribe, clan and dialect and in fact, on the direction of the various armed organisation thus, there is not election at all rather selection or appointment is replacing the essence of the said high value institution.

There is no commitment, responsibility and accountability of any individual, no matter, the place or position belongs to. As far as the contest in election in Manipur is concerned at the moment, is in fact a kind of monetary investment (buying of voters and selling of voting right) and exposition of power and might of the rich, militant leaders especially in the hills and contractors whereby leaving no space for the social workers and honest people. Election is more of an entrepreneurship of few opportunists, wealthy and power hungry persons.

XV. Absence of every Community/Ethnic Representatives under Bicameral System: Parliament of India or some of the states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir have adopted a bicameral system in the process of sending people representative in the houses of Parliament or State Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), this method of people representatives to the Parliament or State Assembly may also be applicable to or the whole North Eastern Region in consideration for the ethnic minority communities who are the extremely numerically less who are already deprived, marginalized and socially excluded people by suitably amending the PR Act so as to provide an opportunity to weaker sections to get adequate representation and equal footing of development in socio-economic and political security to all communities irrespective of what caste or religion they belong to the process of development.

To be continued....