Inner Line Permit System and Manipur

Bonomali Ashem *

Students Protest Rally at Kakching, Manipur demanding implementation of ILPS on 28 July 2014 :: Pix - Gyanand Naorem

Manipur is still a green pasture to outside world due to our easy going ways of life, lack of hard working habit, simplicity and accommodativeness of the people. Even when we had ILPS in the past, we had much influx of outsiders in the past. It came in three stages, 1st the state sponsored influx to settle refugees in Jiribam, Bishnupur and Thoubal Districts (in 60's these districts were under Central district parts of it, implying that these were Meitei districts), Jiribam is still reeling under that impact; second influx of course had been the illegal one, the transport agencies and truck drivers being main vehicle, though in trickles, but continuous; and third one in hill districts, particularly from Myanmar and other neighbouring states, as encroaches or otherwise, this one continuing even now.

But, the main and official issue is regarding influx from mainland India to plains districts. The issue of how it was lifted from Manipur has been discussed many times; I shall not repeat them here. The fate of the people of this place hangs on two factors, one the ILPS and the other being recognised as a schedule tribe which is our rightful place.

In hill districts, the area is under constitutional protection being schedule land; nobody can take away their land for settlement. So, ILPS demand is more relevant and significant for the plain's area. Personally I feel that there has not been much threat whatsoever in relation with ILPS in the hills. This is true for tribal states in the neighbourhood such as Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh etc. where enforcing ILPS is not big issue, as these states have been recognised as tribal states having scheduled lands only and accordingly the legal protection. So, apparently, ILPS is with tribal states only.

The state of Manipur having a majority population of general caste (non schedule tribes) is not recognised as tribal state. There is no non tribal state in the country where ILPS is enforced; it shall be a constitutional problem, every state shall go on demanding that, that could spark off an unrest all over the country, already regionalism and nationalistic elements like Marathas, Bengalis, Oriyas, Dravidians are on the rise. This could be the reason the policy makers in Delhi are having against our genuine demand. But what is not understood by the policy makers is that the case of Manipur is different from the issues of these larger states, the case of meiteis is totally different.

The meiteis have been unduly and unreasonably regarded as descendents of Aryans and all and regarded as highly civilised and religious Hindus. These shackles we have to shake off, the ego of being a superior caste having higher brain and intellect is going against the general feeling and interests of the common Meitei people, a few doctorates, few educated people and one or two getting through All India Services should not aberrate the picture of the downtrodden people.

The ghosts of the badly drafted and interpreted merger agreement are still haunting the people of Manipur. Quite unfortunately, a timely and reasonable movement last year for demanding schedule tribe status died down because it did not get blessings from some sections and some intellectuals with their ego and limited visions. Had we got the scheduled tribe status, this would have not been a big issue.

To me the majority meiteis are having a difficult life, much lower economy than what is being projected. There are many people who eke out living by doing jhuming on the land of their tribal friends. Secondly, the Hinduism may be a good religion, but it was never our natural religion, basically it is an Aryan religion thrust upon us, it should not be a point against us, a minus point in our claim of being a scheduled tribe. There are Hindu tribes in India and many Meiteis are not Hindus.

Genetically too, we are no different from the people in the adjoining and neighbouring tribal states. We could have been scheduled tribe long ago, in the first schedule tribe commission itself but for the blunder of a few intellectuals of yesteryears, we are here today which needs to be corrected, the historical blunder need to be set right. Personally, I feel that this should have been an easy route, or the main route, more beneficial route for all of us. Economically, socially, by religion or genetically, we do not deserve to be in the higher caste (let's leave aside those less than a handful), one or two intelligent people or intellectuals or higher castes people does not represent the whole of Meitei community. We are indigenous people requiring full protection.

Anyway, past is past, let us not worry over the spilled beans, let us take the issue forward from here. Appreciating and wholeheartedly supporting the movement for ILPS and mass uprising, I feel that, this hurdle should not be a stumbling block. When we are united and unanimous, no goal should be too tough. Nobody should play politics on this vital issue of the state, rather should work unitedly for a political solution. It is a serious issue for all the people of Manipur, particularly for the people, who have no defence against the onslaughts from all sides.