Redeeming Urban Poor of Manipur

G S Oinam *

Today, UPA at the centre has given special favour for rural poor in order to full fill the promises made before 15th Lok Sabha election. Now, rural problems will be relief to some extend; this is the happiest moment of our rural poor! NREGS scheme for rural employment, road and infrastructural development, telephone connection, school, housing, health, sanitation and drinking waters schemes apart from 9 flagships schemes. Have the rural poor of Manipur possess at least their own house and a piece land for farming? What they like more? Now, the time has come for urgent attention to the dying urban poor. Urban poor should not be left in lurch!

Yet, the government of Manipur working at their best to fill up the blanks and overnight reforms, urban poor has become a cause of SPF headaches. SPF government will be difficult to function smoothly if it was surrounded by poor urban population at the heart of Imphal capital and unless their grievances were considered. Many questions arise, why SPF government was unpopular in urban populace of Manipur particularly Imphal East and Imphal West District? What are the target achievement and goal of urban development in the state? What the state government had done so far for urban poor benefits for the last 7 years? It is necessary to recheck from ministerial birth distribution to public distribution system with a view to urban problems. If possible, specifically designed programme for urban poor benefit scheme will be very helpful to cool down the anger of urban populace.

1. Imphal East: - Marginal workers 50,320, non workers- 2, 37,994, total- 2, 88,314;
   Urban population - 1, 08,310.Total population (urban & rural ): 3,94,876
2. Imphal West: - Marginal workers 49,010, non workers - 2, 66,271, total -3, 15,281;
   Urban population- 2, 46,683. Total population: 4,44,382
3. Bishnupur District: -Marginal workers 34,146, non workers-1, 18,665, total- 1, 52,811;
   Urban population- 74,741. Total population: 2,08,368
4. Thoubal District: - Marginal workers 65,857, non workers -1, 86,797, total -2, 52,654;
   Urban population- 1, 31,272. Total population: 3,64,140
5. Senapati District:-Marginal workers-22,015, non workers-84,625, total- 106640,
   Urban population: - Nil (not recorded) Total population: 2,83,621
6. Tamenglong District: - Marginal workers-7,510, non workers-60,636, total- 68,146;
   Urban population: Nil (not recorded). Total population: 1,11,499
7. Churachandpur District: - Marginal workers-27,430, non workers-1, 28,542,
   Total-1, 55,972; urban population: Nil (not recorded). Total population:2,27,905
8. Chandel District: - Marginal workers-14,610, non workers-63,782, total- 78,392;
   Urban population: 14,962. Total population: 1,18,327
9. Ukhrul District: - Marginal workers-14,951, non workers- 74,263, total: 8 9,214;
   Urban population: Nil (not recorded). Total population:1,40,778

Various scheme of social welfare, which is most needy for the urban poor are still keep in dark. Under the ministry of social justice and empowerment, many schemes are providing to NGOs for urban and rural poor in which Thoubal district has scored the highest grant in aids receiver. The neediest and the most urban populated districts of Imphal East, Imphal West (more then half of the urban population of Manipur) and Bishnupur District have given little attention. 31 NGOs of Thoubal district are getting grant in aid of about Rs.1.16 crore approx. in 2007-08 for various scheme of vocational training, crafts training, de addiction center, Old Age Home, disabled children schooling etc. under the ministry of social justice and empowerment. At the early of 2008-09, 16 NGOs of Thoubal district alone received about Rs.65.18 lakh under the ministry of social justice and empowerment, Govt. of India. 4 NGOs of Bishnupur District received Rs. 10.60 lakh in the year 2007-08 under various scheme of ministry of social justice. In the early 2008-09, 2 NGOs received Rs. 12.58 lakh under the scheme of vocational training. 31 NGOs of Imphal East and Imphal West received total amount of Rs. 2.11 crore approx. in the year 2007-08 under various scheme of vocational training, craft training, De- addiction centre, old age home, residential primary school etc. at Imphal East and Imphal West only. In the early 2008-09, 16 NGOs of Imphal East and Imphal West District received Rs.1.61 crore approx. under various scheme of ministry of social justice and empowerment.( for more details please log on www.socialjustice.nic.in ) The amount sanction to NGOs is not good enough for urban poor of Manipur. More money is required especially for the welfare and employment assurance scheme of urban poor.

Besides, our people would like to listen successful story of trained beneficiaries at least one successful story of beneficiary from one NGO each. If the target was achieved by 40 % by the NGOs then social auditors can give them good mark. Our babus (bureaucrats) at the centre and the state are suggested to survey the market by personal visit once before framing policy guidelines. Interestingly, under the revised project guideline of ministry of social justice, one peon working for 8 hours in one day must get salary of get Rs.1000/- per month, Driver–Rs.1200/-,Chawkidar-Rs.1000/-,social worker- Rs.3000/-, supt. /warden / manager- Rs.3500/- per month. It is unpractical in real term to prepare such kind of budget by NGOs under the ministry guidelines when the price of rice rose to Rs.20/- per kg, onion Rs18/- per kg, potato- Rs. 16/- per kg etc. How long the staff employees can work properly taking one meal in a day? How can they serve sincerely for others even the staff employees are hunger? Perhaps, their scheme may be additional aids only to the interested well organized NGOs on social services but how long non profitable NGOs can run such kind of scheme? What are the financial positions (soundness) of the NGOs of Manipur? Many questions are unanswered and interestingly, more NGOs are attracted to these schemes. Is the ministry of social justice doing social just in Manipur?

(Hills are covered under various scheme of ministry of tribal affairs apart from ministry of social justice and empowerment, ministry of women and child development etc.)

Now, social welfare department of Manipur can not be silent spectator. No leap service, no ignorance and no face saving words if the department really likes to face the anger of urban poor! It is an urgent need to prepare a vision plan for urban poor clearly indicating objective, goal, strategy, target, ground reality and priority apart from regular services on government schemes and programmes considering the day to day happening and law and order in the state.

Womenfolk with a torch (Meira Paibee) organization must get an opportunity: Womenfolk with a torch (Meira Paibee) organizations are symbolic and world famous and they have unique features too. Their contribution to the society is worthwhile to fight against the social atrocities especially for women and children. They are the women voluntary organization serving without any cost for their work against the social atrocities. Every individual has to take part voluntarily if her family belongs to the society they live in. Today, Meira Paibee has become incredibly a great force in the state. Government has given little attention and no facility has been provided to them except some promises given by local politician during election hours however, their promises are often failed.

The problem of poor parenting and negative role model has become a great concern in the state. Even a simple altercation can trigger violent behaviour in the angry child of today. Child psychologists claim juvenile crimes are on the rise because of the rapidly changing social ethos, influence of media and negative role model. According to experts, there are two forms of aggression in children. One is convert aggression or internal anger in which plunges a child into depression and isolates and alienates him. The other is overt aggression where the anger is externalized and there is intolerance towards others, leading to violent episodes. If there is an increasing trend of the violence in society and sadly children are exposed to it. Is it really sad for the future of our children? Psychologists says that poor role model in the families, where parents don’t have time for children, causes them to seek attention through violent behaviour. A lot of responsible parenting is required, value based life skill education needs to be imparted in the school and proper process of counseling and correctional behaviour should be in place in order to make the juvenile more responsible.

There are many schemes under the ministry of women and child development and ministry of social justice and empowerment in which Meira Paibee can apply for grant in aids. However, Meira Paibee has to be registered under the Registration of Society Act .for seeking grand in aid. The issue of poor parenting, poverty, family quarrels and family counseling is the neediest and often faced by Meira Paibee organizations in our society. Our society will not be mature, now or in future, unless the issue of poor parenting, poverty etc. is discussed professionally or family counseling is not practicing well in the state. Ministry of women and child development has the scheme of family counseling providing at a maximum amount of Rs 2 lacs per annum financial assistance to the NGOs working in the related field. However, only a few NGOs applied for this scheme realizing the small amount of the scheme. Neither the state government giving attention nor NGOs are attracted this scheme. Therefore, this scheme is not functioning well in the state. State government may initiate and revitalize this scheme as a most immediate measure for urban areas by giving more responsibility and financial support to Meira Paibee organizations, considering day to-day happening social problems in the state. Do Meira Paibee organizations not deserved to get financial support from various schemes of ministries and state government?