Aspirations 2020-People of Manipur

Dr Kh Ratankumar *

Methodology

The methodology I have employed is descriptive in nature. Regarding the methodology I have used, it would be pertinent what Amartya Sen has said -
"Description is sometimes contrasted with prescription, and at other times with predictions. While the former differentiates descriptive statements from the value judgements and imperatives, the later differentiates it from predictive statements. Philosophical discussions in the social sciences have tended to concentrate on prescriptive and predictive exercises, and as a consequence the methodological issues involved in description have remained largely unexplored."

"Description isn't just observing and reporting; it involves the exercise- possibly difficult of selection... In fact, description can be characterized as choosing from the set of possibly true statements a subset on the grounds of their relevance." -( Amartya Sen 432,433p)

3-stories

Let me present you a story - a real story of a boy who must have been around 13 yrs old at that time. His widowed mother was running a vegetable vendor wishing to provide good education, sends her son to a Christian boarding school. After completion of Class - VII, with little money the boy on his own went to Delhi to seek admission to DPS, Delhi - one of the best schools in the country.

Fortunately, he got the helps and supports from the Senior College/University students who provided him accommodation, arranged for his entrance test and mobilized fund for his admission. He then successfuIIy completed his education till graduation and now he is an enterprising businessman.

Let me present you another real story - of a boy of the same year. Born to a poor farmer's family, dropped out of school at class - VIIl. He went to learn "Pung Yeiba" (A unique type of Manipuri Drum) in the hope of earning some money to help his family. After some months, the boy disappeared. His father frantically searched his boy from one place to another - really worried what might happen to him. Later, the father was 'informed that his son had joined one underground outfit.

But, his father believed that his son wouldn't do such a thing, his son might have been either trapped or forced to join them. After one year later, the boy contacted his father saying that he wanted to come back home. But, he couldn't come that easy to home as it is one way. He ran away from the group which he had joined. His father sold whatever he had including his plot of agricultural land to purchase his son's return to home.

But, the boy wasn't able to live in peace either at home. Law of the land caught up with him. He was arrested and jailed. Father had been forced to sell the remaining plot of land to meet the expenses to set his son free. The family is now in abject poverty with no future. .

Yet there is a third story, a tribal girl in early 20s works as a salesgirl in a shop in a Mall in Delhi. She earns about Rs. 8,000/- p.m. She is one of the hundreds of young boys and girls working in cities like Delhi, Bangalore etc. She helps her brother in studies and sends some amount to her home. She comes to Delhi because she has not been able to find a job in Manipur.

But, she lives in constant fear as she says Delhi is not a safe place for working girls like her. Because girls like her are vulnerable in cities like Delhi. But, she has no choice either because she can't think of going back to Manipur for there is little future.

Common man's aspiration

What does a dommon man or woman in Manipur aspire for?

• A good education
• A right to live
• A job, good or bad ,to earn a living
• A home
• A peaceful environment
• A decent living with dignity and self respect

Manipur

Manipur is situated at the cross-road of South and South - East Asia. It has been a meeting place of various ethnic groups and diverse cultures. Once an Asiatic kingdom, it became one of the States of Indian Union. It is practically landlocked and not freely accessible with other neighbouring States.

Manipur has along international boundary of about 352 kms. With Myanmar to the East and South - East, the State is bounded by the States of Nagaland in the north, Mizoram in the south and Assam in the west. It has an area of 22,327 sq.km. It has 90% hill area with the centrally located river valley. The central valley is enclosed on all sides by the range of hills.

Manipur has a population of 22,93,896 in 2001 registering a population density of 103 persons per sq. km. It has 31 towns and 2182 inhabited villages as per 1991 census. Among the Manipuri sub-groups, the Government of India recognizes 33 groups as scheduled tribes. The population of many of the scheduled tribes is very few and negligible. For instance, the purum tribe has a population of only 388 (1991 census).

Basic deficits

Shukla Commission Report on "Transforming the North East" (1997), which is regarded to provide direction for the development of the region, defined the 5 (five) basic deficits:-
(a) A basic need deficit,
(b) An infrastructure deficit
(c) A resource deficit,
(d) A two-way deficit of understand ing with the rest of the country, and
(d) A government deficit.

Common aspirations include
a) Basic amenities to reach the remote areas
b) Improve quality of life
c) Inclusive growth to ensure social stability
d) Integrated and inclusive development; which include health, education, livelihood, skill development and environment.
e) Creating world class Infrastructure in sports.

Theme aspirations of people:

Infrastructure

(i) All villages to be connected by pucca road;
(ii) Major towns to be connected by multi lane highways,
(iii) Provision of safe drinking water, gas for cooking, sanitation and waste disposal facilities, across the entire State;
(iv) Harnessing hydro/thermal power potential (like Loktak Down Stream Hydro Power Project Plan & Tipaimukh Dam Project)
(v) Rail connection from Silchar to Imphal via Jiribam
(vi) Transnational Highway from Silchar to Moreh via ImphaI.

Eduction and skill development:
(i) Free, compulsory, quality Primary education to all children;
(ii) Access to job oriented vocational training facilities;
(iii) Setting up institutions of higher learning (like JNIMS, NIT,IGNTU)

Tourism:

(i) To put the State on the Global Tourist destination map through encouraging cultural, natural and adventure tourism potential;
(ii) Removal of RAP

Business:

(i) Development of International Trade Centre at Moreh.
(ii) To promote micro and small enterprises;
(iii) To create / promote self employment generating schemes

Agriculture:

(i) Improving yield and quantity of agricultural products by providing access to latest agricultural technologies and irrigation facilities;

Health:

(i) Ensuring universal and affordable health care with special focus on preventive health care and prevention of diseases;
(ii) Special focus on providing maternal and child healthcare, especially, in remote areas.

Science and technology:

(i) To strengthen the field of Science and Technology by setting up institutions like NIT

Sports:

(i) World class Sports infrastructure and training facilities in Khuman Lampak and other areas;

Arts and Culture:

(i) Setting up arts and culture centres;
(ii) Organizing events to promote and preserve State's Arts and Culture and also for promoting tourism

Arts and culture:

(i) To bring about peace in the State through meaningful dialogue;
(ii) Organizing events to promote and preserve State's Arts and culture and als for promoting tourism.

Peace initiatives:

(i) To bring about peace in the State through meaningful dialoge;

Curb corruption practices

a) Tackle drug abuse b) Proper Welfare Schemes for HIV & AIDS patients

Effective implementation of rehabilitation programme of surrenderies.

Lasting peace:

Like any other people, the people of Manipur aspire for better life.

They want to live a secure life with dignity and self resp~ct. They want to achieve economic, social and cultural progress and live with prosperity. Above all, they aspire for lasting peace.

( This is a paper presented at a seminar on "Peace Dividend" held under the aegis of Loktak Brigade, Red Shield Division at INA Museum Hall, Moirang on June 1.)

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* Dr Kh Ratankumar wrote this article in Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition). This article was webcasted on June 30, 2010.

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