Demand of ST status and the ensuing recriminations

Henkhokai Singsit*

Sir,

Since, The STDCM demand for inclusion of Meitei into ST category has stirred up the collective sentiments of both the tribals and Meiteis alike, this article is a continuation of the on-going debate supposed to represent the collective will/views and wishes of the tribals. It will be of an academic interest to procrastinate the debate and take it to the next level and cross swords in our respective stance to throw more light on the issue for the benefit of the readers of both the community and the policy makers. And it will be appreciated if intellectuals, scholars and sundry join the fray to make it more meaningful and extensive by providing more inputs, fresh facts, data and information.

My first rebuttal had received a tremendous response from my tribal brethren whether laymen or academics but on learning that it was showered with bouquets from University students across India especially from premiere institutes like Delhi University and Jawaharlal University. Personally it was a shot in the arm.

Let me reiterate that ATSUM stance on the matter is no knee-jerk reaction or done on the spur of the moment but the outcome of exhaustive assessment, evaluation and critical analysis to the pros and cons of the demand and the consequences that will impact the tribals of Manipur in the days to come. And ATSUM is not a bunch of juveniles barking at everything that comes in sight but an assortment of academics, intellectuals and prominent youth leaders who take decision after thorough deliberations and wide consultations pertaining to the issues at hand.

The first rebuttal might be scathing and hard to imbibe but it was articulated with the intention to bring to light the pent –up emotions that is churning in the heart of every tribal residing in Manipur and not some wild allegations based on hunches and conjectures. Rather, the bottom-line was to lay the core issue on the table of our Meitei friends with the desire that you do some soul searching and self-introspection to why the tribals and the valley community are at each other’s throat whenever any issue of significance or trifling comes up.

Well, the issue of inclusion or exclusion is not within the purview of the tribals or ATSUM but the onus goes to the Central Government after recommendation of the state government concerned, but it will be prudent on the part of the Manipur state government to acknowledge the sensitivity of the situation and proceed with extra-caution lest it sparks off another Churachandpur-like conflagration that was witnessed on August 31, 2015 leading to the loss of nine precious lives. It should be noted that the horrendous PMP bill was the outcome of the prolonged unrelenting agitation and pressure from the valley people towards the state government. There are cogent reasons and explanations to why the tribals should not be apprehensive that this will happen again.

During the height of the demand for the imposition of ILPS in Manipur, the Manipur Hill witnessed deafening silence, Why? It’s not that the tribals are immune from the so-called immigrants which in reality is very much affecting the economic cycle in the hill districts. The fact that the most important parameter for the imposition ILPS in the erstwhile Assam Hill district was meant for the protection of the tribals from the sophisticated valley people, should have spurred us to action but it did not.

The demand for ILPS and ST by the valley people are intrinsically intertwined with one another though professing different nomenclature but the goal is the same with the former almost bringing the state to the brink of a civil war.Going by the present trends and the under-current animus, it can be assumed that the recognition of Meitei to Schedule tribe will definitely spark off a conflagration between the hill and the valley whose implications will be unimaginable.

What one fails to understand is how come the valley people who don’t belong to the ST category could come up with such nonsensical demands like the imposition of ILPS in Manipur when they clearly do not fit in the description.

The crux of the demand for ST status can be narrowed down to two reasons which is also central to the debate of this issue and is also incidentally the bone of contention between the tribals and the Meitei community of Manipur.

Pertaining to the issue of the saturation of the Imphal valley with people and the consequent desire of the valley people to have access to the vast expanses of the hill districts for settlement, here some suggestions-

When nearly 50% of the total areas of Imphal has been used up for development purposes, opening of institutions, Hospitals, Government offices and quarters, Airports, Secretariats’ educational institutions, godowns, etc. what do you expect! Shift 50% of those institutions or offices to the hill districts and transform those vacated areas for habitation purposes and see the results for yourself. And stop leasing out your houses to those migrant workers you have kept on rent.

For instances, had Manipur University which consumes nearly one thousand acres of agricultural lands was constructed somewhere in the Hill the pressure of land and population could have been minimised but the fringe benefits which these mega-institutions and offices accompanies amounting to thousands of employees and hundreds crores of Rupees was too big to ignore and hence they were invariably placed in Imphal.

When the hill people could have accommodated a hand-full of Nepalese why not the Meiteis! Unfortunately the fraternal bond between the valley and hill people was almost non-existent so there was a sense of insecurity among the tribals, hence the opposition.

Instead of trying to forcibly grab the land of the hill people through legislative or executive means it will be better to go back to square one and start with the building of trust and understanding between the communities concerned then naturally the misunderstanding shall subside.

The second reason pertains to reservation in jobs- infringement of the seats reserved for the tribals is one of the most important reasons which actuated the tribals to speak out against the ST demand.

For example, let us say that the demand for inclusion in the ST category is acquiesced by the central government this is the prospect that is expected. There will be no more reservation for any community as such all posts are subjected to open competition which means that 90% of the jobs will definitely belong to the valley people. Not to forget the fact that the representation of the tribals in technical, medical and technological fields shall be almost nil.

The pronouncement made by the proponents of the ST demand that the present tribals shall be guaranteed their fair share of representation in jobs is hard to digest given the fact that the reservation policy of Manipur at the present has been time and again manipulated and not honoured. One is at loss on how to contemplate that the wolf will suddenly transform to a sheep once the ST demand is accomplished.

One instance that has always piqued my sentiment was in Manipur University- There were only 5 tribal Assistant professors out of the 180 assistant/associate and professors of the University. The modus operandi applied was breaking up of the vacant post by calling the appointment twice or thrice to ensure that no reserved post remains.

Suppose in history department there is vacant post of five teachers- the advertisement for the job will be done twice (say 3+2) with a substantial amount of time gap so that no reserved seats for the tribals exist. This is also true in most of the state institutions.

Under such circumstances, why should tribals be under the delusion of believing in “MONKEY JUSTICE” where the whole slice of the loaf was gobbled up by the monkey in the name of dividing it for both the kitten.

The brotherhood we professed can be best explain in the form of an allegory where two brothers co-own a cow and the elder brother owning the half portion where the milk flows and the younger one owning the other half where he had to feed the cow but gains nothing in return.

The fact that the June 18 uprising which is being commemorated with so much poignancy and fanfare in the valley is greeted with deafening silence in the hill, is a food for thought to one and all.

There is nothing wrong in living together but this should be conditioned by the spirit of sharing and accommodating one another proportionately in every aspects life and respect for one another. The process of reconciliation will be difficult and daunting since the chasm that had fissure between us has widened to such an extent that it will be challenging but not impossible.

To accentuate it, the present BJP government, though little late, had started the spadework of the healing process. So it will be encouraging if the valley people instead of going for such ill-conceived and ill-timed demand such as, inclusion in ST, divert their attention more on confidence building measures and jump on that band-wagon with an earnest heart to bridge to breached.

The STDCM demand should be put into abeyance for at least ten years and the intervening period should be utilized in trust building.

During my long stint at MU, I had for the umpteen times told my Meitei friends- “Don’t let us walk out of this University with a bitter heart for the implication shall be unimaginable”. And here I lay my case.

Yours faithfully,
Henkhokai (Kakai) Singsit
Motbung