SOS on behalf of displaced children of Loktak

Manipur Alliance for Child Rights *

Loktak Phumdi dwellers evicted by state government :: 15 November 2011 - Pix :: Rameshchandra / Karnajit Maibam

An urgent appeal being submitted by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, New Checkon, Maringland, Imphal 795001, Manipur State (India) to Madam Shantha Sinha, the Hon’ble Chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights; 5th Floor Chaderlok Building, Janpath, New Delhi - 110 001, India, seeking her kind and immediate attention and intervention of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to safeguard the right to life, right to education, right to survival and right to protection of the children of around 2000 internally displaced indigenous fishermen of the Loktak lake of Manipur, whose 500 floating huts were mercilessly burnt down by State forces in the name of evicting them allegedly for protection of environment of the lake.

The background

Ever since the commission of the Loktak Hydropower Multipurpose Project with a capacity of 105 mega-watts in 1979, an assortment of ill effects has been brought about. The Loktak lake which spreads over 236.21 sq km, the largest fresh lake in the eastern region India, suffered a serious impinging of its eco-biodiversity, extinction of various flora and fauna, aquatic plants, vegetations, and most emphatically deprivation of traditional livelihood of the inhabitants ie fishing in and around the lake.

Thus the historic and traditional rights of the local fishermen over the Loktak lake and its natural resources, has been considerably forfeited. The hydropower multipurpose project had already submersed around 83,000 hectors of cultivable land leaving thousands of farmers unemployed.

Around 3441 fishermen inhabiting on 1147 floating huts locally known as “Phumshang” or “Champo” earn their livelihood by fishing. Such traditional floating huts has been existed since the time immemorial. The legendry story of seven incarnation in Moirang Kangleirol recorded the human existence on the phumdee (floating biomass) huts.

The enactment of controversial “Loktak Lake (Protection) Act. 2006”, which was opposed by indigenous fishermen and civil bodies has brought different negative impacts upon the socio-economic and cultural life of local fishermen communiy. Particularly, Section 20 of the Act prohibits certain activities in Core Zone (comprising 70.30 sq km) including plant or cultivation of Athaphum (phumdis in circular shape, planted or cultured artificially for catching fish), deposit or fix any stone, bamboo, log, net etc into the lake for purpose of rearing fish, build any hut or house on Phumdis inside the lake, engage in Athaphum-fishing in the lake.

The internally displaced fishermen

The latest violent move of State Government, acted in the name of environment protection of Loktak lake, caused irreparable loss to the local fishermen. It became really a gross violation of inherent right to life of the local fishermen and their children. Such a developmental aggression and exclusive environment protection plan backed by violent State forces, who burnt down around 500 flouting huts within 5 days from 15th November is highly condemnable and uncalled for. As of now, around 2000 fishermen including women and children, became internally displaced people.

There was no public hearing, peaceful democratic process, nor any workable rehabilitative plan prior to the violent act of eviction. The State announced only a package of Rs 40,000 as compensation to each family. The State served notices to the villagers on 11 Nov and began burning down of the huts from 15 Nov. The fishermen denounced such notice and compensation, they submitted a memorandum to Shri O. Ibobi Singh, the State Chief Minister, requesting to review the order, which was turned down by the Chief Minister himself. Fishermen stated that the order was unacceptable since it could not ensure them any alternative livelihood. They demanded repeal or amendment of Loktak Lake (Protection) Act. 2006, in order to assure their right to fishing and dwelling on the phumdees, which were practiced by their descendents since time immemorial.

As a result of the recent eviction action in the Loktak lake starting from 15th November, 2011, around 2000 phumdee huts dwellers have been displaced, more than 500 huts have been reduced to ashes, fishermen claimed that property worth lakhs of rupees including implements used in fishing such as fishing gears, nets, domestic articles, cloths, ornaments were lost.

Plight of the children

Around 800 children including 500 school-going children are directly affected. Around 300 displaced children in the age group of 0-6, with their parents are deprived of any pre­school care and education facilities, nor medical facilities and food support from the State Government. Besides, psychologically traumatised, displaced children were reportedly inflicted with certain ailments, as they are exposed to a highly disturbed environment.

Another, 300 children who used to attend school daily to the neighbouring schools situated at Moirang, Nongthoukhong and even at Churachandpur from the floating huts, also abruptly stopped going to school following the mass burning down of the floating huts. Another 200 children who are studying in different schools in Imphal and Bishenpur by staying at different boarding/hostels started returning from their respective schools due to the outrageous incident.

Yet another terrorising activities of the State forces is the constant threats to the displaced people who take refuge at different places. Police forcefully dispersed the victims, who took refuse at a Community Hall at Ningthoukhong kha Mamang leikai, Bishnupur on 19 November, again from Kwakeithel Tiddim Ground area Imphal on 20 and 21 November just to suppress the voice of the poor fishermen. Besides, police do surveillance upon the movement of the fishermen by checking all the vehicles plying on Bishnupur to Imphal preventing fishermen being travelled to Imphal, only to abort any agitation in Imphal.

Seeking Immediate Attention

Therefore, it is drawn the immediate attention of NCPCR to intervene the situation, to stop the violent process of burning of floating huts and repression of the democratic agitation and voice of the displaced local fishermen. It is requested the young children with displaced parents are provided with immediate relief materials and a safe place for temporary settlement.

It is requested to amend/repeal the controversial Loktak Lake (Protection) Act. 2006 to make it more humane and fishermen friendly legislation.

It is requested to direct the State to make a broad plan for the children of the displaced fishermen, who have returned from their school, to send back to their respected schools for enabling them to appear the forthcoming exams without any apprehension and trauma.

Further, it is requested to direct the State to announce an alternative livelihood of the displaced fishermen, by implementing an inclusive plan in which the traditional rights and livelihood of the fishermen community are protected and promoted; so that they could look after and protect their children’s right to life, right to development, survival and protection, as well as the ecology and environment of Loktak lake is also conserved and protected at the same time.

In conclusion, the madam chairperson is requested to arrange a field visit of NCPCR team to the affected area in an earliest possible date in the best interest of the internally displaced children.