In the wake of the demand for establishment of a state population commission and National Register of Citizens (NRC) by several civil society organisations including students’ organisations, we would like to place a few perspectives. Why do we need a Census or NRC? Since early times, this exercise has always been a part of statecraft, administration and governance. Every state needs to keep to keep track of its citizens, more so during the time of kingdoms where rebellions are always cropping up as a result of feuding princes.
Among the Puyas or ancient chronicles, mention may be made of ‘Langthaballon’ and ‘Sanggai Phamang’ wherein the state tries to keep track of the whereabouts of its citizens. It is an official document prepared by palace officials after summoning all the clan heads known as Sagei Piba. These Sagei Pibas are quizzed on the whereabouts of their clansmen, whether they are in residing in the state and if so at which place or they had gone out of the state in the west ‘Nongchup Haram’ or in the east ‘Nongpok Haram’ if so at which location. The details are noted down in the official chronicle. It is a must for the reigning monarch to know which of his siblings or relatives and their supporters are taking refuge in places other than inside the state, so that he may prepare himself for any eventuality. Our history is also replete with princes invading the state by taking the help of neighbouring kingdoms.
In modern times, a proper census and National Register of Citizens (NRC) has become all the more essential so as to protect the indigenous population from the overwhelming rush of foreigners and illegal immigrants in the state. Those coming from the west, one can easily detect by way of the different facial structures and features. But then, Jiribam constituency has already been overwhelmed by these foreigners.
On the other hand, it is very difficult to detect those coming from the east as most of them have racial or cultural affinity with the people already settled in the state. Sometime back, 80 Myanmar refugees were arrested in Churachandpur district by police.
It has been going on for years and in fact, this illegal migration was one of major concerns of anti-foreigner movement in the 80s. The discourse in those days were mainly focused on Bangladeshi infiltration and Nepali influx. And everyone ignored the steady illegal migration of cognate tribes from Myanmar’s Chin Hills in Churachandpur then. The newly established Manipur State Population Commission drew the attention of the state intelligentsia on abnormal trend of population growth in the state vis-à-vis the illegal immigrants’ issue.
In a gathering the state Home Commissioner focussed on the notable population growth in Manipur over the last 130 years. He cited census data, stating that the Meitei population increased from 1.3 lakh in 1881 to 12.5 lakh in 2011. Similarly, the Naga population grew from 60,000 in 1881 to 6.04 lakh in 2011. The Kuki-Mizo population also saw significant growth, rising from 17,000 in 1881 to 4.48 lakh in 2011. He also said, the government constituted a cabinet sub- committee of three ministers headed by Hills & Tribal Affairs minister Letpao Haokip on February 16 to look into the illegal immigrants’ issue. Verification drives of the illegal immigrants were conducted in the five districts bordering Myanmar.
Within a short period, more than two thousand illegal immigrants were identified. This was about two and half months before communal riots broke out in the state. The Manipur government has resumed the process of collecting biometric details of identified illegal immigrants in the state. Now, as many as six student bodies of Manipur had come up with the demand for amendment in National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the interest of the indigenous population. Now, we need to locate the National Register of Citizens and Village Directory of 1951 pertaining to Manipur for conducting a correct assessment of the citizens of the Manipur then and their descendants as against the illegal immigrants who came later on.
