On the last day of the recently concluded session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, in reply to a Calling Attention Motion from the MLA of Phungyar AC, Chief Minister informed the House that the decision to create seven new districts earlier was a political decision and not based on administrative convenience and that steps will be taken to redraw the district boundaries though it will be problematic. Taking aside the rhetoric, it may be better to look into the history in brief and the order itself and subsequent orders.
Sadar Hill was created long back so much so that when the ADC Act was passed by the Parliament in 1971, an Autonomous District Council for it was incorporated. In the erstwhile North (Senapati) District there were two ADCs, one Senapati and another Sadar Hill ADC. As Chandel, Chakpikarong and Tengnoupal Sub-Divisions were then under Central District, this was made into Chandel ADC. For the other, every district was assigned an ADC, one each in the East (Ukhrul) District, West (Tamenglong) district and South (Churachandpur) District.
The term Autonomous District Council in the ADC Act, 1971 has nothing to do with autonomy as many misinterpret but rather autonomous of the district boundaries and it is local body in the true sense. From the 1970s, Sadar Hill District Demand Committee which was mainly composed of Kuki had spearheaded the formation of a new district which was strenuously opposed by the Naga.
There is no doubt that the Kuki started settling much later and though they may have migrated sometime in the middle of the 19th century and continued till now; even their population was thin in the 1950s, and subsequent large scale migration had made them a majority in this region. So much so that R. Suisa established Hongman Tangkul village (Hongman means looking like a pot) which the Meitei called Khongban Tangkhul and Sinakeithei (Sanakeithel) to act as the western boundary of the Tangkhul. His body was interred in Hongman Tangkhul village on his request. Particularly the Liangmei was unable to resist the migration of the Kuki who either purchased land or forcefully or surreptitiously settled. But by the 1970s the number of the Kuki had gained majority and though Kangpokpi AC is an unreserved seat, for the last more than two decades it was only won by a Kuki, the last non Kuki MLA being Kishore Thapa.
By the way, Sadar is a Persian term meaning central or main. In Imphal there was a Sadar Bazar that is now enlarged and renamed as Paona Keitel. Many of the terms in land revenue are derived from Persian such as khas, patta, jamabandi, dag chitha, khorposh, khatian, etc as the land tenure system in north India from which we copied was established by Sher Shah Suri. There are SDO (Sadar) in Shillong, Tura and Jaintia, and Sadar bazaar in almost all the major cities in north India and these were the main market.
Jiribam was under Imphal East District and administration was difficult as it was 220 km away and there was a demand for declaring as a district which was opposed by the Naga as they believed that some of their villages will fall in the new district. The boundary conflict between Jiribam and Tamenglong had persisted with time and whether it was declared as a district or not it was already there. After Tengnoupal District (later on known as Chandel district) was carved out of the erstwhile Central district with district headquarters at Chandel in 1974 comprising of Chandel, Tengnoupal and Chakpikarong sub-divisions, by 2006 there was a demand for a separate district through the Tengnoupal District Demand Committee, which was opposed by the Naga as they believe that both Chandel and Tengnoupal will be dominated by the Kuki and Moreh will become the district Headquarters.
Moreh was not made the district headquarters as only 100 acres (40 ha) was de-reserved from the Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary and expansion will be difficult as further de-reservation will need Government of India’s approval and with the necessary infrastructure for district paraphernalia, there will be no land. Pherzawl, Vangai and Parbung were so far from the district headquarters Churachandpur, and for the administration to deliver, Pherzawl district came about. Similarly, the Tongjei Maril District Demand Committee made a pitch for a separate district as the area was too far from the district headquarters Tamenglong.
Kakching district was proposed to separate the Loi inhabited area and the boundary was the sub-divisional boundary of Thoubal and Kakching. In 2011, Kamjong, Phungyar, Kasom Khulen and Sahamphung demanded a separate district which was opposed by NSCN (IM) and this is one of the reasons why Wungnaoshang Keishing one of the main proponent was assassinated. NSCN (IM) perhaps felt that dividing the Tangkhul areas into two districts may interfere with their demand for sovereignty. The MLA also focussed on Kangpokpi as it was opposed by all sections of the Naga that has some logic but did not harp on Kamjong as he may lose the election next time. In fact when Kanjong district was declared many villages welcomed the step a]but was forced to withdraw on pressure from the UGs. Villages around Phungyar was unhappy as they expected the district to be called Phungyar SD with head quarters at Phungyar and they stopped supporting the then MLA even now.
Every creation of a new district will have a political tone and it will be naive to say that there is no political aspect. But there are reasons for creation of the new 7 districts as there are popular demands and justifications. The tragedy is that hardly any DC sits at Pherzawl and they only make whistle stop at the district headquarters during the Independence and Republic Day, opening a camp office at Churachandpur and one fails to understand why the state government is so lax in monitoring the activities of the DCs. The whole purpose of creating a district was defeated by the bureaucrats.
In the order dated December, 08, 2016 creating the seven new districts, in Para 3 therein it was clearly mentioned that the district boundaries will be as per the existing boundaries of the concerned sub-divisions and in the event of any disputes relating to the district boundaries, the matter will be decided by a Districts Boundary Commission headed by a Retired Judge of the High Court, with Administrative Secretaries of Home, Revenue and Tribal Affairs and Hills of the State Government as members. However, even without recommendations from such a Commission the boundary of Pherzawl was drastically altered by an order dated January 06, 2022 by transferring Thanlon Dub-Division from Pherzawl to Churachandpur on politicking by the sitting MLA that status quo will affect his re-election chances. The Paite in the Sub-Division does not want to be a minority in Pherzawl that is dominated by the Hmar. So much for not involving politics!
It may be appreciated that all the districts are named after the district headquarters and despite use of Sadar Hills even now by some vested interest groups, it is not a district. Kangpokpi district is an eyesore as its two wings on the east and west of Imphal East and West District makes it highly inconvenient to administration. As police had to react on emergency basis, the Police jurisdiction was based o practicality and not by the district boundary, indicating that all is not roses. In fact some of the Naga villages in the 1980s under Saikul sub-division applied for inclusion either in Thoubal or Imphal East as they find it so inconvenient to go to Saikul for any official purposes but they were threatened by the Naga UGs demanding to withdraw their request; and they had to do it.
Like India created states on linguistic basis, Manipur tried to emulate creation of districts based on community which creates more problems. Under the ADC Act, there is provision for nomination of members with the intent to nominate members from small communities which will be unable to send up elected members and/ or experts in certain filed but such provisions were misused by even nominating people who lost in the elections.
Strictly from the administrative point of views, the district boundaries need to be redrawn where fingers of either hill or valley is merged with the main districts. One fails to understand why Lemba Khul or Tambaram should be under Kangpokpi district or for that matter Bungte Chiru. When Tokpa Kabui or Majuron Kabui or even Lamdan can be in Churachandpur why not the Kuki villages in the two fingers be under another district where other community are in the majority. And why should the Valley Forest Reserves declared by the Manipur State Durbar be under other districts other than Imphal East and West? The tragedy is that politics will always over ride administrative convenience and despite all rhetoric and goodwill hardly any government from any party will be able to do justice.
(The views expresssed are personal)
