Manipur’s diverse challenges

By US Angomcha
Despite the fact that the biggest challenge Manipur faces at present in undeniably the territorial integrity, I would, however, rate Manipur’s poor economy as another biggest challenge, one because, the rise and fall of many kingdoms and nations were/are the product of their economy, secondly, good economy would have strengthen and empower Manipur’s position, and thirdly, there would have been much development that would have absorbed large human resources and partly solve unemployment and poverty. Manipur also faces numerous challenges in the form of socio-ethnic divide, religious divide, lack of infrastructure, youth indulging in drugs, and lack of reform in education system.

Manipur’s economy

At present context, the structure of Manipur’s economy is poor. The sorry state of Manipur’s economy is the result of many factors, first, lack of mega-industries and delayed industrial revolution, second, unwise policy in tapping the human resources where native talents are being channeled out of the state, the term coined as ‘brain drain’, third, landlocked geography of the state and the highways that are frequently blocked due to landslides and man-made economic blockades. The policy that aims at bringing the native talents, if not in person, but in the form of ideas by forming a ‘resource pool’ under the Govt. supervision, can be encouraged. Building a resource pool from natives residing outside can help develop the state. It can serve two purposes, one, it brings people closer to home state, second, their knowledge is optimally used. Economy is the backbone of a nation, and without it, the state fails in fulfilling the people’s aspirations. India’s dealing with Manipur, with respect to NSCN-IM would have been different in the presence of strong economy. Stability and security are directly proportional to the economy of the land. In the relatively stronger states like Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh, Centre may think ten times before acting on sensitive issues. The state also seems to be lacking in its ability to tap its natural resources and convert them into economic resources. If the state optimizes its hydropower potential, only selling part of it can empower its economy. Manipur’s potential in both human and natural resources need to be effectively tapped. But then, it is not only the responsibility of the Govt, but local entrepreneurs also need to invest much of their time and energy, in creating companies that can serve as job creating machine and economy strengthening tools.

Ethnic divide vs ethnic unity

Manipur, a state in the extreme corner of the east India, is the land of hills and valleys, a part of the eastern Himalayan landscape where the demographic constitution is of the mongoloid race. Historically, it has fought many battles, it is said that many treaties were signed, numerous interactions took place between hills and valleys, hillmen converting into meiteis and vice-versa, and the inter-marriages- the story of Manipur in its true essence is incomplete when it is told of only valleys and hills form an ‘inseparable entity’ in it. Living so closely in the tiny place of Manipur, it is undoubtedly true that there has to be inter-bonding between plains and hills. Finding naga and kuki settlements in valleys, finding kuki settlement in naga dominated areas and finding nagas in kuki dominated areas is- no surprise-, but perhaps, it is the necessity of the time that shows that humans are not mutually exclusive but inter­dependent. Interdependence of various ethnic groups living together is the character of Manipur that is being preserved from the time immemorial. I wouldn’t be wrong to state that Manipur’s hillmen are far more closely related to valleys that the bonding they have with the neighbouring states, historically. I, however, wouldn’t also deny the fact that there has been a change in the character of Manipur’s integrity brought about by many factors, one, valley people’s conversion into vaishnavism that brings along with it various social discrimination practices that distance the emotional bonding between hills and valleys, second, the rise of NSCN-IM that brings along with it the ‘ethnic based identity politics’ and ‘nagalim for christ’ concept that do not go well with the interest of the meities and kukis, and thirdly, kukis demanding their homeland, a by-product of the naga’s demand. Anything that favours single community in a multi-ethnic society will affect other parties’ interest and bring trouble. Whether we accept or not, nagas, kukis and meiteis living in a small place of Manipur, are not destined to have vast differences between them, rather, they are destined to be a part of the same family. The idea of ethnic identity and ethnic based political aspiration has been detrimental to maintaining state’s integrity and thus ‘ethnic unity’ based on ‘commonness’ becomes extremely important. Manipur is a small state, a size not as big as many Indian districts, but incidentally it happens to be a place where naga’s alternative arrangement demand and kuki’s homeland demand are taking place. As long as we engage in single community talk, we shouldn’t be talking of peace, and peace and co-existence almost lose its meaning unless we learn to accommodate other’s interest. Single ethnic based talk does not encourage peace, rather it encourages a divide.

Territory is defined- a living space where human requirements are met, cultural and socio-economic values are preserved and transferred to the next generation. In this context, kabui settlements, tangkhul settlements, kuki settlements in Imphal valley are their territory- nobody can deny that. Today when education and health care are given prime importance,- human requirements and his territory expand far beyond. Time has come to go beyond ethnic boundary and recognize not only the nagas, the kukis and the meities as a family, but Assamese, and other people of the north east as members of the same family. Human can no longer be isolated into groups and his requirement demands inter-dependence and co-existence.

Drug abuse among youths

Another serious issue is the rampant abuse of drugs among the youths that is becoming epidemic. It is difficult to digest whether it is due to lack of parental care, or due to bad company or easy availability of drugs, but one thing for sure is we are losing a part of our future generation. Local clubs, NGOs in collaboration with Govt authority, can take up awareness programme- that target in rehabilitating the drug abuse and finding the sources of drugs. Parents’ role in keeping strict vigilance to their children both at home and outside, and monitoring their friends and company can help in reducing the menace. Schools and teachers can play vital role in not only monitoring students but recommend to include a syllabus- that tells students the harmful impact of drugs as the part of awareness campaign. Students obey teachers more than their parents and elders; hence teacher’s role is crucial.

Education

The progress in education both in hills and valleys, perhaps, can be credited to the recent rise of English medium private schools. There can be a debate on pros and cons, but there is no doubt that they harvest best students. But then where do we absorb them? Neither we have the required number of universities to absorb the candidates passing out of the colleges nor do we generate enough job opportunities to absorb the graduates- which mean we are not optimally utilizing our human resources. In China like many other countries, the trend of people migrating to big cities to get high income jobs is enormous that leads to other necessary fields like agriculture or fishery being neglected, and to counter this trend, Govt. proposes to pay equivalent salary to people taking the neglected but necessary fields to maintain the balance. In many Indian states, the trend of neglecting basic sciences and choosing medical and engineering field is observed. In some states, the Govt. has started a scheme to promote basic sciences, by paying scholarship to those students who opt basic sciences, thereby countering the unequal distribution of talents in various subjects. Manipur is no exception, where talents are gone to doctors and engineers leaving other important fields neglected. Perhaps therefore we see the best of the doctors. In Manipur’s context, there is a need to promote not only basic sciences but political sciences too by paying extra package/scholarship to fill the unbalanced gap. We have seen the best of the doctors in Manipur, we would want to see the best of the political leaders also.

8-Dec-2012 / 02:01 AM / Sangai Articles / 2 Comments