More oppose delimitation based on 2001, 2011 census

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 28: Strongly opposing delimitation based on 2001 or 2011 census, Kangleipak Students' Association  (KSA) has submitted a memorandum to President of India for his intervention pointing out that certain sub-divisions of Manipur had recorded "controversial abnormal" population growth rate as high as 40 percent to 136 percent in the 2001/2011 census way above the average growth rate of all India and Manipur State.
The memorandum was submitted to the President via email and copies of it have been submitted to Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Governor and Chief Minister,  said KSA.
Notably, Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency MP Dr Lorho Pfoze and Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency MP Dr RK Ranjan have been nominated as associate members of the Delimitation Commission by the Speaker of Lok Sabha following the Centre's plan to conduct delimitation of States of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir.
In the memorandum, KSA pointed out that the Delimitation Commission of India under the Delimitation Act of 2002, in the year 2008, had dropped the delimitation and frozen it until 2026 after fresh census of 2021, due to the detection of "abnormal" growth in the population in some sub-divisions of Manipur.
While the all India average growth rate was 21.34 percent and that of Manipur was 30.02 percent in the 2001 and 2011 census, the growth rate of some hill sub-divisions ranged from 40.89 percent to as high as 136 percent which is "controversial". The growth rate of Manipur valley was only 18 percent, said KSA.
Giving data, KSA said that "abnormal" population growth were recorded in nine sub-divisions of Manipur-Mao Maram, Paomata, Purul, Saitu Gamphazol, Chakpikarong, Machi, Chandel HQs, Kasom Khullen and Moreh.
According to data provided by the association, Mao Maram which recorded a population of 49,676 in 1991 census recorded 69,131 (39.16 percent increase) in 2001 and 1,63,380 in 2011 (136.33 percent increase).
Paomata recorded 19,448 in 1991 census, 27,065 (39.17 percent increase) in 2001 and 53,901 (99.15 percent increase) in 2011.
Purul recorded a population of 22,213 in 1991 census, 30,912 (39.16 percent increase) in 2001 and 68,123 (120 percent increase) in 2011.
Saitu Gamphazol recorded a population of 28,633 in 1991 census, 44,130 (54.12 percent increase) in 2001 and 58,536 (32.64 percent increase) in 2011.
Chakpikarong recorded a population of 21,582 in 1991 census, 43,202 (100.18 percent increase) in 2001 and 52,939 (22.54 percent increase) in 2011.
Machi recorded a population of 10,327 in 1991 census, 17,087 (65.46 percent increase) in 2001 and 19,865 (16.26 percent increase) in 2011.
Chandel HQs recorded a population of 18,544 in 1991 census, 26,276 (41.70 percent increase) in 2001 and 32,133 (22.29 percent increase) in 2011.
Kasom Khullen recorded a population of 6,341 in 1991 census, 10,206 (60.95 percent increase) in 2001 and 12,360 (21.11 percent increase) in 2011.
Moreh recorded a population of 20,085 in 1991 census, 32,513 (69 percent increase) in 2001.
The percentage ratio of voters against population commonly stood at 40:60, however, in these sub-divisions, the ratio stands at 30:70 approximately which indicates that the data collected in census is not true data, alleged KSA. It further alleged that satellite counting of houses as well as Aadhaar were not incorporated in the census which made citizens enjoy double/multiple registration in the census and electoral roll.
KSA apprised the President that ongoing delimitation processes be halted until 2026 as decided by the Delimitation Commission and conduct later based on 2021 census.
Meanwhile, People's Action for National Democratic Movement (PANDM) has also opposed the delimitation based on 2001/2011 census unless the alleged discrepancies in the census are corrected.