We are just 33 lakh

Free Thinker
The fact remains that we have lost many precious lives in the last few years due to our senseless barbarity. Again, due to the ethnic clashes thousands have left the State for good. Before that many died of Covid. In addition, many helpless people also have arrived from Burma. All these might have drastically impacted the demography of the State.
On World Population Day (11 July) the State Government estimated our population; they projected that we are about 3.3 million now. I really don't know whether this projection is accurate or not. Since it is Government's projection let us assume that it is correct. Actual census has to take place ; so right now we can't  get the right figure.
I  always have an inquisitive mind. I asked  AI the present population of Manipur. The AI also gave a very politically correct reply saying  that the projected population of the State of Manipur is about 33.3 Lac to 38 Lac. In order to avoid such diplomatic answer I inquired about the exact population of Manipur. Smartly AI replied  that the total population of Manipur according to the 2011 census is 28.56 lac.
Then, I started pondering- from where I  can get a more authentic and reliable response. I enquired a friend who was the topper in the Statistics Department of a premier university. I asked him a very simple question - population of Manipur was 28.56 lac 15 years ago, what should be the population of the State at present. He said,  it all depends on many factors like fertility rate, family planning, pandemic loss, migration etc. He informed me that the present average demographic growth is about .87% ( as of 2026). The average population growth of India in 1971 was about 2%, nowadays it has come down to about 1%. There  may be many factors leading to this trend. But the most important factor according to his reading is family planning.
It is a fact that in urban areas and cities couples are having one or two kids only. Their main contention is that rearing a child is a very costly affair. Moreover these days children are exposed to expensive lifestyle. Therefore the couples are restricting themselves to have one child or at the most 2.
In rural areas where the cost of living is not so high including the cost of education and health care the couples produce more children. The quality of life, education and healthcare may not be as good as the cities or urban areas but they have their own world,  reasonable and sustainable.
If you compare the rural life and city life  -the former is much cheaper and easier. However the pull of the cities can't be resisted. Once you enter the city life your expenses grow up; and if you have children - the expenditure is much much higher.
Again with due respect to our Muslim brethren- they produce more children - they avoid  family planning. Procreation is the mandate of Almighty,  so they don't  block the blessings of Allah.
At present the population projection of India is 1.47 billion people. Some demographers are of the view that we have already overtaken China in terms of population and unnecessary consumption of food. If it is true we are now the most populous country in the world. And China is number two.
The latest Google Baba population projection is - India stands with 1.47 billion people and China with 1.41 billion.  If it is true we are much ahead of China. Some Nationalists in Bharat will be happy that we have beaten China.
There is another area where we have squeezed China that is in the field of  'democratic activities'. Here in India we can scold any politician or criticise the Government left and right (consequences may be there - but not visible & direct). Whereas in China if you chide a leader, you are behind bars; if you criticise the Government,  you are exiled or banished.   
My humble submission is, what is the point of counting the number of people now in 2027 (for 2021 Census). If possible we may skip the 2021 Census giving the most appropriate excuse of the pandemic.
For the State of Manipur too the reasons for not counting the  heads are many-too much of intrusion from outside in the last few years, too many fled to other States (though temporary - yet to return), too much of human tragedies and demographic dislocation. Till our own people come back from other parts of the world and till the illegal migrants are either shifted out or properly absorbed, census in Manipur will remain a futile exercise. Instead we may have a more meaningful Census 2031.
Again, Caste census is irrelevant for Manipur because we belong to the same insane class, still fighting for ancestral land, cultural identity and sacred resources etc.  which are increasingly irrelevant in this globalized world run by internet, paperless money, and hegemonic super powers .
Forget 2021 Census,  instead let us have 2031 Census,  properly and prudently.