A deeper exploration of the term ‘Hill-Valley Divide’

    27-Jan-2025
|
Birendra Laishram
Contd from last Sunday
Consequently, many affluent individuals from the hill regions are reluctant to invest in constructing expensive houses within the village, as their tenure and status could change at any moment.
They will simultaneously invest in the capital city where they can buy land as their own and construct expensive houses making the capital city look more developed.
The current situation has broader implications, particularly due to wealthy individuals from the hill communities in the valley, which raises concerns about the fair distribution of benefits intended for tribal communities. Their proximity does not address ongoing issues related to resource accessibility or the effects of the lower population density in the hills, which significantly influence the allocation of essential resources and economic opportunities. This results in an uneven playing field for the very communities that the system aims to support.
Consequently, the dynamics between the headman, villagers, and wealthy hill residents create a complex network of social and economic challenges that require attention.
Furthermore, the issue of utility payments and revenue generation from residents in the hills complicates the situation even further. Some hill residents do not pay for essential services such as electricity and water, which adversely affects the overall revenue generation for the state.
Addressing these disparities requires a commitment to equitable development practices and transparent governance, ensuring that all communities, regardless of their geographic location, can benefit from the available resources.
In conclusion, it is evident that funding allocation varies significantly due to the demographic and geographic reasons. The MLA’s Local Area Development funds allocated to the MLAs of Delhi is rupees 10 crore annually whereas in Manipur it is only two crore rupees. We cannot say that this disparity results in unequal development across the region, a situation that is exacerbated by various demographic and geographic factors.
Despite existing tensions, the Kuki aim to intensify conflict with support from Chin/Kuki and some Indian forces and assert that Manipur is split into hills and valleys. Yet, the Tangkhul-Naga and the Meitei live peacefully together in one another's villages.
The Kuki do not represent all tribes in Manipur and should avoid claiming solidarity for others. Most Kuki groups are labelled "tribal" rather than Kuki. The real division in Manipur is between Kuki and Meitei, not hill-valley.