Sangai is safer than Meetei tribe under the present regime
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Thangjam Ranjit
Sangai, the brow antlered deer or dancing deer of Manipur found only in the floating biomass called “Phumdi” of Keibul Lam-jao, Loktak Lake, Bishnu- pur District, Manipur, is an endangered animal. This rare and endangered State animal is endemic to Manipur and is not found anywhere in the globe, except the State. Now, this endangered animal is considered “quite safe” and that there is no danger of its extinction at all following the intervention of the Government of India under its Act called Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-I. Animals listed under the “endangered animals”, which are considered threatened to extinction, are given absolute protection carrying harshest penalties for the offenders and offences by this very Act.
Before the implementation of this Act of 1972, Schedule-I, the habitat of Sangai (Rucervus eldi eldi) was favourite hunting, poaching and sporting ground without any restrictions, for the local people for a long time and thereby creating and resulting in reduction of the population of this rare State animal and other associated animals like Kharsa (Axis porcinus), Lamok (Sus scrofa) and birds of different kinds, since the implementation of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-I, many pairs of Sangai are also being transferred to other zoos in the country for the growth of population of Sangai and enrichment of animal species.
Not only the protection given by the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-I, the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest global environmental conservation network is also actively engaging in the rescue operation of Sangai by enlisting in the Red List of threatened species. Under this list of threatened species of animals, IUCN’s aim or mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies or organizations throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature, and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
Because of the strict and timely intervention mainly, from National and international wildlife and environmental conservation bodies and State Governments for Sangai, environmentalists, nature lovers and people of the State have heaved a sight of relief. It is believed that the population of “Sangai’ in the State for Keibul Lamjao National Park and Zoological Garden of Manipur must be around 300 in rough estimation, as no census data is available, except that of 2016 which had 260 Sangai. Similarly, the population of Sangai at different zoos in the country, when put together, the number could be higher and more favourable than 260 i.e. 300 approx.
In contrast to the good news about the assured protections given to Sangai under Article 48A and 51A(G), Meetei Tribe, an important bonafide indigenous community living mostly in the Imphal valley surrounded by rows of hill ranges, geographically isolated from outside world, is crying for a long time for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list of the country to protect the interest and the identity of the Meetei community under the Article 342(I) of the Indian Constitution. The demand clearly authenticates the birth and Constitutional right of Meetei Tribe on account of its being a bonafide indigenous community of the State like other 24 indigenous tribes who are already in the ST list and possess 7 clans system in each tribe/community as Meetei does and fulfil the criteria laid down by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Because of the non-inclusion of Meetei Tribe in the ST list for the last more than 75 years, the community is put to serious disadvantages and challenges to save its culture, tradition, identity, language, education, health care, land, population, economy, etc. and thereby endangering the very existence in its original and natural habitat like the “Sangai”. The easiest and safest way to save the Meetei with its dwindling population with total Fertility Rate 1.77, less than the stable TFR (Total Fertility Rate) 2.1 will be to implement Article 342(I) under the Constitution of India without further delay, considering the fact that Meetei Tribe was already there in the tribal list and the same was removed in the 1951 census only after the new Republic of India was born on the 26th January, 1950. Restoration of ST status is the need of the hour for the Government of Manipur and India.
The demand is to save Meetei Tribe, in particular and other indigenous tribes in general, to live in equal footing with a genuine desire to mingle once again for living unitedly in peace, progress and happiness. The same should not be seen to downgrade the social status of Meetei Tribe, to grab lands and quota of tribal ST brethren at any rate, as some short-sighted, un-educated, un-exposed or communal minded people think wrongly; rather they should see this paradigm shift of Meetei Tribe to Scheduled Tribe status, in near future, as “Home Coming” and to play actively and successfully the trump card of being a big brother to save integrity and unity of the people in the State.
Sangai, the brow antlered deer or dancing deer of Manipur found only in the floating biomass called “Phumdi” of Keibul Lam-jao, Loktak Lake, Bishnu- pur District, Manipur, is an endangered animal. This rare and endangered State animal is endemic to Manipur and is not found anywhere in the globe, except the State. Now, this endangered animal is considered “quite safe” and that there is no danger of its extinction at all following the intervention of the Government of India under its Act called Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-I. Animals listed under the “endangered animals”, which are considered threatened to extinction, are given absolute protection carrying harshest penalties for the offenders and offences by this very Act.
Before the implementation of this Act of 1972, Schedule-I, the habitat of Sangai (Rucervus eldi eldi) was favourite hunting, poaching and sporting ground without any restrictions, for the local people for a long time and thereby creating and resulting in reduction of the population of this rare State animal and other associated animals like Kharsa (Axis porcinus), Lamok (Sus scrofa) and birds of different kinds, since the implementation of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-I, many pairs of Sangai are also being transferred to other zoos in the country for the growth of population of Sangai and enrichment of animal species.
Not only the protection given by the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-I, the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest global environmental conservation network is also actively engaging in the rescue operation of Sangai by enlisting in the Red List of threatened species. Under this list of threatened species of animals, IUCN’s aim or mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies or organizations throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature, and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
Because of the strict and timely intervention mainly, from National and international wildlife and environmental conservation bodies and State Governments for Sangai, environmentalists, nature lovers and people of the State have heaved a sight of relief. It is believed that the population of “Sangai’ in the State for Keibul Lamjao National Park and Zoological Garden of Manipur must be around 300 in rough estimation, as no census data is available, except that of 2016 which had 260 Sangai. Similarly, the population of Sangai at different zoos in the country, when put together, the number could be higher and more favourable than 260 i.e. 300 approx.
In contrast to the good news about the assured protections given to Sangai under Article 48A and 51A(G), Meetei Tribe, an important bonafide indigenous community living mostly in the Imphal valley surrounded by rows of hill ranges, geographically isolated from outside world, is crying for a long time for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list of the country to protect the interest and the identity of the Meetei community under the Article 342(I) of the Indian Constitution. The demand clearly authenticates the birth and Constitutional right of Meetei Tribe on account of its being a bonafide indigenous community of the State like other 24 indigenous tribes who are already in the ST list and possess 7 clans system in each tribe/community as Meetei does and fulfil the criteria laid down by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Because of the non-inclusion of Meetei Tribe in the ST list for the last more than 75 years, the community is put to serious disadvantages and challenges to save its culture, tradition, identity, language, education, health care, land, population, economy, etc. and thereby endangering the very existence in its original and natural habitat like the “Sangai”. The easiest and safest way to save the Meetei with its dwindling population with total Fertility Rate 1.77, less than the stable TFR (Total Fertility Rate) 2.1 will be to implement Article 342(I) under the Constitution of India without further delay, considering the fact that Meetei Tribe was already there in the tribal list and the same was removed in the 1951 census only after the new Republic of India was born on the 26th January, 1950. Restoration of ST status is the need of the hour for the Government of Manipur and India.
The demand is to save Meetei Tribe, in particular and other indigenous tribes in general, to live in equal footing with a genuine desire to mingle once again for living unitedly in peace, progress and happiness. The same should not be seen to downgrade the social status of Meetei Tribe, to grab lands and quota of tribal ST brethren at any rate, as some short-sighted, un-educated, un-exposed or communal minded people think wrongly; rather they should see this paradigm shift of Meetei Tribe to Scheduled Tribe status, in near future, as “Home Coming” and to play actively and successfully the trump card of being a big brother to save integrity and unity of the people in the State.