MANIPUR Chief Minister Okram Ibobi is unhappy with the Census 2001. He shares the growing perception that the census doesn’t reflect the correct population picture. Population in the hill districts dominated by tribals has been shown to be abnormally high..

Population growth in some areas is shown at 16 percent and in some other areas, particularly the non-tribal belt at just 1.5 per cent. So, Ibobi’s message to the Centre is clear and unambiguous: Keep the census 2001 on hold. Donot use it for exercises like delimitation of assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies. If the delimitation is done on the basis of this report, there will be five more reserved seats in addition to the existing 19 for tribals and one for the scheduled caste.

There are eight Assembly constituencies in the valley where the people have voting rights only but cannot contest the seats. Seven are from Thoubal district while one is the Jiribam constituency. In view of the scanty population of the tribals, this strange and policy had been implemented. The Census 2001 is bound to put a new spin.

Ibobi conveyed his concern and request to the Central team led by P. B. Sinha, Additional Home Secretary. He advocated the need for a review of the census. More manpower will be pressed to work by the State Government for review and it should be carried out under the guidance of Observers of the Centre, Ibobi told the central officials.

Ibobi was echoing the scepticism that greeted the publication of provisional census report; there were protests from political parties. Some delegations even visited  Delhi to protest at what they consider as fabricated provisional Census report. Some tribal groups tried to explain away the abnormal increase in the hill population to the demographic change following ethnic violence. Central team members met police and civil officials to get to know the full picture.

Thoubal District Development and Demand Council has urged the Chief Minister, his colleagues, political parties and officials to place the correct factual position to the Central team. For a long time, the people of Thoubal have been agitating against the denial of their democratic rights.

UNC demands re-census 

The United Naga Council, Manipur in a cautious move urged the State Government for re-census of 2001 report and demanded that the earlier approved census report by the Government of Manipur be retained until a fresh recount of the population is completed. It has also rejected the plan to retain the 1991 census till the exercise is completed. The UNC in a statement has said that the Council understands that the state government have challenged its own census of 2001, when the Election Commission re-allocated five Assembly Constituencies from the valley to the Hills based on census report of 2001. The statement further said, instead of owning up the lapses(if any) of its administrative machinery, the government is rather taking the moral high ground and pointing its accusing finger at itself, exposing to all that the state government will deny the rights and benefits to the Naga people through all means. At the same time, the UNC while welcoming the government move to take another population count for census 2001, it has firmly asserted that until the exercise is completed, the approved census 2001 for Manipur be retained.

Notices served on DGP

The Manipur Human Right Commission has issued notices on the State DGP to furnish details on follow up action of an alleged rape.

|  Headlines  |  Editorial   | From Other Publications  |
|  Travel Column   |   News Briefs  |
| OT Main Page | Nena  Home Page  |