Proposal For Two States Within Manipur State: A State For Hill Tribal People and the Other State for Valley People

Blockade in Manipur State is not a new happening. The intellectuals, Social organizations, all stakeholders call for blockade in the state because of Manipur Government’s failure to listen the voice of the people in the state, where tribal people are undermined and neglected cent percent. Manipur Govt. must understand that, people are supreme and the Government is “of the people, by the people, for the people”. The representatives of the people are elected to the Assembly every five years, where peoples voice are to be put up, make decision for the development activities, welfare, benefits etc. When the government fails to acknowledge their will and go against the interest of the people, there is no option other than protests against the Govt. in democratic form to solve their grievances, to bring the government to justice.

According to past History, the Manipur Govt. treats the Tribal as laborers, porters, sweepers, “Haos”, low castes citizens, as untouchables, animals, and still is facing the same treatment. Therefore, tribal people impose blockade in tribal districts of Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati and Tamenglong to get what are legitimately their birth rights.

The Tribal people of Manipur earnestly and strongly appeal politicians, intellectuals, civil organizations, the governments of all Indian States, the governors of Indian states, the Prime Minister of India and The hon’ble President of India, to support the weaker section of the societies particularly, tribals of Manipur state and also other tribal areas in North Eastern States in general such as, for the creation of Bodoland state, Karbi Anglong state and Tripura Tribal State democratically as Talengana was created recently according to the constitution of India, Article.3. Instead of listening to the voices and delivering justice of the Tribal people, the Government of Manipur still targets and kills the Tribals in the state. More than that, the hill Tribal MLAs are coerced into agreeing to Meitiei government’s sinister plans for grabbing the Tribal lands, Tribal welfare funds, jobs and benefits etc. Tribals who oppose the state government’s unjust policies are butchered. In 2016, nine (9) people were killed in Churachandpur district for voicing out and standing for justice, eight death bodies still lay unburied awaiting justice, similar incident as these are happening in Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati Districts as well.

Regarding the job opportunities in the state as a whole, employment roster is 100%, out of the roster 31% is reserved for the Tribals, only 17% of it are given to Tribals, the rest 83% employees are the valley people instead of 69%. Of the 17% government tribal employees most of it are third grade jobs, which are under the District Council primary school teachers and for months their salaries are pending, which stretches through the year. To relate to the pass histories and the present stories the valley people and the hill tribal people are unable to live together due to different historical, social, cultural, customary practices, traditions and religion etc. resulting in immense contrast and negativity to each other. As a result, the hill tribal people and the Imphal valley people are impossible to live together even at present time and for the generations to come.

As such, there is no option but the best and most acceptable solution to both Hill Tribal people and the valley people is to calmly separate from each other before it’s too late. The best and the most suitable solution is to divide MANIPUR STATE into two states. The total land area of Manipur is 22,238. sq km. The Tribal land area is 20,089 sq Km. and the valley land area is 2,238 sq km. Out of total 60 MLAs, the Tribals have 20 MLAs and the Meiteis have 40 MLAs in the assembly. In lok Sabha 2 MPs,one(1 )MP for Hill area and One(1) MP for Imphal valley and in Rajya sabha 1(one) MP. This noble proposal can be done according to the Article no.3, of the Indian constitution. The total No. of MLAs in Goa state assembly is 40 and so is the no. of MLAs in Imphal valley, which is 40. As such, Imphal valley fulfills the criteria to form a beautiful new state in India, in the same manner a new hill state should be created as uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Telangana states . This can be done according to preamble, “We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a (Sovereign socialist sacular democratic republic) and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” We tribal of Manipur state are bonafide citizens of India as the citizens of four (4) newly created states, belonging to same country, INDIA and the constitution is made for all Indian citizens. According to this article, formation of new states and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states- parliament may by law-

(a) Form a new state by separation of territory from any state or by uniting two or more states or parts of states or by uniting any territory to a part of any state;
(b) Increase the area of any state;
(c) Diminish the area of any state;
(d) Alter the boundaries of any state;
(e) Alter the name of any state:

According to poet sri, Kwairakpam Chaoba Singh poem, the psyche of Meities clearly indicates that Manipur means only the Imphal valley.

The poem written in Meiteis Language,
Manipur sana Leimayol,
Chingna koyna pansaba,
Haona koyna pan ngakpa.
Written in English,
Manipur, golden Motherland,
The hills surround you fenced,
Haos (Tribals) guard you all round.

World knows the pass history, proving that the Tribal and Meitei never settled together harmoniously at any point of time, even after getting statehood in 1972, till today. Therefore, there’s not an iota of intention to live together where politically, socially, religiously, economically, culturally opposite in both communities. So, what do we do now? There’s no suitable solution other than to separate Manipur state into two states out of an area 22,327sq km. In true sense of practicability, solution is to have a separate state for Tribals on the Hill areas of 20,089sqk. and a state for Meiteis in the valley areas of 2,238sq km, according to the Indian constitution article 3. So as to live in peace gracefully.

Therefore, we the Separate Hill Tribal Areas Administration Demand Committee urgently appeals all civil societies, political parties, intellectuals, religious leaders, from all walks of life general public think wisely and act now. As it is your turn to decide for your people, for today, for betterment of your tomorrow and generations to come.

Puni Ashuli Arche
Convener
Separate Hill Tribal Areas Administration Demand Committee