~ T. Zamlunmang Zou @ Pupu Zou
It has been more than 30 years since the demand for creation of Sadar Hills as a full-fleged district started way back in the early 1970s. Two outstanding records have been created out of this demand. Th Lupheng, a Social Worker from Saikul opine that: "One, the people of Sadar Hills created history for demanding a mere district for more than 30 years without a break. Secondly, the State Government of Manipur too created history for putting a genuine demand of the people on hold for than 30 years". I think the State Govt. is taking pride for being able to suppress and neglect a people’s movement for a mere district for such a long period. A good job indeed! but a shameful pride. It is high time for the State govt. to come out with valid reasons to justify for its act of suppression and negligence of a genuine & rightful demand of the people. In the past, we came across with the State govt. racking up some ‘not-much-important’ matters like the boundary issue, consensus issue etc. etc... If these issues are the real hindrances to the inauguration of Sadar Hills as a full-fleged district? Or any other else? Let’s see how far the so-called problems (as stated by the State govt.) have any merit worth consideration or not.
On 14 November 1969, Manipur was divided into five districts, namely, Manipur Central district, Manipur East district, Manipur West district, Manipur North district, Manipur South district. A few years later, Tengnoupal district (renamed Chandel district) was carved out of Manipur Central district. In 1983, the Manipur Central district was divided into three districts, namely, Imphal district, Thoubal district, Bishnupur district. Recently; Imphal district was divided into Imphal East and Imphal West districts. If Sadar Hills becomes a district, the total number of districts in Manipur will be ten. Since the main purpose of creating a district is to achieve better administrative convenience for prosperity of the people, there is no reason why the Government of Manipur shall find it so difficult to upgrade Sadar Hills to the status of a full-fledged revenue district.
During the time of Shri Rishang Keishing, the state government had decided to announce the upgradation of Sadar Hills as a revenue district when Imphal was bifurcated into Imphal East and Imphal West districts in 1997. The United Front Government under the stewardship of Shri Nipamacha Singh had agreed that Sadar Hills would be made of three sub-divisions, namely, Kangpokpi sub-division, Saitu-Gamphazol sub-division, Saikul sub-division. The area covered by the said three sub-divisions will automatically become the area of the district.Unfortunately, the previous governments have failed to create Sadar Hills district in spite of their promises. Therefore, O Ibobi's government should fulfill the aspirations of the people of Sadar Hills. The government should be firm in its decision, and to keep its decision pending for years for one reason or the other is the result of divide and rule policy which is a most dangerous.
The government must be impartial in making any decision. A mistake committed by the State or Central government can become a big tragedy for the nation. As for instance, let us take Pandit Nehru's policy on Jammu and Kashmir. - On 15th August 1947, India stood divided not in two but many states and the danger of Balkanisation loomed large on the horizon. It goes to the credit of Sadar Patel, that he met this challenge with great determination and foresight. He was the real architect of the unity of truncated India. Jammu and Kashmir State which was not allowed to be handled by him by Pandit Nehru on the plea that being a Kashmiri he could be trusted to handle it better which is the only princely state that continues to be a problem even today. If Pandit Nehru had exercised impartiality and had the courage to accept the suggestion of Sadar Patel and Dr. Ambedkar in making decision on Jammu and Kashmir, many problems which India faces today would have been avoided. In like manner, the Sadar Hills problem, if neglected, may become a big problem for Manipur. The State Government have however, still remains silent. One of the most important reasons for the demand for separate district is of course, the step motherly treatment of the Kukis of Sadar Hills by the State Government. Since Manipur becomes statehood under the domination of India in 1971 six Autonomous District Councils was given as package grant which are later upgraded to district after 1972 which invariably excluded Kuki dominated autonomous viz. Tengnoupal and Sadar Hills. In 1974 Tengnoupal was upgraded but Sadar Hills was left out till today.
In 1982 State Cabinet decided to inaugurate and successive government too did not translated it into action. The long negligence of Manipur State Government invites unnecessary evils. Revenue Minister Hellauddin Khan in the Assembly on September 12, 1996, the Government had assured that Sadar Hills would be announced as a full-fledged revenue district on the same day of announcement of Imphal East District. In 1998 Chief Minister Nipamacha Singh’s Government formed a sub-committee so as to create Sadar Hills as a full-fledged Revenue District and 30th June was fixed as the day of submission of report. The State Government also signed ‘an MOU with the District Demand Committee. The MOU contains that all the power and function of D.C and S.P. be given to ADC and Addl. S.P. besides opening branch offices of the entire major department at Kangpokpi. However, the contents of MOU were not translated into action.
However, IPS (retd) Ngamkhohen Kipgen recently has cited lack of commitment by the sitting MLAs for Sadar Hills yet to be upgraded to a full fledged district. Expressing that aspiration of the Sadar Hills people for a full fledged district has not been materialized due to absence of initiative by MLAs concerned, Ngamkhohen stated that the Government alone should not be blamed for MLAs elected from three assembly constituencies of Sadar Hills are equally responsible to ensure that the people’s cherished dream is realized.
The last but not the least, I would like to appleal the people, the social organisations and other groups of that area to stand united and have control over our representatives. The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee should organise a consultation meeting in each and every divisions and educate the people for the need to stand united on this issue. For this, free and fair election is the need of the hour, that the representatives should be elected by the people itself but not selected by freedom fighters. The people should have their voices over their representatives. Only than, we shall overcome.
~ The writer is the admin of www.zolengthe.net
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