Global Manipur Federation (GMF) endorses the demand by the United Naga Council (UNC) that has asked the State government to immediately start the exercise to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur. The implementation of the NRC in Manipur has become a pressing issue, as it serves as a crucial step towards identifying genuine citizens and ensuring that unqualified foreigners are removed from the state. Eventually, the NRC could demonstrate a clear picture of the illegal immigrant reality in the state.

When there comes substantiated evidence of immigration, a legitimate approach could be executed toward resolving the violent conflicts and various problems created by the influx of population. Over the last few decades, there has been civil-political unrest among the communities about foreigners coming to Manipur without legal procedures.

A sudden increase in the Chin-Kuki population in Manipur triggers apprehension among the indigenous people, particularly the Meiteis and Nagas since the situation causes a threat to demography, land, and resources affecting the political-economic-social sphere.

Here, with a possible motive of occupying wider electoral space in Manipur and adjacent regions which in return entertain the upper-hand political power, the influx of the population of Chin-Kuki is likely desired. By observing the expansion pattern of the villages in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Tengnoupal districts, and information from the local media, relevant publications, and government data, approximately 5 lakhs Chin-Kuki population was around the year 2011 though it was 2.83 lakhs in 2001. In case, the same pattern continues and also owing to the porous Indo-Burma border, and political turmoil in Myanmar, presently they could be estimated at over 10 lakhs in Manipur.

The primary concern now is that the arrival of the Chin-Kukis has resulted in widespread poppy plantation, leading to environmental degradation and ecological deterioration adversely impacting the socio-economic conditions of the state with unprecedented floods and drought situations. This situation has, in turn, facilitated the emergence of narco-terror activities in the Indo-Burma border region with the advent of shifting the infamous Golden Triangle to Manipur.

In fact, some also have opined a viewpoint that NRC would not help much solve the issue of the illegal immigrants and influx of population. They show their reasons given the experience from the Assam case which did not work effectively. A challenge that has come along from Assam’s lesson is the lack of political willpower and lack of transparency and accountability in the bureaucratic domain. However, the execution of NRC itself does not mean useless; definitely it will be beneficial to mitigate the challenges in multiple aspects. Hence a government with a political-will should go ahead with NRC work taking 1951 as the base year to identify the genuine citizens of India and to dismiss the illegal immigrants as soon as possible.

Campaign | KRC Foundation