By Haokholala Thangjom
Shri JM Raina, former Chief Commissioner of Manipur conceptualised to create three districts in Manipur in the early part of 1962-63, namely, the Central District comprising the entire valley area, the North District comprising the present Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts. The proposed North District faced problem emanated from political exigency raised by the Naga leaders including late Rani Gaidinliu. Thus creation of more districts in the tribal areas became unavoidable.
Prototype Districts: In suppression of Order No. 18 of the office of the Chief Commissioner, Manipur, under reference No. A-1-3424-29, dated the 18th January 1950, whereby Manipur was ordered to be a single district under Manipur (Administration) Order, 1949 and with a view to introducing a more efficient system of administration in the Union Territory of Manipur, Shri Baleshwar Prasad, Chief Commissioner (Administrator), Manipur created five districts in Manipur, vide the Notification of the Government of Manipur Secretariat: Planning & Development No. 20/36/69-D, dated the 14th November 1969. The names of the five districts were:-
1. Central District with head-quarters at Imp-hal.
2. North District with headquarters at Ka-rong.
3. South District with headquarters at Chu- rachandpur.
4. East District with headquarters at Uk- hrul
5. West District with headquarters at Ta- menglong.
The population of the four districts in the tribal/hill areas in Manipur according to the census of the year 1971 were:
1. North District - 1,80,000
2. South District - 98,000
3. East District - 62,000
4. West District - 46,000
President of India’s Order, 1972: In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 371-
C of the Constitution, Shri V.V. Giri, President of India issued an order in respect of the Hill Areas Committee and in the First Schedule thereto the names of the four revenue districts remain intact and Chandel, Chakpikarong and Tengnoupal revenue subdivisions were in the Central District.
But after the Assembly Elections in 1974 the alliance of the Manipur People Party and the Hills Union Party secured majority and formed the United Legislature Party (ULP) with the defection of a few Hills Union MLAs led by late Shri Y. Shaiza created political uncertainty. As a ‘realpolitic’ bonus Ten- gnoupal Revenue was inaugurated by late Shri Alimuddin, the then Chief Minister at Chandel on the 13th May 1974 making a total of five Revenue Districts in the tribal areas. According to 1971 Census the population of the new district was 43,000 only. Later on the name of the district was changed to Chandel District.
Autonomous District Councils: Central leaders at the time of demand of Autonomy or Autonomous District councils is a “cementing force” of the integrity of Manipur. At present Autonomous District councils are functioning in all six hill districts including the Sadar Hills as stipulated in sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971. Therefore, it is a very simple syllogism of logic. The syllogism is
“Autonomous District Councils are in hill districts.
Autonomous District Council is in Sadar Hills.
Therefore, Sadar Hills is a District or a full-fledged district under the relevant Act.
Population Factor: Coming to the factor of population, the following informations from the Statistical Abstract, Manipur, 2005 published by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Manipur:
1. Senapati District - 2,83,621
a). Mao Maram Sub-division- 69,13
b). Paomata -- 27,065
c). Purul -- 30,912
Total- 1,27, 108
i). Sadar Hills West- 60,945
ii) Siatu Gamphazol - 44,130
iii) Sadar Hills East - 51,438
Total - 1,56,513
Besides the breakups of population of Senapati District, “the population of the four
Hill Districts are given here below:
1. Churachandpur District- 2,27,905
2. Ukhrul District- 1,40,778
3. Chandel District- 1,18,327
4. Tamenglong District- 1,11,499
It is an undeniable fact that the composition of the population of some districts in the hill areas like Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur show the preponderance of a certain community or tribe which providence decreed. Admittedly, in the Sadar Hills also preponderance of a certain community like the Kukis will not become a taboo in the administration.
The Sadar Hills as many as three Assembly constituencies which stands par with Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati proper unlike Jiribam which has a single Assembly constituency. With the strong political will and synergic effort of the District Demand committee and the elected representatives of the Autonomous District of Sadar Hills the final victory will be a certainty.
When we met late Shri Y.B. Chavan, the Home Minister in 1970, the tribal delegates were rebuffed by him saying, ‘Do not compare yourselves with Nagaland State which was a special case.’ I retorted, ‘Sir, is there any special reason for not granting Statehood to Manipur’. It made him grumpy.
So, I said, ‘Is there any special reason for criteria for not granting full-fledged district status to the people of Sadar Hills who are not “political leper” or plebeians among the citizens of our State.
Let the Government hands-off. Apartheid policy towards the people of Sadar Hills.
Source: The Sangai Express
Shri JM Raina, former Chief Commissioner of Manipur conceptualised to create three districts in Manipur in the early part of 1962-63, namely, the Central District comprising the entire valley area, the North District comprising the present Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts. The proposed North District faced problem emanated from political exigency raised by the Naga leaders including late Rani Gaidinliu. Thus creation of more districts in the tribal areas became unavoidable.
Prototype Districts: In suppression of Order No. 18 of the office of the Chief Commissioner, Manipur, under reference No. A-1-3424-29, dated the 18th January 1950, whereby Manipur was ordered to be a single district under Manipur (Administration) Order, 1949 and with a view to introducing a more efficient system of administration in the Union Territory of Manipur, Shri Baleshwar Prasad, Chief Commissioner (Administrator), Manipur created five districts in Manipur, vide the Notification of the Government of Manipur Secretariat: Planning & Development No. 20/36/69-D, dated the 14th November 1969. The names of the five districts were:-
1. Central District with head-quarters at Imp-hal.
2. North District with headquarters at Ka-rong.
3. South District with headquarters at Chu- rachandpur.
4. East District with headquarters at Uk- hrul
5. West District with headquarters at Ta- menglong.
The population of the four districts in the tribal/hill areas in Manipur according to the census of the year 1971 were:
1. North District - 1,80,000
2. South District - 98,000
3. East District - 62,000
4. West District - 46,000
President of India’s Order, 1972: In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 371-
C of the Constitution, Shri V.V. Giri, President of India issued an order in respect of the Hill Areas Committee and in the First Schedule thereto the names of the four revenue districts remain intact and Chandel, Chakpikarong and Tengnoupal revenue subdivisions were in the Central District.
But after the Assembly Elections in 1974 the alliance of the Manipur People Party and the Hills Union Party secured majority and formed the United Legislature Party (ULP) with the defection of a few Hills Union MLAs led by late Shri Y. Shaiza created political uncertainty. As a ‘realpolitic’ bonus Ten- gnoupal Revenue was inaugurated by late Shri Alimuddin, the then Chief Minister at Chandel on the 13th May 1974 making a total of five Revenue Districts in the tribal areas. According to 1971 Census the population of the new district was 43,000 only. Later on the name of the district was changed to Chandel District.
Autonomous District Councils: Central leaders at the time of demand of Autonomy or Autonomous District councils is a “cementing force” of the integrity of Manipur. At present Autonomous District councils are functioning in all six hill districts including the Sadar Hills as stipulated in sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971. Therefore, it is a very simple syllogism of logic. The syllogism is
“Autonomous District Councils are in hill districts.
Autonomous District Council is in Sadar Hills.
Therefore, Sadar Hills is a District or a full-fledged district under the relevant Act.
Population Factor: Coming to the factor of population, the following informations from the Statistical Abstract, Manipur, 2005 published by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Manipur:
1. Senapati District - 2,83,621
a). Mao Maram Sub-division- 69,13
b). Paomata -- 27,065
c). Purul -- 30,912
Total- 1,27, 108
i). Sadar Hills West- 60,945
ii) Siatu Gamphazol - 44,130
iii) Sadar Hills East - 51,438
Total - 1,56,513
Besides the breakups of population of Senapati District, “the population of the four
Hill Districts are given here below:
1. Churachandpur District- 2,27,905
2. Ukhrul District- 1,40,778
3. Chandel District- 1,18,327
4. Tamenglong District- 1,11,499
It is an undeniable fact that the composition of the population of some districts in the hill areas like Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur show the preponderance of a certain community or tribe which providence decreed. Admittedly, in the Sadar Hills also preponderance of a certain community like the Kukis will not become a taboo in the administration.
The Sadar Hills as many as three Assembly constituencies which stands par with Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati proper unlike Jiribam which has a single Assembly constituency. With the strong political will and synergic effort of the District Demand committee and the elected representatives of the Autonomous District of Sadar Hills the final victory will be a certainty.
When we met late Shri Y.B. Chavan, the Home Minister in 1970, the tribal delegates were rebuffed by him saying, ‘Do not compare yourselves with Nagaland State which was a special case.’ I retorted, ‘Sir, is there any special reason for not granting Statehood to Manipur’. It made him grumpy.
So, I said, ‘Is there any special reason for criteria for not granting full-fledged district status to the people of Sadar Hills who are not “political leper” or plebeians among the citizens of our State.
Let the Government hands-off. Apartheid policy towards the people of Sadar Hills.
Source: The Sangai Express
