JTCM seeks NRC before Census, delimitation in Manipur

IMPHAL — The Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM) has urged the Centre and Manipur government to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state with 1951 as the base year before undertaking any Census or delimitation exercise.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the council demanded that the Census in the state be deferred until completion of the NRC process, arguing that population data should be based on a verified citizen population.

The JTCM expressed concern over the continuing influx of people from across the international border and alleged changes in Manipur’s demographic composition, saying these had implications for the identity, land, resources and political rights of indigenous communities.

It said conducting the Census or delimitation without first addressing illegal immigration could produce population figures with long-term consequences for indigenous communities.

The council also demanded that delimitation be undertaken only after completion of the NRC, and called for the de-recognition of settlements designated as villages without fulfilling criteria prescribed under state law.

The JTCM described the NRC, Census and delimitation as interlinked processes and warned of agitations, including bandh, rallies and sit-in protests, if the government proceeded with the Census against public sentiment.

The United Naga Council (UNC) has also maintained that no Census or delimitation exercise should be conducted in Manipur before implementation of the NRC.

The UNC and Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) submitted a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Governor on May 3, 2024, urging that any Census exercise be preceded by implementation of the NRC.

The UNC has also drawn attention to what it described as an abnormal increase in recognised and unrecognised villages in certain districts, citing government records covering 1950-69 and the 2011 Census.