The Silent War to Grab Tribal's Land in Manipur: But How?

Manipur has a history of deep hill-valley divide. The Meiteis usually argue against this dichotomy, but every aspect of the Manipuri society, what they think and how they act, are all evidence of how deeply divided the two entities are. Even in the imagination of the Meiteis, the previously princely state which they fondly called as “Kangleipak” (Dried Land, Lacustrine Plain or a landmass formed by filling up of a lake), “Meitrabak” or “Meitei Leipak” (Land of the Meiteis), and much later “Sana Leibak” (Land of Jewels), has never been remembered as a single entity but “Ching-Tam” (Hill-Valley). The current ethnic violence between the dominant community Meiteis, who are in the valley, and the minority Kukis in the hills, is also deeply rooted in this hill-valley divide.

Knowing well about this historical divide, the British never allowed the Manipuri Kings to rule over the hills during the colonial period. Rather, the hill administrations were kept under the supervision of a British officer instead of leaving them at the mercy of the Kings. It may be noted that the hills were brought under Manipur state for the first time by the British.

In the post-independent period, the same was well acknowledged with the inclusion of Article 371C which provides for the Hill Areas Committee, and such other provisions in the Constitution for the protection of the tribals. The Sixth Scheduled, for instance, was meant to protect the rights of the tribals of Northeast region.

However, the dominant community had never allowed the implementation of such provisions which are meant for the upliftment of the tribals. Instead, they even wanted to become tribal themselves. The Meiteis are enjoying the benefits of being a General, and all other facilities meant for the SC, OBCs, and EBCs. If they succeed in getting ST status as well, the “Meetei/Meitei” will be the only community in India who are General, SC, OBC, EBC, and ST, all combined in one community, and with this, they will be able to take away every little thing remaining of the state.

Since many decades ago, the hill areas have been randomly declared as protected or reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and what not, taking advantage of the lack of awareness among the tribals. The innocent village chiefs would often give away their signatures for money without analysing its consequences.

In many cases, the village chiefs were lured with money in the name of afforestation or tree plantations for various reasons. Towards this, tree saplings along with money for wages to the labourers who will be planting those saplings were to be sanctioned. Such village lands where trees were planted were to be declared as reserved or protected forests after many decades.

In some cases, schemes were offered to dig ponds for fishery, mini-dams for water irrigation, fertilisers, pesticides, and even machineries for agriculture, and so on. Trainings were also given for mushroom making, bee-keeping, floriculture, horticulture, etc. Loans under various schemes for poultry, rearing pigs and cattle, dairy farms, and others were also provided from time to time. There are also funds for major projects for the construction of schools, tribal/girls hostels, offices, community halls, residential quarters, etc. released generously in rare cases under different heads.

All these schemes and projects might appear to be genuine instances of the state working to uplift the backward tribal communities. However, in reality, it was never meant to be. For analytical minds, it might also appear to be a means to siphon-off part of the government’s budget. This is because most of the projects were either implemented in name, or never, on the ground. Remember it was not just for the money alone, but more than that.

However, for the innocent tribal chiefs and land owners in the hills, it was that small amount of money that matters as they would remain happy as long as they got their share. The same is true during elections where most of the votes are on sale with the village chiefs getting the lion-share.

In contrast, it was beyond getting their share of the fund for the more advanced Meitei community. What the extremely shrewd Meitei think-tanks thought is about grabbing lands by any means. Here, in most of the schemes and projects, the so-called beneficiaries would belong to those villages adjacent to the valley, or towns. And in most of these, it involves giving away a portion of the land.

Imagine the tribal lands carry little value in the market decades ago. It was during those days that lands were acquired under the guise of implementing government schemes and projects. If it were really for the welfare of the backward tribal communities, many of these schemes would have also been implemented in the far corner of the hill districts that are more deserving than those in the periphery. In the same way, if the intentions were right, such projects would have been made successful. Instead, the work usually ends with the release of the funds. Even if they are implemented, the structures or projects so delivered would be with little quality.

These are but a few examples among the many tactics employed by the dominant community to snatch away the lands of the tribals.

There are extraordinarily interesting cases as well. One such is the construction of a bridge in Saikul, about 7 km. deep into the hills from the town. Unlike many of the other projects, this particular bridge was constructed in such a good quality that it will stand for at least 50-100 years. Curiously, the construction of a bridge there doesn’t carry much economic value since it connects only a few tiny villages! Yet, it pleases the local people as it is something they have been longing for. However, when the bridge was handed over to the people, the inaugural plate had an inscription, “Imphal East”. Can we now guess why most of the roads and bridges constructed within Saikul sub-division are left incomplete, but this one was particularly completed in such a short time?

The manner in which sites for multipurpose project dams were chosen, how the lands were acquired, the way they were constructed, and the kind of inhumane treatment meted out to the affected people, also shows they were never meant to serve the interest of the tribals. Let’s take the case of Singda Dam, Thoubal (Maphou) Dam, and Dolaithabi Dam.

First, they are all located in the periphery areas between the hills and the valley, with larger portions in the hills, but are officially recorded as located within the valley districts.

Second, 99% of the affected people and their lands belong to the hills, but the benefits are meant for the valley. Whereas Singda and Thoubal multipurpose projects supply water to a large part of Imphal valley, Dolaithabi multipurpose project irrigates paddy fields belonging to the valley people alone.

Oh yeah! You may ask about Khuga Dam which is deep into the hill district of Lamka. Anyway, let us make these queries: What is the annual income generated from this Dam? How many acres of agricultural land does it irrigate? And what is the volume of water does it supply for consumption? As per researchers and human rights activists, the Khuga Dam hasn’t generated even a single rupee, irrigate, or supply, even a single drop of water. Moreover, only God knows how many acres of forest and village lands have been permanently inundated by this dam alone.

It must also be kept in mind that when lands for construction of Dams were acquired, the government’s focus is limited to the location for the construction of the retaining walls. It never considered the plight of those people who are to be affected later by the water after the Dams are completed. For instance, the people of Saikul had never imagined more than 10 km. into Saikul sub-division in Kangpokpi district will be affected by the Dolaithabi multipurpose project which is supposed to be a Dam constructed within Imphal East district. Let us also not forget the staggering number of people drowned in these dams!

The hill people sacrificed their lands, in many cases even their villages including churches, and lost many lives without proper compensation though the benefits mostly went to the valley. We never know if dams in the periphery areas are located in the valley districts, the whole areas inundated by them might also be considered as part of the valley. In the Assembly, the MLAs from the valley often raised questions regarding the destruction of forests in the catchment area of these dams. This says a lot about why the political elites in Imphal prefer illiterate people as legislators from the hills.

All these show that the dominant community’s design to exploit or grab tribal lands, particularly those in the periphery areas, has been rooted in the historical divide between the hills and valley, as well as among the major ethnic communities. As of now, the affected lots are mostly the Kuki-Zo communities but nobody can say for sure how long it will take for the other tribes to face the same fate. Remember, the larger area of Churachandpur- Khoupum reserved forest, from where K.Songjang village was illegally evicted, is in the Noney district.

Therefore, it is time for the minority tribal communities to stand together as one in order to protect the hill areas from the onslaught of the majority. Division on ethnic lines can also serve the interest of the dominant community. Today, it’s ME; but tomorrow it can be YOUR TURN! Earlier, it was a silent war to grab our lands, but now while launching a “national war”, they are also [aiming at] becoming tribals themselves.

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin Thingkho le Malcha, Issue no. 169, February 29, 2024).