Manipur's Demand for a 1951 Baseline for NRC: Why the Date Is Contentious, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Manipur's Home Minister stated that 1951 would be the base year for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, pending the Centre's approval.
• The demand for a 1951 baseline stems from the abolition of Manipur's permit system in 1950 and the first Census of independent India conducted in 1951.
• Historical agreements, including the 1980 "Proceedings of Understanding" and the Manipur People’s Protection Bill, 2018, have previously cited 1951 as the baseline.
• The demand has gained urgency due to the influx of people from Myanmar post-2021 military coup and the upcoming 2027 Census and delimitation exercise.
• Meitei and Naga organizations support the 1951 baseline before the Census, while the Kuki-Zo Council opposes it, citing enumeration difficulties in 1951 and potential exclusion of indigenous communities.

Detailed Insights:

• The erstwhile princely state of Manipur had a permit system regulating entry, which was abolished in 1950, leading to concerns about demographic changes.
• A significant increase in Manipur's decadal population growth from 12.80% in 1951 to 35.04% in 1961 is cited as evidence of substantial population increase after entry controls were removed.
• The Assam NRC used March 25, 1971, as its cut-off date, a decision rooted in the Assam Accord and migration from East Pakistan.
• Proponents in Manipur argue their situation is distinct, linked to the abolition of their permit system and subsequent demographic shifts.
• The Manipur People’s Protection Bill, 2018, which proposed 1951 as the baseline, was passed by the Assembly but did not become law due to protests.
• When operationalizing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in 2022, the Manipur government chose 1961 as the base year, considering the interests of various communities.
• Challenges include distinguishing between recent migrants and long-settled residents lacking 1951 records, especially in a state affected by conflict-induced displacement.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Register of Citizens (NRC): A register containing names of all Indian citizens, primarily aimed at identifying illegal immigrants.
• Inner Line Permit (ILP) System: A travel document required by Indian citizens to enter protected areas, regulating movement to safeguard indigenous cultures.
• Delimitation: The act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province with a legislative body.
• Assam Accord: A Memorandum of Settlement signed in 1985 between the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Movement, addressing the issue of illegal immigrants.