Democracy is best defined as “of the people, by the people and for the people”. The historic objectives resolution moved by Jawahar Lal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly in 1947 which shaped the making of Indian Constitution Proclaimed that India would be “an independent Sovereign Democratic Republic” wherein it is also stated “adequate safeguard shall be provided for the minorities, backward and tribal areas, depressed and other backward classes”. The constitution makers therefore, recognized the necessity of a separate political and administrative structure for the tribal areas of the north east and enacted the ADC in the constitution guided by three main consideration: (i). The necessity to maintain the distinct customs, socio, economic and political culture of the tribal people of the region and to ensure autonomy of the tribal people and preserve their identities, (ii).The necessity to prevent their economic and social exploitation by the more advanced neighboring people of the plain and (iii).To allow the tribal people to develop and administer themselves according to their own wisdom and geniuses.
The Autonomous District Council without autonomy has been protested for a long time by the tribal districts in the hills. It was kept under animated suspension for two decades on ground of corrupt practices, incompetence and lack of professional ethics, thereby depriving the constitutionally provided right to separate structure for governance. When the State Assembly amended the Councils Act of 1971 the tribals were further humiliated by bypassing the Hill Areas Committee in the State Assembly violating its procedural norms which says “any bill relating to the affairs of the hill people shall not bypass the HAC”. Legitimacy of the Councilors mostly declared elected uncontested in the midst of boycott in Naga areas is also questionable but now putting chilly to the wound even the political structure of ADC itself has been shifted to the valley on ground of perceived threat to the lives of Councilors as if the democratic institution of ADC for self governance is of the Councilors and for Councilors and not of the people and for the people. Before shifting it Ibobi and his Govt. made it sure that DRDA is transferred to the Council on pretext of devolution of Power to the people only to deny access to it, District Council and Councilors to which and whom people of the district particularly the rural poor have no access has no purpose of its existence. Denying constitutional provision is in other words violation of the constitution.
Both state and non state authorities are accomplices in marginalizing the people and no one to protect. His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur who is the constitutional Head of the State remains a silent spectator and has failed to protect the rights of the ethnic minorities.
Marginalizing the ethnic minorities in the hills, the state authority even succeeded in preventing delimitation in the state thereby denied more representation in State Assembly on a pretext that the census report was not genuine forgetting that the census was done by his own government. The fact remains that all the Assembly seats in the valley (except for two seats) has only 19 thousand plus to 20 thousand plus electorates while in the hills it is 30 thousand plus to 50 thousand plus electorates (except in five seats). Even for the lone reserved parliamentary seat the Meiteis decide who should be sent, by mischievous inclusion of Thoubal Meiteis in the parliamentary constituency reserved for tribals. Such denial of rights and entitlements have caused Psychological distancing of the Nagas who now harps for disintegration.
The non state authority fighting for freedom of the people may in fairness restraint from denying freedom to the people or else they will be perceived as fighting for exclusive freedom. It is high time we realize that no freedom can be complete without socio, economic and cultural freedom. Our leaders of the civil society organizations of the Nagas will do better rather than telling a make belief story that we have severed political ties with Manipur and refuse to lobby with state authority only to comeback for election contradicting themselves. The non state authority having nation to nation peace talk with Govt. of India is lifetime achievement no matter how many times we are betrayed by our counterpart. I congratulate our leaders who has shunned violence and opted for a democratic process of resolving Naga problem, our commitment and conviction to democratic value is clear. It will be therefore wiser to allow the democratic system work and rule of law prevail until Nagas attain sovereignty because there cannot be freedom except under an established law. I am afraid we have otherwise created conflict within and others have been taking advantage of the fission. ADC as a Legislative Body may now initiate legislation on subjects assigned to them rather than implementing programs which is constitutionally the responsibility of executives. And DRDA should be made accessible to the people of the district by reverting it back to the Deputy Commissioner who is always accessible to the people.
Jubilate Kazingmei
jkazingmei@gmail.com
