ST Demand Issue: Positive discrimination, affirmative action and the cracks within

India’s reservation policy has spawned forms of conflicting categories of the ‘exploiter’ and the ‘exploited’, the ‘dominant’ and the ‘subservient’ as if these binaries exist in a permanent cycle sans the dynamics of wresting political power at play. By Dhiren A. Sadokpam In recent times, the political elites of three primary ethnic groups in Manipur […]

The post ST Demand Issue: Positive discrimination, affirmative action and the cracks within first appeared on The Frontier Manipur.

India’s reservation policy has spawned forms of conflicting categories of the ‘exploiter’ and the ‘exploited’, the ‘dominant’ and the ‘subservient’ as if these binaries exist in a permanent cycle sans the dynamics of wresting political power at play.

By Dhiren A. Sadokpam

In recent times, the political elites of three primary ethnic groups in Manipur are caught in a whirlpool of anxiety propelled by palpable dissonance in political objectives. This anxiety is not necessarily triggered by the differences in speculative autonomy-demands or even demands based on administrative separatism.

The main anxiety has been caused by the way how the communities have effectively understood the political ideas behind positive discrimination, affirmative action or what in the Indian subcontinent is being referred to as the reservation policy of communities that have apparently lagged behind in holistic development. The most recent play-out that has triggered the spells of anxiety and tension has been the demand of a community considered advanced in comparison to its neighbours, to be included in the Scheduled List of Tribes in India.

While the proponents of the demand and those opposing the same have resorted to socio-political and historical reasoning, both the parties seem to have skipped re-looking at either redefining or refining the concepts they would love to toy with. One is not sure if both the conflicting parties have understood that India’s reservation policy presupposes a social fact – centuries of oppression of one group by another. This presupposition assumes a determinate but constant ‘unchanging oppressor and oppressed’ and ‘advanced’ and ‘backward’ communities. The ‘constant’ is supposedly created by a social order that determined identities of each castes, communities and tribes. This has spawned forms of conflicting categories of the ‘exploiter’ and the ‘exploited’, the ‘dominant’ and the ‘subservient’ as if these binaries exist in a permanent cycle in all societies sans the dynamics of wresting political power at play.

For the mainland India, these terms are defined in relation to the hereditary caste order whereas for Northeast India, the same has been defined by amorphous understandings of communities guided by colonial agenda of the British whose administrators first chose to categorize people from the mixed-prism of the caste order or an anthropological understanding of a system which they considered was durable.

It is against this backdrop that United Naga Council, Manipur (UNC) and the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) have raised objections to the Manipur High Court’s directive to the Government of Manipur to send its recommendation for the inclusion of Meetei Community in the list of Scheduled list of Tribes to the Government of India. The directive of the high court was passed on March 27.

Strident Voices and Social Tension

The UNC stated that “the Meitei/Meetei community of Manipur is an advanced community of India” with their language, Manipuri (Meiteilon) listed in the Eight Schedule to the constitution of India.

“They are already protected under Constitution of India and categorized as (i) General (ii) Other Backward Classes (OBC) and (iii) Schedule Caste (SC),” said the UNC.

UNC termed it irrational that the High Court of Manipur directed the Government of Manipur to recommend for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of India, “negating the sole objective of scheduling group of people for protective discrimination as ST in the Constitution of India”. The Naga body has strongly condemned and called the high court order “inane” for making “such imbecilic recommendation despite strong opposition from Scheduled tribes of the state”.

The common refrain and rationale behind the objections raised by both UNC and KIM has been rubbished by the proponents of those demanding a Scheduled Tribe status for the Meetei community. One strident voice has been that of the Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL). KKL has critiqued the objections in their own characteristic way stating that the demand for the inclusion of Meetei in the Scheduled list of Tribes in the Constitution of India is not aimed at grabbing “jobs” either from the Naga or Kuki communities of Manipur. It has asserted that the demand is based on safeguarding their “little bit of land” now confined to less than 2000 square kilometers out of the 20,000 square kilometers of the entire state of Manipur.

The KKL has made it clear that the Naga and the Kuki communities need not fear about grabbing “their job reservation quotas currently enforced in Manipur which will remain status quo”. The organization also unequivocally asserted that the UNC and KIM have “no birth right” to deny any other scheduled tribes of India that job opportunity.

The KKL had a message for the UNC too. It reiterated that the Manipuri Language being classified as scheduled languages of India under the Eight Schedule has nothing to do with the classification of the Meetei as a scheduled tribe of India. “Anyway Manipuri language is not confined to the Meeteis only but serves as a Lingua Franca amongst all the tribal communities of Manipur be it between the Nagas and the Kukis but amongst their various sub-tribes also”, it pointed out.

Moreover, the UNC has also been reminded that it was Th Muivah, the top National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) leader who had stated that “only the Nagas and the Meeteis are the indigenous peoples” of Manipur. KKL asked, “So what is the idea of joining hands with the Kukis to block the way for the survival of the Meeteis under the Indian Constitution”. To the question of Meeteis being more advanced than the other tribes of Manipur, KKL asserted that it has nothing to do with genealogy but “mode of production” experienced by the communities.

The Meetei community began to practice settled agriculture and had more time to concentrate on arts, culture and literature while the hill tribes hitherto used to follow a different form of agriculture “before switching to poppy plantation” in recent times that had made them “all become rich”, said KKL.

The organization winded up their statement on a harsher note stating that it would be wrong on the part of both the Naga and the Kuki communities to consider the Meetei community as their “common enemy or else will be constrained to  oppose every move or demand made by any tribal group either Naga or Kuki”.

The exchange of statements may not lead towards a reconciliation on the sensitive topic. As the articulation of the issue by those supporting the demand for inclusion of Meetei in Scheduled Tribe list up the ante on their movement, the objections by Naga and Kuki tribal bodies may get shriller by the day.

Empowerment and Social Justice

In all these voices, what has been missed is a dispassionate inter-community/ethnic group deliberation on what would be the best option for all communities to progress and under what protective or empowering mechanism. While the fact of discrimination cannot be denied in one’s everyday experience, ethnicization or communalization of the issue would only create unbridgeable distance between communities. Under such circumstances, one will not be able to project the fact that there are no permanent oppressor and permanent oppressed or instil the fact that the idea of permanent and constant binaries will lead to over-generalization of a theoretical framework to achieve quick practical results.

What is of utmost importance now is truly and honestly grasping the fact that emancipating the socially underprivileged and the marginalized irrespective of community or tribal affiliation or within the same community is a move towards social justice. While doing so, one should not forget that the idea of empowerment of the individual has a far greater value and virtue than a protective mechanism that tends to perpetuate redundant binaries or historical contradictions.

Here, it should also be noted that India’s reservation policy emerged out of a deep flaw in understanding the complex relationship between the conceptions of the ‘cultural/social’ and the ‘economic’. Having said this, elsewhere, this writer had also argued that the stereotyping of the Meetei as a Hindu society both within Manipur and outside, in the image of mainland Hindu ethos and practices has manufactured the idea of the ‘constant exploiter’ and the ‘constant exploited’ in Manipur.

While Hinduised Meeteis have been identified with the former, all other non-Hindu communities are shown as ‘exploited’. Such is the handiwork of those who harp on the ‘politics of divide’ and benefit from it; and endorsed by the ‘ignorant other’ who is happy to own up anything that comes closer to the intolerant and imagined pan-Indian vision.

(Dhiren A. Sadokpam is Editor-in-Chief, The Frontier Manipur. This article was first published by EastMojo under the title ‘ST demand for Meetei: First, acknowledge the cracks within’)

 

The post ST Demand Issue: Positive discrimination, affirmative action and the cracks within first appeared on The Frontier Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: https://thefrontiermanipur.com/st-demand-issue-positive-discrimination-affirmative-action-and-the-cracks-within/

The mental equation

Times are a changing- as everything ought to. Stuffs that were not even dreamt about are becoming devices and gadgets for everyday use. The pace of development and inventions is increasing at a dizzying pace and in an unbelievably complex manner. Every…

Times are a changing- as everything ought to. Stuffs that were not even dreamt about are becoming devices and gadgets for everyday use. The pace of development and inventions is increasing at a dizzying pace and in an unbelievably complex manner. Every single gene in the human body can be identified, isolated and manipulated. Electricity […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/06/the-mental-equation/

Timber banned but no ban on firewood and planks movement : Is it justified ?

In December 1996, the Supreme Court of India made a landmark ruling after hearing a civil writ petition (TN Godavarman vs. the Union of India and others) with regard to tree felling, the SC verdict on the case included an interim order prohibiting logg…

In December 1996, the Supreme Court of India made a landmark ruling after hearing a civil writ petition (TN Godavarman vs. the Union of India and others) with regard to tree felling, the SC verdict on the case included an interim order prohibiting logging without government permission. The ban on the transportation of timber is […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/05/timber-banned-but-no-ban-on-firewood-and-planks-movement-is-it-justified/

Timber banned but no ban on firewood and planks movement : Is it justified ?

In December 1996, the Supreme Court of India made a landmark ruling after hearing a civil writ petition (TN Godavarman vs. the Union of India and others) with regard to tree felling, the SC verdict on the case included an interim order prohibiting logg…

In December 1996, the Supreme Court of India made a landmark ruling after hearing a civil writ petition (TN Godavarman vs. the Union of India and others) with regard to tree felling, the SC verdict on the case included an interim order prohibiting logging without government permission. The ban on the transportation of timber is […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/05/timber-banned-but-no-ban-on-firewood-and-planks-movement-is-it-justified/

Awaiting – a light at the end of the tunnel

Man, having the ability to judge and to arrange for alternatives, have taken the shortest road to development and progress. The unique gift of mental superiority over every living creature on the planet is what enables him to dominate and distinguish h…

Man, having the ability to judge and to arrange for alternatives, have taken the shortest road to development and progress. The unique gift of mental superiority over every living creature on the planet is what enables him to dominate and distinguish himself from every other creature inspite of the frailties and physical shortcomings. We take […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/05/awaiting-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/

Back to violence

Violence it seems is back in Manipur in all its different shades. The blast yesterday at Koirengei not far from the gate of the BSF base on the tarmac of the old abandoned Koirengei WWII airport, announced this in the most terrifying way. Two BJP troop…

Violence it seems is back in Manipur in all its different shades. The blast yesterday at Koirengei not far from the gate of the BSF base on the tarmac of the old abandoned Koirengei WWII airport, announced this in the most terrifying way. Two BJP troopers and three civilians were injured in the IED attack, […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/05/back-to-violence/

RIP Tamo Khelen: You will be always in our heart

It is natural – if you are born you will have to die one day. Thousands are born every day and thousands died each days. Among the people die everyday – few are remembered for the kind of service they provided for the people and humanity. Their n…

It is natural – if you are born you will have to die one day. Thousands are born every day and thousands died each days. Among the people die everyday – few are remembered for the kind of service they provided for the people and humanity. Their names are engraved to the heart of every […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/04/rip-tamo-khelen-you-will-be-always-in-our-heart/

Issues of women’s rights should be a priority

The world today celebrates International Women’s day under the theme ‘PressForProgress’. The day is being celebrated across the world to show respect to the women community and also to uplift them from the crunch of the male dominated society. It is al…

The world today celebrates International Women’s day under the theme ‘PressForProgress’. The day is being celebrated across the world to show respect to the women community and also to uplift them from the crunch of the male dominated society. It is also celebrated to acknowledge the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/03/issues-of-womens-rights-should-be-a-priority/

Terribly wrong outburst from SC Time for SIT to pull up socks

Strong words indeed and take note, these words came not from any quarter but from the Supreme Court of India. Undoubtedly the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI must have squirmed in its seat when the Supreme Court came out with the tongue lashing for not properly investigating the alleged extra-judicial killings by the […]

Strong words indeed and take note, these words came not from any quarter but from the Supreme Court of India. Undoubtedly the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the CBI must have squirmed in its seat when the Supreme Court came out with the tongue lashing for not properly investigating the alleged extra-judicial killings by the […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/terribly-wrong-outburst-from-sc-time-for-sit-to-pull-up-socks/

Truth and reconciliation

It is more than clear now that a timely and satisfactory resolution of the case of 1528 fake encounter killings in Manipur in counterinsurgency operations by the Army, Police and Central Paramilitary Forces, is not going to be easy. Inspite of two stiff directives from the Supreme Court to lodge First Information Reports, FIRs, on […]

It is more than clear now that a timely and satisfactory resolution of the case of 1528 fake encounter killings in Manipur in counterinsurgency operations by the Army, Police and Central Paramilitary Forces, is not going to be easy. Inspite of two stiff directives from the Supreme Court to lodge First Information Reports, FIRs, on […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/truth-and-reconciliation/

Are our women safe?

Breaking the gloomy and dark atmosphere of increasing crimes against women hovering over our society, a bright silver lining has appeared with the concerns shown by every stakeholders committed for the rights of the women. Even new legislations passed in the last few years definitely deter the perpetrators and make life safer for women. However, […]

Breaking the gloomy and dark atmosphere of increasing crimes against women hovering over our society, a bright silver lining has appeared with the concerns shown by every stakeholders committed for the rights of the women. Even new legislations passed in the last few years definitely deter the perpetrators and make life safer for women. However, […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/are-our-women-safe/

Be a leader of the people, as you were chosen by them

The way the Members of the Legislative Assembly utilize the Local Area Development Fund in their respective assembly constituency is somewhat skeptical to the people. Not only this time but from time to time LAPDF has always been utilized for political benefits by almost all MLAs. Few handed over the LADF to a committee so […]

The way the Members of the Legislative Assembly utilize the Local Area Development Fund in their respective assembly constituency is somewhat skeptical to the people. Not only this time but from time to time LAPDF has always been utilized for political benefits by almost all MLAs. Few handed over the LADF to a committee so […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/be-a-leader-of-the-people-as-you-were-chosen-by-them/

The media draws the line : You can’t fool the people all the time

The question we need to ask the government is how committed is the new government and its council of ministers ? How different will the BJP –led coalition government be than the last one ? For example, let us take the forest minister Th Shyamkumar trying to curb timber smuggling. Shyamkumar usually takes a media […]

The question we need to ask the government is how committed is the new government and its council of ministers ? How different will the BJP –led coalition government be than the last one ? For example, let us take the forest minister Th Shyamkumar trying to curb timber smuggling. Shyamkumar usually takes a media […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/the-media-draws-the-line-you-cant-fool-the-people-all-the-time/

Rejecting boycott/bandh call Delivering a point

The stage is set. Nagaland will go to polls on February 27, as scheduled by the Election Commission of India. In other words the boycott call rung out by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) has failed to cut ice with the people, best exemplified by the rejection of the […]

The stage is set. Nagaland will go to polls on February 27, as scheduled by the Election Commission of India. In other words the boycott call rung out by the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) has failed to cut ice with the people, best exemplified by the rejection of the […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/rejecting-boycott-bandh-call-delivering-a-point/

Nagaland BJP in a fix Catch-22 situation

Nobody would want to be in the shoes of the Nagaland unit of the BJP right now. And not something unexpected. With the Central unit of the BJP saying yes to the upcoming Assembly polls in Nagaland, the State unit of the same party is in a fix, refraining from issuing the party ticket to […]

Nobody would want to be in the shoes of the Nagaland unit of the BJP right now. And not something unexpected. With the Central unit of the BJP saying yes to the upcoming Assembly polls in Nagaland, the State unit of the same party is in a fix, refraining from issuing the party ticket to […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/nagaland-bjp-in-a-fix-catch-22-situation/

Educating the educators

In a move that promises to alleviate the quality of education in the State, the training program of untrained elementary teachers was formally launched with the Chief Minister lighting the auspicious lamp to commemorate the occasion. Various initiatives and incentives taken up by the ministry of education such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and […]

In a move that promises to alleviate the quality of education in the State, the training program of untrained elementary teachers was formally launched with the Chief Minister lighting the auspicious lamp to commemorate the occasion. Various initiatives and incentives taken up by the ministry of education such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/02/educating-the-educators/

Heading for a 1998 repeat ? Call from CSOs, pol parties

No political party will file nominations in accordance with the wishes of the people. This was the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO). Solution is about future of the Nagas whereas election is about the Indian Constitution. This was Rh Raising senior NSCN (IM) leader and convenor of the Steering Committee, […]

No political party will file nominations in accordance with the wishes of the people. This was the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO). Solution is about future of the Nagas whereas election is about the Indian Constitution. This was Rh Raising senior NSCN (IM) leader and convenor of the Steering Committee, […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/01/heading-for-a-1998-repeat-call-from-csos-pol-parties/

Manipur state now 46

Only the test of fire makes fine steel. Manipur is undergoing such a test at the moment. If it withstands this test we have no doubt a greater Manipur will be the result. The need of the hour however is to negotiate the fire we are in the midst of, for as much as it […]

Only the test of fire makes fine steel. Manipur is undergoing such a test at the moment. If it withstands this test we have no doubt a greater Manipur will be the result. The need of the hour however is to negotiate the fire we are in the midst of, for as much as it […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/01/manipur-state-now-46/

Is the Health Directorate not happy with CMHT?

In his maiden speech, on occasion of the 46th Statehood Day celebrated at 1st MR Ground, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had categorically stated that there seems to be some element who does not want to see the good image of his government which is completing one year in March 15 this year. N. Biren Singh was […]

In his maiden speech, on occasion of the 46th Statehood Day celebrated at 1st MR Ground, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had categorically stated that there seems to be some element who does not want to see the good image of his government which is completing one year in March 15 this year. N. Biren Singh was […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/01/is-the-health-directorate-not-happy-with-cmht/

Highlighting stand to Rajnath Singh Biren right on track

Chief Minister N Biren is on track. This is the way to go about it. That is lay down the interests of the State before the Central leaders without beating around the bush, in so far as the ongoing peace talk with the NSCN (IM) is concerned. And when one says the interests of the […]

Chief Minister N Biren is on track. This is the way to go about it. That is lay down the interests of the State before the Central leaders without beating around the bush, in so far as the ongoing peace talk with the NSCN (IM) is concerned. And when one says the interests of the […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2018/01/highlighting-stand-to-rajnath-singh-biren-right-on-track/