Minorities in Manipur observed “Minorities Rights Day” at Gandhi Memorial Hall, in Imphal on December 18, 2010. The function organised by Manipur State Minorities Commission (MSMC) was attended by Minister for Education L. Jayantakumar as Chief Guest, MLA Md. Helaluddin Khan, Principal Secretary (Labour & Employment) A.R. Khan, IAS and Commissioner (MOBC) J.C. Ramthanga IAS as Guests of Honour. MSMC Chairperson, M.A. Halim Shah, IAS (Retd.) presided over the function.
The function, which started at around 10.30 a.m. was attended by around 300 people representing various minority communities of the state. Members of various minority organisations, government officials and community leaders took part in the function.
ADC (Imphal East) MA Salam, in his welcomed address, talked about the importance of the day and also mentioned the UN Declaration of December 18, 1992 on rights of minorities, which states: “States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Religions and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for their promotion of that identity.”
MSMC Secretary, Md. Raheijuddin Sheikh, in his keynote address, highlighted the main activities and achievements of MSMC for the year 2009-10, and recommended the state government to take up some of the pending works which are part of the PM’s 15-point Programme. He called upon the government to open more anganwadi centres in the Muslim inhabited areas of Thoubal district under the ICDS scheme and introduce Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme in the Muslim inhabited areas of Manipur. He also requested the government to introduce the Urdu language in primary and upper level syllabi as an optional subject and to pave the way for Urdu Academy in the State. Urdu was taught up to the primary level as an optional subject till late 1970s, he added.
Jayantakumar, in his speech, said that ensuring right of an individual is the most important factor for progress of the society and there is need for exercising the right with due respect to rights of other citizens. He emphasised that, among others, education of an individual is the most vivid example that a citizen’s right has been guaranteed and justified, for absence of education would not serve the purpose of rights being granted. Every effort should be made for education of all the citizens, he added. Kumar also called upon leaders of minority communities to guide the general public in getting access to the various welfare schemes provided by the Department of Social Welfare.
Md. Helaluddin Khan said the majority community should extend helping hand to ensure socio-economic development of the minorities, and suggested the latter for a proactive approach to get their grievances addressed rather than rely on crying foul against the administration.
Representatives of various minority communities also spoke on the occasion. Most of the speakers reiterated the importance of observing the day. They also addressed the issues of their respective communities.
A booklet entitled “Annual Report and Recommendations, 2010-11” was released during the function. Leaflets of Manipuri transcription of the PM’s 15-point Programme were also distributed.
Artiste groups of various minority communities staged cultural programmes on the theme ‘unity in diversity’. MACAM, a Muslim artist group, performed Qawali, based on the PM’s 15-point Programme. A documentary film highlighting the activities and achievements of MSMC was also screened.
MSMC ACTIVITIES
The annual report highlighted some of the activities and achievements of MSMC and the recommendations forwarded to government. Some of the activities and achievements cited in the report are:
MSMC sent representation to the Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University highlighting poor representation of Manipuri Muslims in the teaching and non-teaching staff of the university and recommended to take appropriate action. The commission also recommended to the University to extend the facilities of no cut-off marks to minority candidates in the admission to various courses of the University.
MSMC conducted a public debate on the issue of madrasa modernisation in Manipur, and forwarded the views to the state government for further necessary action.
In September 2009, MSMC established an IGNOU Special Study Centre for girls at Lilong Haoreibi College.
MSMC welcomed the visit of vice-chairperson of National Minorities Commission (NCM) Dr. H.T. Sangliana from 5th to 9th February 2010. Sangliana along with the commission members visited some of the minority inhabited areas for field inquiry.
MSMC was actively involved in the establishment of an ITI centre under the MsDP, at Lilong. The foundation stone was laid down by Union Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on February 9, 2010.
MSMC recommended to the education department for extension of mid-day meal scheme to the madrasas. The commission also recommended the state government for providing proper sanitation and water supply to the madrasas for girls.
MSMC RECOMMENDATIONS
MSMC recommended the state government to nominate at least one member belonging to the minority communities in the state public service recruitment boards and Manipur Public Service Commission.
MSMC visited some of the interior villages of Manipur inhabited by Muslims and other minorities to investigate the socio-economic and educational status of the villagers and put forward the recommendations to the state government for further necessary action.
MSMC peacefully resolved some of the tension that developed between the minority and majority communities.
MSMC conducted educational awareness programmes at the educationally backward Muslim villages.
MSMC also recommended the following to the state government:
The State government should associate the commission in the formulation of the plan proposals and schemes meant for the minorities.
The commission should also be given the power to implement, monitor and review all schemes under PM’s 15-point Programme.
Legal status should be accorded to the PM’s 15-point Programme for effective implementation.
Frequent awareness campaign for the schemes of the PM’s 15-point Programme undertaken by the government.
In Manipur, minority communities constitute 43% of the total population. Christians are the largest minority community (34%), followed by Muslims (8.8%), Sikhs (0.1%) and Buddhists (0.1%).