Imphal: A memorandum consisting of the resolutions and recommendations drawn at the National Seminar on “Opportunities and Challenges of Muslims in Manipur,” held on 9 December, 2012 at Imphal, was submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh, by the Secretary General of All Manipur Muslims (Meitei Pangal) Welfare Association (AMMPWA), Md. Akhtar Hussain, on 14 January, 2013.
AMMPWA, one of the leading Muslim civil organizations of the State, had organized the national seminar under the aegis of Manipur State Minorities Commission (MSMC) to analyze the present status of the Muslims in the State with special focus on education, economy and women’s empowerment, and recommend ways and means to improve their lot to the Government.
1. The Muslims in Manipur, socio-economically and educationally the most backward community in the State, have not been able to fully access the various opportunities that the Government offers.
2. It was also further pointed out that during pre-independence period the community did not lag much behind the majority Meiteis, but it’s in the post-independence period that the community started lagging behind the others in almost all the spheres.
The panelists attributed the reasons for the backwardness to the following factors:
1. Government policies in the State which concern the Muslims have been driven by ad-hoc and political requirements, and such policies do not give thrust towards real development.
2. Ineffective implementation of Government policies and programmes in Muslim dominated areas. One important reason for this has been the negligible number of Muslims associated in the implementation process, apart from the lack of serious attention from the side of the Government.
3. Weak leadership among Manipuri Muslims for a long period, which in turn leads to a situation where there has been a void of vision and drive towards real development of the community.
4. Weak civil society organizations in the Muslim society who could proactively mobilize the Government machineries for an effective implementation of the policies and programmes.
The panelists included: Chairperson of MSMC A. Halim Chowdhury IAS (Retd.), A.R. Khan IAS (Retd.), Abdur Rahman IPS (Retd.), Professor Dr. S.A. Latif Shah, Professor M.A. Janab Khan, and M.A. Salam Sr. MCS.
The following points were drawn by the panelists in the areas of education, economy and women’s empowerment for implementation by the State and Central Government and its stake holders:
General
1. The Manipuri Muslims (Meitei-Pangals) may be declared as Most Backward Class. Bracketing them with the majority Meiteis is impractical if their lots are to be improved within a specified span as they cannot compete with other communities as they are far behind the other communities. Simple reservation could not help much, as in many areas the principle of reservation does not apply. Even in the 4% reservation made by State Government the first point of reservation for them is at Sl. No. 25 whereas for SC, ST or OBC (Meiteis) these are at much higher places. The State should have its own formula of reservation so that the Muslims get positions at least one in first ten, second position within 10-20 and rest below 20th position in the roster. Reservation should not mean only for proportionate representation but also for upliftment to make up past deficiencies within a specified period.
2. Reservation of seats for Muslim students in educational institutions;
3. Creation of a Data Bank which will ascertain the deficits of the Muslim community accurately;
4. To place stringent mechanism of inspection and monitoring of the working of Government officials. Too much laxity has encouraged concerned authorities to overlook the constitutional obligations of being public servants, be it officials or public representatives. The Manipur Public Servants’ Liabilities Act should be implemented in letter and spirit with special focus on implementations in Muslim dominated villages, small towns and in pockets of Imphal area.
5. Evaluation of all important Government Intervention Programmes (both Central and State) implemented in Muslim dominated areas by a reliable Third Party.
Education
1. Establishment of suitable educational institutions, schools, colleges/technical institutions in Muslim concentrated areas;
2. Establishment of special residential schools (in the model of Navodaya Vidyalayas) with at least 50% reservation in the admission for Muslim students;
3. Develop the infrastructures of schools in Muslim inhabited areas;
4. Initiate Total Literacy Programme for Muslims in the State;
5. More educational incentives in the form of scholarships/stipends. Government may provide sufficient stipends to children from poor families selected by Gram Sabhas who want to study in local private schools up to Xth standard till such time as State Government remain unable to attract the children to Government schools so that drop- outs may be reduced significantly.
6. Special Coaching Schemes for poor Muslim students from primary to XIIth standard;
7. Restoration of teaching Urdu language as optional subject in the primary and upper primary level which will work as a great incentive to reduce drop-out and increase enrolment of Muslim students;
8. Opening of Arabic Studies Centre in Manipur University;
9. Arrangement for participation of civil society organizations in the management and monitoring of the implementation of Government intervention programmes like SSA, RMSA, RGBV, etc. by local institutions to ensure effective implementation;
10. Ensure that the scholarships meant for the poor students reach them without any delay and wrongdoings. Disciplinary actions may be initiated against erring officials and school authorities for any foul play.
Economy
1. Place mechanism to monitor implementations of the poverty alleviation programmes in the State;
2. Initiate entrepreneurship development programmes to promote the newly emerging Muslim entrepreneurs. Agro-based entrepreneurship development based on new scientific methods could enhance the incomes of farmers to a great extent. Scope of business and trade in the State after full implementation of the “Look-East Policy” of Government of India has to be made aware of to the Muslim Entrepreneurs so that they can take full advantage of the policy in time.
3. Conduct job-oriented skill development trainings for the unemployed Muslims;
4. Special focus on small-scale economic enterprises, like poultry, pond fisheries, fish farming, fruit processing, cottage industries, weaving and handloom industries in the Muslim villages;
5. Introduce Livelihood Mission Projects to uplift the economy of the Muslim BPLs;
6. Enhance the poor Muslims’ access to micro-credits through special arrangements. Small Muslim traders are availing high interest bearing capitals from private lenders as they cannot get easy loans from Government instituted Financing Institutions.
7. Enhance Muslims’ participation in the market-economy by constructing special market sheds for Muslims at commercially viable areas;
8. Develop the traditional markets (keithels) of Manipuri Muslims at different places, including the historic Yen Yonpham (Murgi Bazar) of Khwairamband Bazar, which will encourage Muslim entrepreneurs in joining the mainstream market economy;
9. State guarantee may be extended for availing economic development loans by Minorities & OBC Economic Development Society (MOBEDS) from the NMDFC and NBCDFC for lending to Muslim entrepreneurs. Absence of State guarantees is the stumbling block in getting any loan from these corporations. If such guarantees are not possible a ‘pool’ should be arranged for fund so that MOBEDS could extend loans to Muslim entrepreneurs as well as to those of other minority communities.
Health
1. Improve the living conditions of the Muslims by providing potable drinking water, sanitation and health facilities;
2. Improve road connectivity of Muslim villages for easy access to health facilities;
3. Intensive Health Awareness Programmes in Muslim concentrated areas;
4. Making the implementation of health schemes like NRHM, RSBY, etc. as well as the Nutrition Programme like ICDS more effective in Muslim concentrated areas;
5. Providing Special Health Incentives for the poor Muslim households especially for those where the bread earners are at risk.
Women Empowerment
1. Empowerment is closely related to knowledge which is again related to literacy. Manipuri Muslims are lagging far behind their other counterparts in this regard. Only few Muslim females could read books and newspapers. Thus being less educated Muslim women are least aware of the useful information that the media offers. State Government should introduce Special Literacy Programme for Muslim women to give basic education.
2. Establishing schools and colleges for girls to check high rate of drop-out by Muslim girls;
3. Lilong Haoreibi College, located at the Muslim dominated area of Lilong, may be upgraded to a Post-Graduate College introducing vocational education that may be beneficial for Muslim women;
4. Special scholarships/stipends may be provided for girl student from poor families to enable them to complete their education;
5. Economic Development Schemes in cottage and other small-scale economic activities, like backyard poultry, pond fisheries, weaving, agro-based food processing, kitchen gardening, etc. may be taken up in Muslim inhabited areas in large scale.
Copies of the memorandum were also submitted to the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, D.S. Poonia, Minister (Agriculture & Fisheries) Md. Abdul Nasir, Minister (Health & Family Welfare) T. Phungzathang Tonsing, Parliamentary Secretary (MOBC & SC, Sc. & Tech) Md. Amin Shah, Minister (PHED and Labour & Employment) I. Hemochandra, Minister (Education and CAF & PD) M. Okendro, Union Minority Affairs Minister, K. Rahman Khan, among others.