Census training disrupted in Tengnoupal amid demand for NRC updation in Manipur

A census training programme scheduled at St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Kuraopokpi, under Machi Police Station, was disrupted on August 25 following opposition from local indigenous organisations demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the Census in Manipur.

The training programme was reportedly attended by employees from various government departments, who reached the venue at around 10 am. After learning about the programme, members of the Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), Maring Uparup, Aimol Tribe Union, Pallel Meira Paibi Apunba Lup and other civil society organisations arrived at the site.

The groups urged the trainers to leave the venue, citing their demand for NRC updation before the Census and delimitation exercises. Security personnel were subsequently deployed at the location as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident.

Speaking about the development, Maring Uparup Vice-President Trimson Saka said the organisations opposed the conduct of Census-related preparations before the NRC is updated.

He said the organisations have been demanding that the NRC exercise be completed before the Census and delimitation processes, in accordance with the position taken by the United Naga Council (UNC) and Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO).

Saka clarified that the organisations were not opposed to the Census itself, acknowledging its importance. However, he said the prevailing situation in Manipur, including the continued displacement of people, made the exercise difficult as many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have yet to return to their native villages.

He argued that determining the actual population and number of households could be challenging under the present circumstances.

The organisations appealed to the government not to conduct similar Census training programmes in Naga-inhabited areas of Tengnoupal district and urged authorities to address the concerns of indigenous communities.

They have called on the Central and state governments to update the NRC before conducting the Census and delimitation exercises and also demanded that concerns regarding alleged foreigners in Manipur be addressed before the Census.