Manipur's Demographic Instability: Why NRC Must Come Before Census 2026
Manipur's Demographic Instability: Why NRC Must Come Before Census 2026 Author: Salam Rajesh Manipur Map Introduction: The Heart of the Debate For the past few years, Manipur's population debate has moved to centre stage. It is no longer just about numbers, but about the geopolitical future of the state. With the decadal census already delayed, indigenous communities are raising a critical question: Can we count heads before we know who is living in the state? The demand is clear - implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur with 1951 as the base year, before the census. The Evidence on the Ground: Unaccounted Settlements Concern is not without basis. 1. Forests Under Encroachment: An exercise by the State Forest Department to assess protected areas, especially reserved forests, revealed a startling fact. Since 1980, dozens of satellite hamlets have sprung up inside reserved forests without permission from the forest department or state administration. Satell...