Manipur Civil Society Seeks Census Delay
Civil society body urges Centre to postpone Census 2027 citing displacement, security risks and data reliability concerns
- JFD asks Centre to defer Census 2027 in Manipur
- Cites curfews, displacement and inaccessible zones
- Over 60,000 people still living in relief camps
- Warns faulty data may impact governance and security
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th Dec: A civil society campaign in Manipur has urged the Centre to postpone the Census 2027 exercise in the state, citing prevailing security conditions that it says make accurate and safe enumeration impracticable at present.
In a memorandum submitted to Governor A.K. Bhalla, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) said persistent law and order challenges, curfews, restricted movement and inaccessibility of several habitations in conflict-affected districts would severely hamper the conduct of the census.
The memorandum, signed by JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba, said deployment of census personnel under current conditions poses serious risks to their safety and could compromise data collection. It pointed to large-scale internal displacement triggered by continuing unrest, noting that many residents are now living in relief camps or have migrated to other parts of the state and beyond.
“Administrative machinery in several areas is functioning at reduced capacity, making planning, coordination and supervision of the census infeasible,” the JFD stated, adding that since May 2023, Manipur has effectively been divided into ethnic zones that government enumerators cannot safely access.
The group alleged that the presence of undocumented immigrants in certain districts could distort population figures and have long-term implications for governance, security and resource allocation. It said more than 60,000 people are currently living in relief camps, many households have been destroyed, and displaced persons are scattered across districts or outside the state, making the definition of “usual residence” ambiguous.
JFD warned that enumerators, who are largely school teachers and local officials, may be unable to work effectively due to safety risks, lack of cooperation or outright inaccessibility in disturbed areas.
“Without prior corrective measures, conducting the census now would be faulty and futile and could aggravate the current crisis,” the memorandum said, urging that the exercise be postponed until a neutral and peaceful environment is restored, calling such a move an administrative, constitutional and moral necessity.
