Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on internal security challenges linked with border management (2013), and  Fifth Schedule (2022).

The India-Myanmar borderlands lack reliable data despite ongoing conflicts and crises. In Manipur, restricted access and security issues make it hard to document humanitarian needs. Misinformation worsens the situation. Around 58,000 people live in relief camps, while 12,000 fled to Mizoram and 7,000 to Nagaland, Assam, and Meghalaya. Data collection remains fragmented.

Today’s editorial discusses issues related to Manipur, which are relevant for GS Paper 3 (Mains) under the Security section.

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Let’s learn!

Why in the News?

The Manipur conflict is complex, and security issues make it hard to access certain areas leads to major gaps in tracking humanitarian needs.

How has the complexity of the conflict contributed to significant gaps in documenting humanitarian needs?

• Restricted Access and Security Concerns: The conflict’s complexity leads to restricted access for humanitarian organizations and data collectors due to security risks. Example: Adverse security conditions hinder the ability to thoroughly assess needs in certain areas.
• Breakdown of Information Chains: The physical and social separation of communities (like the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi) disrupts the flow of accurate information. Example: The separation makes it difficult to get a comprehensive understanding of the needs of both communities, as information does not flow freely between them.
• Unaccounted Populations: Official counts often only consider those in registered relief camps, overlooking unregistered individuals living with relatives, in temporary shelters, or displaced across multiple locations. Example: Many individuals displaced outside of registered camps or those who have left the State entirely are not included in official estimates, leading to underreporting.
• Altered Healthcare Access and Documentation: The conflict changes how people seek medical care, especially in conflicted regions, making it difficult to track health-related issues. Example: Residents of Kuki-Zomi-dominated hill districts can no longer easily access major hospitals in Imphal, leading to indirect routes and potentially undocumented health crises.
• Misinformation and Disinformation: The spread of inaccurate information clouds the true picture, making it difficult to form an empirical understanding of the conflict’s impact. Example: The text mentions that misinformation and disinformation cloud an empirical understanding of the conflict.

Why do the India-Myanmar borderlands remain a data-deficient region despite their long history of armed conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises?

• Challenging Geography: The region’s complex topography, characterized by rugged mountains and dense forests, complicates access for data collection efforts. For example, the difficult terrain has hindered the effective implementation of border initiatives such as fencing, which has faced significant logistical challenges over the years.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: There is a lack of basic infrastructure, including roads and communication networks, which impedes the movement of researchers and humanitarian workers.
  • The Moreh Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Manipur, intended to facilitate trade and connectivity, has experienced slow construction and inadequate facilities, reflecting broader infrastructural deficiencies in the region.
• Political Sensitivities: The presence of various insurgent groups and ongoing conflicts creates a volatile environment that discourages data collection. Security concerns often prevent researchers and NGOs from engaging with local communities to gather necessary information on humanitarian needs.
• Shared Ethnic Ties and Cross-Border Dynamics: The interconnectedness of ethnic communities across the border complicates the situation further. Policies such as the cancellation of the Free Regime Movement (FMR) agreement have disrupted traditional social networks, making it difficult to assess the socio-economic conditions on both sides effectively.

• Restricted Access for Humanitarian Organizations: Government-imposed restrictions and logistical challenges prevent humanitarian agencies from collecting and reporting crucial data.
  • Example: After Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, aid organizations faced severe restrictions in conflict-hit areas like the Sagaing Region, resulting in major data gaps on displacement and food insecurity.

Why does Manipur need a shift towards ‘greater common good’ politics?

• Ethnic Divisions and Communal Tensions: The conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities has created deep mistrust and segregation, making governance difficult. A politics of “greater common good” would prioritize reconciliation and collective welfare over ethnic identity-based politics.
• Humanitarian Crisis and Governance Failures: Prolonged displacement, lack of adequate relief measures, and deteriorating healthcare require governance focused on inclusive development rather than ethnic-based power struggles.
  • Example: Over 58,000 displaced individuals are still in relief camps, struggling with food, water, and medical shortages due to lack of coordinated efforts.
• Economic and Social Stability: Manipur’s economic potential is hindered by violence, blockades, and an unstable law-and-order situation. A governance approach focused on the “greater common good” would foster investment, economic recovery, and social stability.

Way forward: 

• Inclusive Dialogue and Reconciliation: Establish a truth and reconciliation commission involving all ethnic communities to foster trust, address grievances, and create a roadmap for long-term peace and stability.
• Sustainable Development and Governance Reforms: Focus on infrastructure development, livelihood generation, and transparent governance to ensure equitable growth, reduce ethnic tensions, and rebuild public confidence in state institutions.

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