Seminar on Development Discourse kicks off

Imphal, March 18:  Two Days National Seminar on “Development Discourse: Expanding Horizons” kicked off on 18th March, 2013 at the University situated in the Adimjati Complex, Chingmeirong, Imphal. The seminar is organised by the Department of Social Work, IGNTU, RCM, Imphal. In addition to the Inaugural Function, two academic sessions were held.

Professor Gangumei Kamei, Former National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advance Studies, Shimla, was the Chief Guest of the Inaugural Function. Rev. Dr. Tamthing Ruivanao, Chairperson, United NGOs Mission, Manipur and Dr. Laifungbam Debabrata, Convenor, Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN, were the Guest of Honours. And Professor Vanlalnghak, Director, IGNTU, RCM, was the presided the function.

In her Key Note Address, Dr. Kamei Beeju, Co-coordinator of the Seminar elaborated on how the concept of development has changed over the years and how the State of Manipur has failed to grasp many of the opportunities provided to her. The state remains backward and underdeveloped in many aspects. At the same, development projects in recent years have brought about destruction of livelihood and the violation of human rights in the state. The very idea of the seminar is to capture many of the aspects of development and an attempt to evolve one which is sensitive to local culture, tradition and value system.

Professor Gangumei Kamei stated that development today has become a global issue and all (developed, developing and underdevelopment) are engaged in it. One way of understanding development is that it is about giving to human being what is necessary for human life including educational institutions. It is about raising the quality of life and must take into account human values and human rights issues.

Rev. Dr. Tamthing Ruivanao stated that development has to be defined in terms of five “Ws” such as what is it we’re going to do it? Why development? For whom? Who has to be implemented? And Where to do it? At the same time development has to take into account four dimensions such as physical, spiritual life, mental life and cultural life. These have not been taken into account in any development agenda in the case of Manipur.

Laifungbam Debabrata emphasised the importance of values and beliefs in understanding development. In fact these are central to the idea of development. He recalled the existence of a paradigm of development in Manipur during the second century AD, where two brothers dredged the Imphal River upto Sugnu  for human habitation. But such ideas were abandoned after the two great world wars and establishment of institutions such as the United nations.

Professor Vanlalnghak stated that first thing we’ve to ask about development is development for whom. It’s about human beings – food, cloth and shelter are the three basic needs. The second issue is human values have to be ensured while undertaking development. Nowadays, killing of human beings are taken for granted. It shows that the core issue of human values has degraded in our society. Without human values, there is no point in talking about development in hi-fi language such as globalization.

Shri Th. Oliver Monsang, Former Director, IGNTU, RCM was the Special Guest. He officially released a book titled “Hybridising Theory and Practice: Social Work Towards Meeting the Challenges of Global and Local”, edited by Hanjabam Shukhdeba, Aheibam Koireng and Grace Laltizo.

During the Inaugural Function, Field Work Agencies associated with the Department of Sociual Work were facilitated. Altogether there were around 13 NGOs where MA Social Work Students of the University had field work experiences.

Dr. Shukhdeba Sharma Hanjabam, Coordinator of the Seminar delivered the vote of thanks.
The first academic panel, “Livelihood, Environment and Development”  started at around 11.30 am. The panel was Chaired by Dr R.K Ranjan, Manipur University. Four resource persons presented papers during the session.

Mr. Majabung Gangmei speaking on “Oil Exploration in Manipur and the Indigenous Peoples Rights”. He contended the project was undertaken with free, prior and informed consent of the people. Community leaders, civil society and human rights groups, etc started studying the issue and held series of public meetings to spread awareness among the people since 2011. Government also undertook Public Hearings, organised by Pollution Control Board, Government of Manipur, since July 2012. When affected people and students agitated against the Public Hearings in Jiribam, Tamenglong and Churachandpur, they were met with brute police commandoes along with para-military forces stopped the agitated people from entering the premise of the public hearing. The affected people along with numerous civil society bodies are resisting against the oil drilling and exploration but Jubiliant Energy, State Government and Central Government are silent on violation of rights of the indigenous people. They do not want to simply listen to the people and discharge justice.

Jiten Yumnam reflected on the issues concerning Loktak and the proposed Tipaimukh dam. These are classical examples which illustrate what development and management stands in Manipur. In the case of Loktak at present, eviction and burning down of floating phumdi dwellers are going on inspite of Supreme Court order prohibiting the practice. Loktak Development Authority decides what development means and how to manage the lake, who does not belong to the lake – a new class of people. Enforced development, which goes against human ethos. When people resist and demand rights, the state falls back to use of military forces resulting in cycle of human cycle violations. The proposed Taipaimukh Dam is the most controversial next to Loktak. Military and corporates find the dam beneficial but affected people are against it. NHPC will be part of the project. This is a case fundamental clash of perception. Militarization is a reality in and around the development sites and will result in series of human rights violation already under the situation of AFSFA.
P. Grace presented a paper entitled “Mapithel Dam and Human Rights Violations”. He stated that Mapithel dam is an issue not only about the directly affected people but it is an issue for the whole world because environment and ecology is interconnected throughout the world. They say, a flip of butterfly in the Amazon can bring rain in Manipur.

The second Panel on “Conflict, Security and Development” started at around 02.30 PM. It was Chaired by Mr. Khelen Thokchom, The Telegraph, Kolkota. Three resource persons presented papers.
Jiten Yumnam spoke on “Development and Conflict in Manipur”. He argued that the issue of Conflict vis a vis Development centres around the premise of whose development it is, and who defines the very idea of development and hence, manage it. He opined that there is superimposition of development in Manipur and in the process one control over land and resources are undermining. And the pattern of development we witness in the state is the increasing corporatization of development. In the process people are excluded; their voices not recognised. These lead to conflict targeting the communities. Perhaps, this is on account of policy lapse or policy vacuum in the state.

Dr. Chinglen Maisnam spoke on “Neoliberal Growth Trajectory and Conflict in Northeast Region and focused on the paradox of high economic growth and growing violent conflict in the case of India from the political economy perspective. He stated that where there is neo-liberalism, market forces operate without regulation, there can be no peace. Globalization is the name given to neo-liberal practices. From early 1990s India became a neo-liberal country. Claims of growth were made. But these did not reach the people. But in terms Human Development India stands at 134 position. Thus, development remains exclusive.

In Northeast region, discrimination runs high, there are inequalities, sexual violence by security forces and non-state actors, etc. AFSPA provides immunity to security forces and militarization is an ongoing process. The region remains backward economically. Market is God that has failed in the Northeast. People are becoming apathetic to local tradition, have become consumerist affecting the values of the region. He concluded by observing that where there is inequality there is no social justice and conflict escalates

Soihiamlung Dangmei spoke on “Distributive Justice and Development: Some Theoretical reflections”. He argued that development is multi dimensional. And the most crucial issue is understanding the relationship between wealth creation and distribution. He concluded by observing that of all the existing theories on justice we in Manipur has to decide whether the teleological argument given by Aristotle and the utilitarian understanding of justice given by Jeremy Bentham and James Mills are appropriate in the case of Manipur. The final issue is can there be development without justice?