Imphal, Manipur – As the world marked World Population Day 2025, a prominent student body in Manipur, Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), sounded a critical alarm over the state’s escalating population and alarming demographic shifts. The organisation squarely pointed to unchecked illegal immigration from neighbouring countries as the primary culprit, warning of severe implications for Manipur’s indigenous populace.
While aligning with this year’s global theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” AIMS underscored the immediate need to equip Manipur’s indigenous youth with vital education, opportunities, and fundamental rights. However, their message carried a stark caveat: the relentless and unmonitored influx of non-indigenous populations poses an “existential threat.”
AIMS articulated that these demographic changes are directly jeopardising the cultural identity, traditional land rights, political representation, and equitable access to public resources for the state’s original inhabitants. The organisation expressed deep concern, referencing widespread criticisms of inaccuracies in the 2011 Census. They cautioned that proceeding with the upcoming 2026 Census without first meticulously identifying and excluding illegal immigrants could inadvertently confer Indian citizenship upon them. “This would not only distort demographic records but also severely undermine the indigenous population of Manipur,” a spokesperson for AIMS emphatically stated.
In a fervent appeal, AIMS urged both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to initiate the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Manipur without delay, well before the 2026 Census. Furthermore, they called for the immediate upgradation and empowerment of the Manipur State Population Commission (MSPC), advocating for a robust legal framework, the inclusion of expert demographers, and sufficient resource allocation.
Reiterating its steadfast commitment to demographic justice, AIMS implored civil society organisations, youth groups, and government bodies to forge a collective front. Their shared objective, they stressed, must be to safeguard Manipur’s unique indigenous identity and ensure a fair and prosperous future for all its people.
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