Manipur defers census training in Imphal West amid NRC protests, schools shut

The Manipur government has postponed a training programme for census enumerators and supervisors in Imphal West district, citing the prevailing law and order situation. The training, a part of the first phase of Census 2027, was scheduled to begin on August 28, 2026.

An official said the decision was communicated through a letter to the chief principal census officer of the Directorate of Census Operations. "The training programme scheduled to commence from August 28, 2026, is hereby deferred in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the district," the official said, quoting the letter.

The deferral comes amid ongoing protests by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), which has called for the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census exercise is carried out in the state. On August 19, the second day of a 48-hour general strike called by the JFD, protesters burnt effigies of politicians and held rallies across Manipur's valley districts.

Teachers, who have been assigned duties as enumerators and supervisors, said they have faced difficulties attending the training sessions. The Council of Teachers' Associations (COTA), Manipur, said in a statement that teachers are "facing embarrassment, humiliation and different forms of obstacles while attending training sessions."

The JFD has also announced a boycott of all government offices starting August 20 as part of its ongoing agitation. In response to the situation, the Manipur government ordered the closure of all educational institutions in the state for three days from August 20.

The census is a constitutionally mandated exercise that provides crucial data for planning, resource allocation, and policy-making. Census 2027 is the next decennial census, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first phase involves the preparation of the National Population Register (NPR) and the house-listing schedule.

The NRC is a register of Indian citizens, and its updation has been a contentious issue in Manipur, with various groups demanding implementation to address concerns over illegal immigration and demographic changes. The NRC was last updated in Assam in 2019, but it has not been updated in Manipur. The JFD has linked the NRC demand to the census, arguing that the enumeration should not proceed until the citizenship status of residents is clarified.

The government has yet to announce a fresh date for the training programme. Officials have not commented on the broader demands of the protestors, including the NRC updation.

The situation in Imphal and surrounding districts remains tense, with schools and government offices affected by the boycott and closure orders. The district administration has urged citizens to maintain peace and cooperate with authorities.

This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.