Gender Inequality in Education among Scheduled Tribes of Manipur

MARCHANG REIMEINGAM

(Two days national seminar on "development discourse: The expanding horizons", 18-19 March 2013, IGNTU)

Abstract: Education, the means for future well-being, has a persistent gender inequality which has unequivocally resulted due to cultural beliefs, biases, expectations, attitudes and poverty. An educational opportunity of females is hindered by social traditions, cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, job opportunities and most importantly the economic costs. In Manipur, Christianity has concurrently introduced the modern English education from the late 19^th century under British rule. In 2011, Manipur (including the estimated literates of Paomata, Mao Maram and Purul sub-divisions of Senapati district) has attained 80 percent literacy rates. Educational gender inequality has substantially narrowed down in all the tribal-hill districts of Manipur. The paper tries to capture the gender inequality in education and direction on education among the scheduled tribes (STs) of Manipur based on the available secondary data from the Census of India covering the year of 1991 and 2001. The latest census data of 2011 cannot be incorporated at present in the detail analysis as the similar data on education classified by tribes is yet to be published. At present there are 34 STs in the state; however, only 29 recognised STs as per the 2001 census are covered in the study. Secondary data shows that ST population comprised of slightly over 34 percent in Manipur against slightly more than eight percent in India. Kuki-Chin-Mizo (KCM) group dominates the tribal population at present, which was earlier dominated by the Nagas, partly due to the exclusion of the three sub-divisions of Senapati district in 2001 census and partly due to the high KCM population growth. In Manipur, the population of ST has stabilized due to the dismally low growth of Naga population. The sex ratio has improved due to the change in the attitude of son preference. More than 95 percent of the tribal lived in rural areas as a result almost a similar share of the students were studying in it.  Literacy rates and educated (secondary and above) rates has substantially increased for both the genders signalling educational development. Literacy rate was growing faster for females than males for all the tribes due to the government intervention through free educational scheme, establishment of schools in tribal remote areas, reservation policy, increase in motivation, recognising the importance of education for formal employment, etc. Yet, females are lacking behind in it, as males are continued to be considered as family bread winner in the patriarchal family system, resulting to a gender gap. However, interestingly, over the years the gap of literacy rates between the genders has narrowed down among most of the tribes. There prevails a gender inequality among the educated as females are behind the males in it for almost all the tribes. The gap can be reduced by disseminating the importance of education not only for entering into formal job but to empowerment women. The share of students in relation to population were larger in urban than rural areas because of the rural-urban migration, rural poverty and better urban educational infrastructure, accessibility and competition. Both the genders receive similar opportunity in studies; however, females are still deprived as the share of students in their corresponding population is lower for them than for the males for almost all the tribes in both the areas. It indicates that females are not much interested in studies or married at their prime age or parents did not support daughters as much as to their son. It prevail a lesser gender biasness in motivating, accessing, delivering and supporting in educating children in urban areas as the sex ratio of students in it was much better than in rural areas. Over eight-tenth of the students were in school institutions and the rest in college, vocational and other institutions. Female students were behind the males in pursuing education in college, vocational and others in both the areas for most of the tribes indicating, arguably, that males are more ambitious or economically more responsible or females has social obligation besides job discrimination.  

Educational Development among the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur

(Journal of North East India Studies, Vol.3, No.1., Jan.-Jun. 2013, pp. 1-17)

Reimeingam Marchang, 

Journal of North East India Studies

Abstract

Education among the scheduled tribe, predominantly dwelling in the hill of Manipur, has substantially developed in terms of literacy rates and educated persons. Yet, females are lacking behind in it. However, gap of literacy rates has narrowed down. The share of educated has increased crossing a quarter of the literates for all STs. The proportion of student was larger in urban than rural areas. Males and females get a similar opportunity in studies. More than nine-tenth of the population lives in rural areas resulting to a similar share of population studying in rural areas. Close to nine-tenth of the share of rural students were in school institutions and the rest in college and others. Tendency for higher educational pursuit is higher among the urban people. About two-tenth of the urban students were in college and others.

Keywords

Education, Development, Tribes, Manipur

See details at http://www.jneis.com/ojs/index.php/jneis/article/view/46/44

For citation - Marchang Reimeingam, Educational Development among the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur, Journal of North East India Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2013 (ISSN: 2278-1455 print/ ISSN: 2277-6869 online), pp.1-17.

Unfair Enough for Some MCS Aspirants

By Marchang Reimeingam

(Sangai Express, Imphal, 16 May 2013)

Many times the aspirants of Manipur Civil Services (MCS) hope for fair competition, also Government of Manipur promises to fulfil this hope, while some of them were scared assuming that it would be tough and some felt unfair which could not be easily neglected. How tough or competitive the MCS examination is? The level of competition seems to be abysmally low. Out of the 542 total numbers of candidates who appeared for main examination; 275 appeared for the personality test. This gives a ratio of 1:2. That means candidate who cleared preliminary examination has a 50 percent chance of getting through the main examination. Subsequently, only 138 candidates were selected. MCS combined competitive examination conducted by Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC), Manipur, appears to be more competitive among the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and even Physically Handicapped/Differently Able (DA) candidates than among the general candidates in Manipur. For example, in the personality test (PT), more than 2 persons competed for one post among SCs or STs; however, less than 2 persons competed for a single post among general candidate. This makes an impression that every general candidate has a greater chance of getting through the examination than the reserved candidates. Specifically, for every single candidate qualified in PT (post), 2.3 ST or SC candidates appeared in the PT that is more than the overall ratio of 1:2. Interestingly, among the general candidates the ratio is 1:1.7 that is lower than the overall ratio. See Table 1 for details.

Table 1: Ratio of MCS examination (2010)

	candidate appeared in personality test (PT) (275 Nos.):mains appeared (542)	qualified PT (138):mains appeared (542)	qualified PT (138):appeared in PT (275)
General	1:1.6	1:2.7	1:1.7
ST	1:2.0	1:4.4	1:2.3
SC	1:2.9	1:6.7	1:2.3
OBC	1:2.3	1:4.5	1:2.0
Handicapped/DA	1:1.1	1:2.0	1:1.8
All	1:2.0	1:4.0	1:2.0

Source: Calculated by Reimeingam Marchang based on data from http://mpscmanipur.gov.in/files/List-of-recommended-wait-list-and-not-recommended-candidates-for-MCSCC-Examination-2010.pdf and http://mpscmanipur.gov.in/files/final_statement_of_MCSCCExam-2010.pdf (viewed on 10.05.2013)

How fair it is? MPSC declared the results for MCS Combined Competition Examination – 2010 on 26^th September 2012 (http://mpscmanipur.gov.in/files/List-of-recommended-wait-list-and-not-recommended-candidates-for-MCSCC-Examination-2010.pdf); subsequently the statement of details of marks scored by the candidates of this examination was uploaded in their website (http://mpscmanipur.gov.in/files/final_statement_of_MCSCCExam-2010.pdf)  something like in the form of RTI responses. However, MPSC failed to conceal something crucial that SC candidate who was in the Merit List at Sl. No. 80 scoring 1281 mark, shown in the statement on details of marks notified vide No.7/4/2010-MPSC(DR), Imphal, dated the 6^th of October, 2012, was listed in the Wait List Sl.No.147 vide No.7/4/2010-MPSC(DR), Imphal, 26^th September 2012 signed by the Secretary, MPSC. The cut-off mark for an (able) SC candidate was 1245. Unfortunately, the SC candidate who scored more than the cut-off mark was listed among 15 candidates in the Wait List. It is deliberate done by MPSC with certain external intervention perhaps with money or political power. It has created an unfair enough situation for some aspirants of MCS. It disturbs psychologically to many aspirants of the top administrative jobs in Manipur the MCS. Additional unfortunate issue is that a general candidate who is visually impaired who scored 652 marks is listed in the Recommended Merit List Sl.No.138, however, the ST candidate (locomotor disability) who scored 759 marks is listed in the Not Recommended List Sl.No.275. This disabled ST candidate scored more mark than this disabled general candidates. Both are disabled candidates, and I presume there are no separate reservations among the various types of disabled candidates. It may be early to conclude that this situation shows a clear discrimination to the ST people. However, this is a deliberate work done by MPSC, Govt. of Manipur. Such biasness among the candidates of SC itself or physically handicapped/differently able itself is a result of high government officials’ intervention illegally and excessive corruption. 

For citation: Marchang Reimeingam, Unfair Enough for Some MCS Aspirants, Sangai Express, Imphal, 16 May 2013.