Memo to CM : Inclusion of Meetei in Scheduled Tribe list

Bengaluru, 13th September, 2021

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO THE HONORABLE CHIEF MINISTER MR. N. BIREN SINGH, STATE OF MANIPUR, SECRETARIAT, IMPHAL, MANIPUR FOR ENSURING IMMEDIATE RECOMMEDATION OF MEETEI UNDER SCHEDULE TRIBE

To
The Honorable Chief Minister Mr. N. Biren Singh
State of Manipur,
Secretariat, Imphal, Manipur

MEMORANDUM: Submitted on behalf of the Meetei diaspora community based in Bengaluru, Manipuri Meitei Association Bangalore for ensuring protection of indigenous people and culture of Manipur.

REFERENCE:

PRAYERS

Inclusion of the ethnic Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (“ST”) list and complete protection of valley districts in Manipur like any scheduled lands under “Tribal Areas” of Sixth Schedule of Constitution of India

Respected Honorable Chief Minister,

With reference to letter dated 2nd January 2020 submitted to Honorable Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh, we on behalf of the diaspora community from Manipur based in Bengaluru, Manipuri Meitei Association Bangalore (“MMAB”) would like to take this opportunity to place our prayers through this memorandum.

1. MMAB works for Meetei community across Karnataka and respect every community not just from Manipur. As testimony we have supported brothers and sisters from all communities from Manipur during the unprecedented pandemic.

2. Meetei is one of the smallest indigenous communities based in the valley of Manipur with unique customs and traditions. Population-wise, Meetei is smaller than Naga and Chin-Kuki groups in the Northeast. It is important to note that Meetei is most eligible for inclusion in the ST list as it fulfils the criteria laid down for inclusion of a community in the ST list. We would like to take this opportunity to lay down the criteria briefly:

2.1 Indications of primitive traits:

Many Meeteis follow only sanamahi religion, which in itself is unique and also primitive. The presence of maibi (Meetei priestesses) is indicative of belief in primitive healing tradition. It is not a personality trait of Meeteis but it is a collective cultural belief rooted in animism (belief or worship in nature, stones, trees, rivers, forest, etc).

2.2 Distinctive culture:

Hinduism is not followed to the full by Meeteis and old Sanamahi religion is still followed which in itself is unique with belief in unique creation stories. Lai haraoba festival is a unique religious festival which makes Meeteis distinctive and different from any other culture or religion. Meeties are still following the unique tradition and have not changed or adopted any tradition.

2.3 Geographical isolation:

Manipur is landlocked, mountainous and historical detailed records of contact with outside civilizations are not available. Meeteis were always secluded with self-contained culture. Meetei lands were never conquered by major power except by the Awas, hence, Meetei culture has been preserved for hundreds of years, but this is being influenced and is changing due to foreign illegal immigrants and Indian legal migrants.

2.4 Backwardness:

Meetei per capita income is very low and comparable to ST Nagas and ST Kukis. Contact with financially rich communities from other parts of India make an unfair and unequal competition ecosystem in the trade and business as financially rich communities from other parts have an unfair advantage in economic spheres due to their networks and access to capital foreign and Indian. Therefore, certain protection for Meeteis is needed and can be given through only ST inclusion.

3. Approval of ST for Meetei community will ensure there are restrictions on procurement of land in the valley districts will preserve Meetei community. While we understand there have been different opinions on the demand of ST for Meetei community and inclusion of valley districts under Schedule, we would like to emphasize that we have a unique culture and identity which need to be protected at all cost. This can only be done when our land is protected completely. Our land should not be transferable to non-indigenous citizens of India, as without land, a culture or group ceases to exist. A very valid example is the state of Israel.

4. The current resource in the valley is completely exhausted and its further aggravated with no protection from any migration/settlement leading to disparity and inequality. Hence, they can now only live in the valley which constitutes 10% of the state and the remaining 90% of Manipur is reserved and protected for the indigenous tribal groups. The shifting population has caused significant demographic imbalance. And to make it worse there are no constitutional protections of any sort for the indigenous Meetei people so that they can live securely among the 1.3 billion-plus Indians.

5. We are also of the opinion that wherever there is differentiating laws there will be injustice to certain segment of the society which will always impact the fabric of peace and harmony. Whenever certain privileges were granted under the Constitution of India, it had its limitations, responsibility and time. When the nation is also talking about Uniform Civil Code, to provide level playing field for all communities, having common land reform in the state will strengthen peace and harmony in the State in long run.

6. The request for land protection should not be seen as a hindrance to National Integration by the much larger majority as our request is only for a small portion of the state of Manipur, the valley areas. The land area requested to be protected is small as a major portion of Manipur is already protected as Tribal Areas. It would be justified and fair to include the remaining areas of Manipur as Tribal Areas. Further, the limited population of Meetei makes it aggressively important and necessary to protect Meetei community.

7. MMAB strongly believes these are common concerns which our beloved people in Manipur will also share. Addressing these will help in eliminating some of the disparity and restoring peace and harmony in the State of Manipur. Hence, after thorough discussion on the matter and based the merit of the matter MMAB has decided to support the demand of Schedule Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (“STDCM”) and World Meetei Convention (WMC) urging the Manipur government to recommend to include Meetei in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Therefore, MMAB earnestly appeal to the current Honorable Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh to do justice by sending recommendation to the Government of India as soon as possible.

MMAB President
Major Rajkumar Jhaljit Singh (Retd.)

MMAB General Secretary
Nongthombam John Singh