ST issue can be discussed if any MLA raises a motion: Speaker
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 19 2022: State Legislative Assembly Speaker Thockhom Satyabrata has implied that the matter of enlisting Meiteis/Meeteis in the ST category of the Indian Constitution may be discussed in the State Assembly if any legislator moves a motion on the floor of the House.

He made the statement responding to queries of the media as members of the STDCM (Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur) took the demand to him at his residence at Bheigyabati Leikai in Imphal East district today.

STDCM members including its president Dhiraj Yumnam and working president, retired Lieutenant Colonel Laishram Lokendra called on the Speaker at his residence.

When asked why legislators are not making any collective effort to discuss the matter in the Assembly despite a majority of them coming out in support of the demand in public, the Speaker said the Government or a legislator have to first move the matter on the floor of the Assembly to discuss it.

Giving his personal opinion, Speaker Satyabrata, who is also the MLA of Yaiskul Assembly Constituency, said that the move for enlisting the Meiteis/Meeteis in the ST category is a positive step for protecting the community under the provision of the Indian Constitution.

Stating that the STDCM's members gave many new insights while conversing on the matter at his residence today, Satyabrata assured that the demand for ST status will be raised to Chief Minister N Biren Singh and do the best in his capacity to fulfill the same.

Earlier when he met STDCM members, he was apprised of the need for granting ST status to the Meiteis/Meeteis.

The STDCM members apprised that the main objective of demanding inclusion of Meiteis/Meeteis in the ST category is to protect the land of the community and Manipur as a whole from migrants and wealthy outsiders who intend to buy land at any given price.

They put forward their apprehension that the minuscule valley portion of the State where the Meiteis/Meeteis are allowed to settle is being gradually grabbed by wealthy non-locals and people of other communities in the last three or four decades.

The Meiteis/Meeteis are the majority indigenous population in Manipur who are allowed to settle only in the valley area.

When Meiteis/Meeteis can not buy land in tribal areas, the valley portion where the community resides comprises just about 8, to 10 percent of the total land area of the State.

On the other hand, the tribals in the hills and other communities are allowed to settle in the valley areas.

As such, the community is facing threats on multiple fronts, said the STDCM members while asserting that the inclusion of the Meiteis/Meeteis in the ST list is the only and last resort for the community to protect itself.

Acknowledging the Speaker's positive stand on the matter, they also urged him to take up all the needful steps to discuss the matter in the Assembly and send the required recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of the community in the ST category.

It may be mentioned that the STDCM has been demanding ST status for Meiteis/Meeteis since the last 10 years and its movement has gained great momentum since the last few weeks with many MLAs and Ministers endorsing its demand in public.

Notably, Chief Minister N Biren Singh also on occasions had stated that the State Government had never sidelined STDCM's demand for ST status.

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