UTCOM questions rationale of ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 11 2019:
Questioning the reason behind the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the ST list, the United Tribal Civil Organisation, Manipur has claimed that the status of ST is conferred to those communities which are not only weak and lagging behind major communities but also lead primitive ways of living, have shyness in contact with advanced communities, have distinct culture, etc.
A press release issued by the vice president of UTCOM, M Tantanga today conveyed that a tribal community enjoy some safeguards and benefits as relief from socio-economic injustices, cultural and identity invasions and land exploitation by major communities within a State.
The benefits and safeguards do not extend outside one's own home State, UTCOM stated claiming that it does not see any ground for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category as they are a dominant and major community with advanced economy.
Meitei/Meetei belong to a dominant community in the State and no community can disturb or compete with them in any field be it in employment, politics, commercial activities, education, as they are ahead of every other community.
Questioning why the Meitei/Meetei need ST status, UTCOM said that Meitei need no reservation in educational institutions and public employment and they are already adequately represented.
It further said that Meitei/Meetei do not lead primitive ways of living, cannot be invaded or exploited by any other communities, have no shyness of contact with any community of the State and asked why they are asking for ST status.
Is it to further exploit the already deprived tribal communities, it asserted.
Expressing shock at the Chief Minister's alleged statement wherein he said that the population of the indigenous people of the State is under threat and the demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST list is basically about protection of microscopic community through Constitutional safeguard, UTCOM claimed that the Meitei/Meetei community is not a microscopic community in the State and reasoned that the CM should collect proper information regarding the matter.
Meitei/Meetei is the biggest, dominant and most advanced community in the State and they are not under threats.
Minorities are under threat, it added.
UTCOM further asked all tribal MLAs and Ministers to act positively for the protection of the tribals from further exploitation and to work for bringing the tribals up to the level of the Meitei/Meetei community, failing which they will be termed as anti-tribals.