ST campaign moves on
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 27 2022:
Sustaining the campaign for protection of Meitei/Meetei community under a Constitutional provision and enlistment of the same community in Scheduled Tribe category, a sit-in-protest was staged at Takyel Khongbal Maning Leikai today.
The protest demonstration was jointly organised by the Nambul Brink Cultural Association and the Pumsubam Leikai Women Welfare Association under the aegis of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) .
Speaking at the protest site, STDCM Youth Wing convenor Nameirakpam Edison Meitei decried that the Government has not yet bothered to give any response even though the STDCM's renewed campaign has completed 33 days.
He then urged the State Government to do the needful and send necessary recommendation to the Central Government for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category.
He said that similar movements for enlistment for certain communities in the ST category have been going on in some neighbouring States too.
The population of Koch Rajbongshi community of Assam is over 30 lakh which is almost double the population of Meitei/Meetei community.
But they too have been undertaking a sustained campaign in order to secure protection under the Constitution as a ST community.
Compared to the Koch Rajbongshis, Meitei/Meetei is a very small community, Edison said.
He further urged the State Government to initiate all necessary processes instead of waiting for violent protest movements which would disturb the people's daily life.
The Youth Wing convenor said that the next course of agitation would be announced in time if the State Government does not take up necessary steps for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category by mid-October.