ST status for Meiteis deliberated
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 09 2013 : Demand of ST stutus for the Meiteis was well deliberated in a symposium organised by the Programme Sub-Committee Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur Valley at GM Hall today.

Giving keynote address, Nambam Manikanta of Programme Sub-Committee said, after Manipur was merged into the Indian Union on September 20, 1949, Meiteis were given the status of the General Category with insistence from some intellectuals, persons of the royal palace and Hindu devotees of the valley areas.

Forgetting Meiteis close affinity to the Mongoloid stock, these group of people told the Government of India that Meiteis were the descendents of the Aryan, Manikanta said.

He added that the people of hill areas were given the status of ST by issuing an order in 1950 .

Lois and Yaithibis who were denied to embrace Hinduism during monarchy in Manipur were also categorised as SCs the same year, he said.

Manikanta further said that Government of India had declared Islam, Sikhism, Budhism and Zoroastrianism as religious minority under National Commission of Minorities Act 1992 .

The Government is providing assistance in the education of children of religious minorities.

Although National and State commissions have been set up to protect the people of religious communities, Sanamahism is yet to get recognised under this category, he said.

As Meiteis are to compete with the bigger and more advanced communities in various competitive examinations at the National level as General candidates, people of this community are lagging behind in producing Civil servants, Manikanta pointed out.

Moreover, Civil servants who get through competitive examinations through ST and SC quotas are likely to get promoted soon, he said.

Regarding collegiate education, Manikanta said, in Miranda House, which is one of the best women colleges in India, 97 pc for General, 94 pc for OBC and 73.67 pc were the cut percentage of Physics in the last academic session.

Around 3442 ST students got admission in various colleges in Delhi last year, Manikanta said.

Saying that the demand of the committee is being made in the interest of the valley people, Manikanta said that the committee does insist anybody to convert to another religion.

Addressing the function as chief guest, former Manipur University VC C Amuba said, any community which has its own indigenous tradition and culture can be categorised as tribal.

As Meiteis are adopting all the age-old indigenous traditions, the community can be well categorised as tribal, he observed.

C Amuba further said that the Meiteis must adopt both intellectual and political means to fulfil the demand for ST status of the community.

Various speakers including former Security Officer to the PM B Angousana also spoke at the function.

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