Discussion programme on 'for generation' held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 14 2014:
A discussion programme on 'for generation' was held at Brahmapur Youths' Club, Aribam Leikai, Imphal today.
The programme was jointly organised by the Brahmapur Youths' Club and Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee and was hosted by the youths' club.
The dignitaries of the discussion programme included president of STDC Manipur and Manipur University Professor, Yumnam Mohendro, vice-president of STDC Manipur, Brahmacharimayum Angousana Sharma and General Secretary of STDC Manipur, Retd Lt Col Laishram Lokendra.
The programme was presided by the president of Brahmapur Youths' Club, Kh Bishwamitra while senior life member, Dr N Birchandra was the programme moderator.
While speaking at the occasion, Laishram Lokendra said, "Initially, the people of the mainland India use to consider all the indigenous people of Manipur as scheduled tribe.
However with the change of time, we have categorised ourselves as OBC, SC, ST and general.
Therefore, it is our duty to reinstate our true identity of being the members of scheduled tribe as a whole and live unitedly" .
Adding further, he said that the people of Manipur established their settlements only in the hill areas initially.
gradually, people shifted to plain areas.
Since the people living in the plain areas have all descended from the same ancestral group, it is important to include all the indigenous people of Manipur in the scheduled tribes list of the Indian Constitution, Laishram Lokendra added.