Sanamahi followers should be given minority status: Dr Sushila
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 05, 2012:
Expressing concern over the status of Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of the state and its followers in the present society, Deputy Director, Manipur State Archives, Dr K Sushila has stressed on the need to give minority status to the followers of this religion to ensuring more developmental quotas and more participation in public administration.
She was speaking as Chief Guest at the 2nd Foundation Day Celebration of South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) held today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
Dr Sushila went on to say that followers of Sanamhi religion are not getting any benefits other than some rations from the government since they are included in general category.
On the other hand, the minority communities are getting many benefits in various fields with quotas in every sphere.
Today, one finds it hard to find an employee in the state Secretariat who follows the religion, she added.
IPSA Advisor, Ibotombi Khuman, who attended the function as Guest of Honour, said that Meeteis should not give up the habit of writing their surnames along with their names.
Today some Meeteis in Tripura and Myanmar have forgotten their surnames since they have given up writing names along with surnames.
President of SEACO, Koijam Brojen (Keingamba) said that people of the state want to restore their lost freedom.
However, it would not be an easy task.
Seeking freedom and conserving the traditional religion are inter-connected.
In such a situation, conserving and developing the indigenous religion of the state has become an inseparable part of the freedom movement, he said.