Recommend ST status for Meiteis : STDCM to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 03 2017:
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) has urged the State Government to form a committee, collect necessary documents and recommend the Government of India to include Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category under the Constitution of India .
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this evening, STDCM joint secretary Keithellakpam Bhogen said that they appreciated the discussion on ST status for Meitei/Meetei which was initiated by K Meghachandra and responded by Chief Minister N Biren in the State Assembly yesterday .
However, there were certain vague areas in the course of the discussion .
A commission was constituted in 2016 under the Manipur State Commission of Schedule Tribes Act 2014 .
The commission should examine relevant criteria and submit a report after which the State Government should recommend to the Government of India for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST category.
Nonetheless, the Chief Minister assured to look into what the State Government can do shortly .
On the other hand, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs wrote a letter in 2013 asking the State Government to submit necessary recommendation along with a ethnography report of Meitei and the latest socio-economic survey report .
STDCM has an understanding that the State Government's recommendation and reports should be studied by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and the Registrar General before the Union Cabinet takes a decision and the matter is tabled in Parliament, Bhogen said .
On the other hand, the commission set up under the Manipur State Commission for the Scheduled Tribe Act 2014 has no jurisdiction on any matter dealt with by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes established under Article 338-A of the Constitution of India .
The commission is there to look after violation of rights of ST people and their socio-economic welfare .
But STDCM has been demanding inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST category for the first time.
As of now, Meitei/Meetei is not an ST either Constitutionally or legally .
Given these facts, the State Government should form a committee at the earliest and send a recommendation to the Central Government for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST category along with necessary documents including ethnographic report and socio-economic survey report, Bhogen demanded.