IPAK cries foul over SC list
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 19 2015:
Inclusion of non-indigenous people of Manipur in the list of Scheduled Castes is unreasonable and should be omitted by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, said Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) chairman S Jadumani.
Speaking to media persons at IPAK office, Jadumani said that according to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, Advisory Committee of the Revision of Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 1965 has in its report listed Dhupi, Dhobi, Lois, Muchi, Ravidas, Namasudra, Patni, Sutradhar and Yaithibi as the Scheduled Castes communities present in Manipur.
"Among these listed castes, Lois and Yaithibi are the only indigenous castes of Manipur.
Inclusion of rest of the listed castes is very unreasonable and should be omitted", said Jadumani.
Amid a series of demand to implement the Inner Line Permit System in the State, such report can be termed as a threat to the indigenous people of Manipur.
Jadumani added that the matter will be reported to the State Government and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) will be filed in Guwahati High Court so that required steps are taken up at the earliest.
As per 2001 census, number of Angamis were 650, Raite - 111 , Sema- 25 and Suhte-311 in the State and they are not the indigenous tribes of Manipur, Jadumani said.