STDCM continues with ST demand unabated
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 06 2022:
Continuing its protest demonstration that the Meiteis/Meeteis be included the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) staged a sit-in protest at Kakwa Keithel today.
The demonstration was staged along with the vendors of Kakwa Keithel.
Speaking to media persons, STDCM vice president Sapam Bheigya said that the Meetei/Meitei was enlisted in the general category in the Census of 1951 with the hope that it would give some kind of benefits to the ethnic group.
Claiming that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent a missive to the Manipur Government of the period to initiate measure for recognising Meitei/Meetei as a ST, he continued that then Government, however, didn't send its response to the Centre.
|
Further stating that the Centre is still seeking recommendations from the State Government to consider granting ST tag to the Meetei/Meitei, Bheigya urged the State Government to send the ethnographic and socio-economic reports of the Meitei/Meetei sought by the Centre at the earliest.
He also said that the Meitei/Meetei is at disadvantage in job reservations and doesn't have the Constitutional backing to protect its land and resources due to non inclusion in the ST list.
Any Meitei/Meetei can worship Sanamahi or Krishna after inclusion in the ST list based on their preference, the STDCM vice president added.
Maintaining that STs are not necessarily a backward people, Bheigya urged the people of Manipur to support the movement of STDCM.
Banners with inscriptions "Please respect our democratic rights" and "Manipur Government must initiate measures to enlist Meitei/Meetei in the ST list" were displayed.
Notably, STDCM resumed its movement demanding ST tag for Meitei/Meetei on August 26 and the World Meetei Council (WMC) has also extended its support to the movement.