STDCM takes drive to MLA Ibomcha
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 15 2022:
Continuing its movement to mobilise Ministers and MLAs of Manipur in the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Meetei/Meitei, volunteers of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) called on Lamlai AC MLA cum Chairman of Manipur Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation Limited Kh Ibomcha at his residence at Nongada, Imphal East today.
The volunteers of STDCM were accorded a warm welcome by Ibomcha and discussion was held on the necessity to provide Constitutional safeguard to the Meetei/Meitei populace, following which a memorandum was submitted to the MLA.
The MLA, however, didn't give any surety on endorsing the movement of STDCM as he claimed that he is not aware of the content of the memorandum.
Ibomcha said that he will make his stand clear on the issue after studying the memorandum minutely.
He, nonetheless, lauded the STDCM for not resorting to violence or aggression while placing their demand to the Government.
It is worth mentioning that the STDCM has been urging the successive Governments in Manipur since 2013 to send the ethnographic and socioeconomic reports of Meetei/Meitei to the Centre so as to examine whether the ethnic group can be added in the ST list of the Constitution.
Despite oppositions from various quarters with the most notable one being All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) which claimed that the demand of STDCM is irrational, the movement seeking ST tag for Meetei/Meitei has been gaining momentum with the majority of the legislators they met endorsing the movement.
Some of the significant moments in the fresh movement of STDCM which seeks support from the legislators may be the statement given by Power Minister Thongam Biswajit who said that the matter of enlisting Meetei/Meitei in the ST list has already been discussed with the Central leaders and the points highlighted by Keishamthong AC MLA Nishikant Singh - Sapam who said that the limitation put on the Meetei/Meitei populace in settlement is unfair.
Though the Ministers and MLAs of the valley area have been endorsing the movement of STDCM, the State Government hasn't made any official statement on sending the recommendations sought by the Centre till date.