MP Dr Lorho urged to back ST demand
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 16 2023:
Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) has submitted a memorandum to Lok Sabha MP Dr Lorho Pfoze seeking his support in enlisting Meetei/Meitei communi ty in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
According to an STDCM functionary, a seven-member delegation of the committee led by its president Dheeraj Yumnam called on the MP at his official residence, Lamphelpat, here, on Sunday around 9 am and submitted the memorandum.
In the memorandum, STDCM recounted how Meetei community missed out from getting enlisted in the ST list and how the community has been living without any constitutional protection since then leading to a constant threat to their very survival.
The committee also mentioned how the community is on the verge of becoming a minority in its own ancestral land and reasoned that getting ST status could enable the community to protect their land under the Constitution of India.
Besides, it will bring closer the indigenous communities of the state resulting in better relationship, the committee stated in its memorandum.
Unfortunately, tribal student body ATSUM has been raising objection to the movement for survival of the indigenous community.
They are even resorting to campaigns outside the state to consolidate resistance against the movement, the committee said, while seeking support from the MP in making ATSUM understand the gravity of the situation and the impending fate of Meetei community.
The committee also sought support from the MP in taking up necessary consultation with the state government for upholding the existing reservation for the tribal communities of the state even after the Meetei community gets the ST status, the statement said.
STDCM also thanked the NPF MP for his warm hospitality to the STDCM delegation.