ST demand peeves HSA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 14 2019:
Expressing disappointment with demand of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) that Meiteis/Meeteis be included in the ST list, the Hmar Students' Association has reasoned that the recognition of Meitei as ST will be detrimental to the marginalised ST populace of the State as well as deal a blow to the integration of all the hills and plain of Manipur.
A press release issued by the association mentioned that Meiteis are the most developed among all the communities of the State and all the plains of the State, where the Meitei are settled, are well developed in all aspects compared to the hilly regions of Manipur where the hill tribes are settled.
Even though the hill people have enjoyed ST rights for many decades, development is still a far cry for those living in the hills even till date, it claimed, adding that the recognition of Meiteis as ST will be detrimental to the marginalised present ST populace of the State, apart from severely affecting the bond between the hills and the valley of Manipur.
The association also expressed concern over the alleged threat against the tribunal general of ATSUM, Joseph R Hmar, who is also the advisor of the HSA, and appealed to all organisations to refrain from taking social and political issues at a personal level.
It continued that it will stand with the tribal student leaders at all cost in the fight for the protection of the tribal people.