ATSUM submits memo to NCST chairperson
Source: Chronicle News Service /NNN
Kpi/Imphal, November 22 2022:
A delegation of All Manipur Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), currently in New Delhi, submitted a memorandum to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST) chairperson Harsh Chouhan on Tuesday and discussed the persistent demand of the Meetei community for granting recognition as a Scheduled Tribe.
The ATSUM delegation led by president Paotinthang Lupheng and general secretary SR Andria met Harsh Chouhan at the latter's office, Loknayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi and urged the NCST chief not to cede to the demand of the Meetei community for granting ST status.
The ATSUM delegation had already met Union minister of tribal affairs Arjun Munda, Union law and justice minister Kiren Rijiju and apprised the Union ministers about the insecurity felt among the tribal people of Manipur owing to the demand of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei community in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.
During the meeting on Tuesday, the ATSUM delegation told the NCST chairperson about the seriousness of STDCM's demand, pointing out that the ST status for the Meetei would result in adverse social upheaval not only in the state of Manipur but also in the whole tribal society across the country.
The ATSUM leaders also explained that the demand for ST status of the Meetei is nothing but a policy of the community to circumvent the existing laws in Manipur to facilitate them buy and own lands in the hill areas.
The ATSUM leaders also had a serious deliberation on the plausibility of the demand to jeopardise the constitutional protection of tribal people of Manipur with the chairperson.
Later, the ATSUM delegation submitted a memorandum to the chairperson requesting the Commission not to consider the demand for ST status for Meetei/Meitei community.