No let up in ST demand for Meiteis
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 16 2022:
Locals of Sagolband Kurao Makhong carried on the demand to include Meeteis/Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India under the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur with a sit-in protest today.
Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM), Sagolband Kurao Makhong United Club and Sagolband Kurao Makhong Meira Paibi jointly staged the joint sit-in protest.
It may be noted that the STDCM's demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list has been gaining momentum with public endorsing the demand and organising sit-ins at various places across Manipur.
Significantly, the STDCM since its inception has been demanding Government of India to include the ethnic Meeteis/Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list and Constitutionally safeguard the community.
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STDCM has been reiterating that the inclusion of the Meeteis/Meiteis in the ST list would be the only way to truly protect the community and Manipur at large.
It has also been appealing the Government of Manipur to send the necessary recommendations to the Government of India for inclusion of the community in the ST list.
At the sit-in protest at Sagolband Kurao Makhong today, STDCM convenor, L Romesh Meitei said it has been more than 10 years that the committee has been demanding the Govt of India to include Meeteis/Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Even though the India Government had sought specific recommendations for inclusion of Meeteis/Meiteis in the ST list in 2013 from the State Government, the Government of Manipur has still not yet sent the recommendation sought.
As the Government of Manipur remained indifferent to the legitimate demand, the STDCM had taken resolutions to launch various forms of agitation, he said.
He asserted that the inclusion of the Meeteis/Meiteis in the ST list would provide them Constitutional safeguard and is the only way to ensure the ethnic community's survival.
He appreciated and sought the support of the public in STDCM's stir in future.