Campaign for inclusion in ST list continues
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24 2016:
In
continuation of its demand for
inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in
the Scheduled Tribe list, the
Scheduled Tribe Demand
Committee Manipur (STDCM)
in association with Konjeng
Hazari Leikai Meira Paibi
Women Welfare Association,
Konjeng Hazari Leikai
Development Committee and
Konjeng Hazari Leikai Youth
Development Club, organized a
public discussion at Konjeng
Hazari Leikai community hall
today wherein the concept of the
campaign for inclusion of
Meetei/ Meitei in the ST list was
deliberated.
President of STDCM Pro-
fessor Y Mohendro; working
President M
Naodalenkhomba; former
general secretary STDCM L
Lokendro; retired SP,
Nagaland Police, P Sonamani
and executives of Konjeng
Hazari Leikai Development
Committee and Konjeng
Hazari Leikai Youth Devel-
opment Club graced the dis-
cussion programme as
presidium members.
Speaking at the occasion,
joint secretary of STDCM K
Bhogendro said the indig-
enous Meetei/Meitei
community of Manipur was
recognised as a tribal in the
past but unfortunately, after
the influence of Hinduism,
Meiteis were regarded to be
among the general category.
Enlistment of Meiteis in the
ST category is a step towards
bridging this division, he
added.
Meetei/Meitei is a minority
community compared to com-
munities of other larger States of India in terms of population.
To provide
Constitutional safeguard to this ethnic community, enlistment in
the Schedule Tribe list is a must, he said.
The objective of the campaign for inclusion of Meetei/
Meitei in the ST list is to attain communal harmony between
all ethnic groups of the State.
If and when recognised as an
ST, the Meetei/Meitei will be given equal opportunities and
rights to protect their land, he said.
Various Government records indicate that the Meetei/Meitei
community was recorded as Meitei Tribe.
The 1891 Census
report of India recorded Manipuri as a forest tribe and the
Census of 1901 documented Manipuri under the Province of
Assam as the main tribe of Manipur.
Further, the 1931 Census
clarified Manipuris as a Hindu tribe retaining their distinctive
language and culture.
The Imperial Gazetteer of India Provincial Series-Eastern
Bengal and Assam and Gazetteer of Bengal and North East
India 1909, records Meetei/Meitei as one of the principal tribes
of North East India.
Enlisting Meetei/Meitei as Scheduled Tribe can or will
remove the Constitutional divide amongst the different indig-
enous communities of the State, Bhogendro added.
STDCM has submitted a series of memorandum to the
State Government and the Indian Government demanding
enlistment of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list.
He added that the
socio economic status and ethnography of Meetei/Meitei can
only be determined after surveys.
Every community should be allowed to safeguard their
own interests.
Even though other tribes of India may be very
backward, indigenous tribes of Manipur are of high status.
In
this age of globalization, Meiteis must protect their identity.
The true identity of the Meiteis lies in their unique culture and
tradition dating from the pre-Hinduism period, Bhogendro
said.
It is unfortunate that some people have been trying to
project STDCM in a very wrong light, he said while adding
that all the Meiteis should join the campaign.
Opinion of only
a handful of elite group need not be taken as the opinion of
the people, the larger mass should be given opportunities to
decide their future.
All the civil society organisations need to
analyse the issue collectively in a constructive manner rather
than hurling allegations, he added.
Working president of STDCM M Naodalenkhomba em-
phasized on the criteria for consideration of Meetei/Meitei in
the ST list.
He said Article 342 clause 1 of the Indian Con-
stitution renders five different criteria for an ethnic community
to be under the ST list and Meetei/Meitei fulfils all.
It is very
unfortunate that although tribal by birth, Meetes/Meiteis are
not included in the ST list and the Indian Government has
failed to recognize the indigenous Meetei/Meitei as a Sched-
uled Tribe.
Being a Scheduled Tribe will not reduce or degrade the
social status of the Meitei/Meetei but, will rather ensure a
brighter future for the generations to come.
The recognition,
as a whole, will provide protection to the native and indig-
enous populace of Manipur, he stated.
It is one of the most
effective ways to save the indigenous, native Meetei/ Meitei
community, he opined.
Retired SP of Nagaland Police P Sonamani also shared his
experiences and views on the ongoing campaign for the inclu-
sion of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe list .
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