ATSUM lobbies NCST against ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, November 22 2022:
After the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs and the Union Minister of Law and Justice, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur reached the office of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST) today.
The ATSUM team who are currently at the National capital since the past few days had already called on Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda and the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju apprising them of the Manipur tribal people's insecurity owing to the alleged "illogical and illegitimate" demand of the Schedule Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.
The ATSUM team led by its president Paotinthang Lupheng and general secretary SR Andria today called on the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe (NCST), Harsh Chouhan at his office at Khan Market, New Delhi, and discussed the persistent demand of the Meitei community to be recognized as Scheduled Tribe which at the moment is gaining momentum in the State.
The ATSUM leaders apprised the NCST Chairperson about the seriousness of the demand pointing out that ST status for the Meitei would result in adverse social upheaval not only in the State of Manipur but also in the whole tribal society of the country, once the Meitei community is granted ST status.
The ATSUM leaders also explained that the demand for ST status is nothing but a policy of the community to circumvent the existing laws in Manipur to enable them buy and own lands in the hill areas.
The ATSUM leaders also had a serious deliberation with the Chairperson on the plausibility of the demand to jeopardize the constitutional protection enjoyed by tribal people of Manipur.
They also submitted a memorandum to the Chairperson requesting the NCST not to accord due consideration to the demand of the Meitei community for ST status.