STDCM shutdown begins, bodies back agitation
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 27 2021:
As the state government has failed to fulfil the demand of sending the required Meetei ethnograph-ic report of the latest socio-economic survey report to Ministry of Tribal Affairs within December 27, Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) has reaffirmed its resolution adopted in People's Convention of calling an 18-hour total shutdown from December 27 midnight.
In a release, STDCM publicity secretary W Anand Meetei urged the people to support the total shutdown.
Religious events, essential services, media and health and emergency services will be exempted from the purview of the shutdown, he added.
Meanwhile, Meetei Enat Thougal Lup, Jiribam and Jiribam units of Meetei National Front, DESAM and WASED have endorsed the total shutdown called by STDCM from December 27 midnight.
DESAM Jiribam District Council president Laishram Bilax announced this during a press conference held on Monday and appealed to all the indigenous communities of Manipur including Meitei-Pangal to support the ongoing movement for securing constitutional safeguard for indig-enous communities of the state.
He also said that government of Manipur should send recommendation for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of Indian Constitution by taking a cabinet decision.
Functionaries of Meetei Enat Thougal Lup, Meetei National Front and WASED were also present during the press meet.
While urging government to honour the STDCM demand for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of Indian Constitution, Meetei-Pangal Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee (MPSTDC) has also endorsed the total shutdown called by the STDCM from Monday midnight.
Apart from announcing committee's decision to endorse the shutdown during a press conference held at Lilong on Monday, MPSTDC co-convener Md Abdul Quayum said that it will support and endorse whatever agitations launched for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei and Meetei-Pangal in the ST list of Indian Constitution.
He also said that MPSTDC will not only endorse the December 28 shutdown but will also join in raising slogans on December 29 at Ima Keithel and agitation to be launched in front of CM Bungalow on December 30 .
Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) and Social Voluntary Organisation, Changangei (SOVOC) have also extended their support to the 18-hour total shutdown being called by STDCM.
In a release, KIMACS publicity and information secretary Laishram Sa-ityamjit Meetei stated that inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list is necessary for bringing unity in the state as well as protecting the indigenous communities.
Hence, public, club and meira paibi groups should support the shutdown and other agitations of STDCM for recognition of Meitei/Meetei as ST, it added.
Similarly, SOVOC secretary M Kiran Singh, in a release, stated that the decision to support the shutdown was taken as the state government has overlooked the matter which is needed to protect our identity, despite repeated appeals.