No let up in STDCM's campaign
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 02 2023:
Even as protests hit several places including Thoubal and Wangoi, an attempt to carry our a peaceful rally under the banner of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) from Lamphel Supermarket to State Assembly was thwarted by the police today.
The rally was a continuation of a series of agitations the STDCM has been organising demanding Scheduled Tribe tag for Meitei/Meetei community.
A large number of women vendors of Lamphel Supermarket led the rally that was supposed to proceed to the Assembly.
The attempt to take out the peaceful procession, however, was stopped by Lamphel police shortly after it started.
They raised several slogans demanding the State Government to proactively take up steps to include Meitei/Meetei in the list of the Scheduled Tribes of India.
The women reiterated the demand of the STDCM to the State Government to send the recommendations along with the latest socio-economic survey and ethnographic report, sought by the Centre's Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2013 for its consideration to include the community in the ST list.
It may be noted that the community has been demanding ST status as a means to Constitutionally safeguard its identity, culture and land.
Lamphel Super Market Chaokhat Nupi Lup member RK Bina said the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has the full support of the women Lup (organisation) .
She said ST status "is the only practical way to save the community" and her organisation would provide all assistance to the STDCM in all its future course of actions on the issue.
RK Bina also stressed that the Government and all the Ministers and MLAs should understand the sentiments of the people and take up positive steps on the issue at the earliest.
Meanwhile at Thoubal, a large number of women vendors along with STDCM's members and volunteers took out a rally demanding the Government to send the recommendations sought by the Centre to include Meitei/Meetei in the list of the Scheduled Tribes.
At Wangoi Bazar, women vendors, members of Meira Paibi, local clubs and WAFA players staged a protest demanding ST tag for Meitei/Meetei.