STDCM reacts to opposition against ST status
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 05 2021:
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has categorically stated that sections of people opposing the demand for recognising Meetei/Meeitei as a Scheduled Tribe is rather unfortunate.
In a statement, the STDCM continued that the Meetei/Meitei doesn't have any Constitutional safeguard to protect its identity despite being an indegenous community since merging with the India.
Saying that the main objective of their demand is to check illegal settlement of non locals in the valley of Manipur which is largely inhabited by Meetei/Meitei and less about reservation, the STDCM opined that sharing similar status among all the indigenous communities will also bring forth peace and harmony in the State.
Continuing that certain students association submitting a memorendum to the State Government against the proposal for granting ST status to Meetei/Meitei is groundless, the commiitee appealed to all stakeholder to instead endorse the demand and let the Government takes its course of procedures.
It true that Manipur existed as an independent entity before merging with the India, but that is a shared history for all the indegenous communities and not limited only to the Meetei/Meitei, it said.
Maintaing that Manipur is one of the poorest States of the country and the socio economic condition of the ethnic group is deteriorating each passing day, it reasoned that the financial status of a handful of people cannot decide the economic condition of the Meetei/Meitei as a whole.
The influx of non locals is causing demographic imbalance in the State and posed a serious threat to the very survival of the indegenous communities, the STDCM said and urged the Government to send the requsite documents (reccomedation) for granting ST status to the Meetei/Meitei without delay.