WMC adds more bite to ST status demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 18 2022:
Claiming that to be recognised as a Scheduled Tribe is an indispensable right of Meetei/Meitei, the World Meetei Council (WMC) adopted at least 10 resolutions pertaining to ST movement during a seminar cum public dialogue held at Ching-Tam Community Hall, Sugnu, today.
As per a statement issued by WMC, the resolutions were taken after a threadbare discussion by over 100 delegate members of the council.
Resolutions
The WMC has resolved to carry out different forms of agitation in both Manipur and other States to include Meetei/Meitei in the ST list as the council claimed the ethnic group has every right to seek Constitutional protection.
The Council also reiterated its support to the movement spearheaded by the STDCM to protect the Meetei/Meitei in the face of demographic imbalance and other factors which threaten the survival of indigenous people.
Claiming that India, as a member of United Nations, must protect the human rights of the Meeteis/Meiteis, the WMC said that the responsibility to send the ethnography and socioeconomic reports of the Meetei/Meitei to the Centre lies with Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
It also said that the Government must take the movement being launched to protect the Meetei/Meitei with utmost seriousness and accord some Constitutional protection to the ethnic group.
Continuing that the Meeteis/Meiteis are ready to sacrifice everything to get their right and be recognised as a ST as it is a matter of life and death for the ethnic group, the WMC maintained that the Government must not sideline the demand of the Meetei/Meitei.
Later, the gatherings took a pledge to protect the rights and future of the Meetei/Meitei, while WMC chairman H Nabashyam appealed to the Chief Minister to send the recommendations sought by the Centre, said the statement.
The programme was presided by Heigrujam Nabashyam.
Social activist Thounaojam Ashalata; United Manipuri Association Assam (UMAA) advisor Ngangom Niranjan and academic activist Leichombam Gopal read out different papers.