Constitutional safeguard needed : STDCM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 01 2016:
Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee (STDC) joint secretary M Bhogen has stated that enlisting Meetei/Meitei as ST is the only option to have a Constitutional safeguard of the community as the term 'indigenous people' is not defined in the Constitution of India.
Speaking at a one-day discussion session organised by Co-ordinating Body of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee held on the first floor of Ema Keithel, Bhogen said that excluding Meetei/Meitei from the ST list in 1950 although their hill brethrens were enlisted as STs was a big mistake.
Protection of the land without the existence of Meetei/Meitei or safeguarding Meetei/Meitei without its land would not serve any purpose, he observed.
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STDCM Women Wing representative Tharaksana said that the number of people who want to include Meetei/Meiteis in the ST category are growing day by day as people have now realized the urgent need of their protection.
Saying that the issue is being discussed on different platforms, Tharaksana said that people must not get embarrassed when they become an ST as it is the best option to safeguard their community, identity and land.
It is wrong to imply that Meetei/Meitei would get its status degraded if they are enlisted as STs, she observed.