WMC gives ST call to CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 17 2024:
Saying that the future of Meetei/ Meitei remains uncertain due to myriad factors, the World Meetei Council (WMC) has urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to send the socio-economic and ethnographic report to the Centre to begin the process of enlisting the ethnic group in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Constitution.
WMC, in a statement, stated that the Council has suspended its fresh campaign which began on April 2 to add Meetei/Meitei in the ST list since May 5 due to the devastating hailstorm/thunderstorm which swept through parts of Manipur.
Saying that they have resumed the campaign from today as the weather condition has improved, the Council sought support from the masses to make their campaign successful.
The WMC said that they carried out their campaign with the students of Eureka Academy, Thounaojam today.
Further stating that the valley districts of Manipur comprise only about 9 per cent of the total geographical area of the State of which the settlement area is only about 3 per cent, the Council maintained that only enlistment of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list can safeguard the miniscule portion of Manipur's land where the Meetei/Meitei people reside.
The Meetei/Meitei will lose even this small land and subsequently reduce their political strength to less than 30 MLAs if the ST status is not given to the ethnic group, the Council cautioned and added that the Meetei/Meitei will become more like the Tripuris in Tripura in the next 20/30 years.
Given all these factors and the threats being faced by the Meetei/Meitei, the WMC urged the Chief Minister to send the recommendation sought by the Centre since 2013 to verify whether the ethnic group can be given the ST status.