STDCM to hold consultative meet on Nov 23
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 18 2023: The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) has convened a closed door consultative meeting on November 23 to decide the next course of action with regard to the popular demand for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

Notably, STDCM has been spearheading a popular movement for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category since 2012 so that the indigenous Meitei/Meetei community is granted constitutional safeguards to protect their identity like other indigenous communities.

Now everybody agrees that enlistment of Meitei/ Meetei in the ST category is a legitimate and constitutional option to ensure the survival of Meitei/Meetei community, said a press release issued by STDCM.

The movement for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category began with the submission of a memorandum to the Governor on November 30, 2012 .

Now the movement has evolved into a popular movement with many Meiteis settled in different parts of lndia and abroad lending support, it said.

Conveying gratitude to all the people who are extending support to the popular demand and welcoming every act and gesture of support, the STDCM said that there is a need for broad based consultation and collective struggle to achieve the objective of putting Meitei/Meetei in the ST list.

It then appealed to all individuals/organisations who are interested in pursuing the same demand through mass movements to first consult STDCM.

The 10 year old movement has its own continuity and every caution must be taken to ensure that it does not take any wrong turn, it said.

Urging the State Government to work together with the Central Government to bring an end to the protracted violence and restore normalcy in the State, the STDCM reiterated its appeal to the State Government to send necessary recommendation to the Central Government in order to enlist Meitei/Meetei in the ST category.

In addition to paying rich tributes to all those martyrs who had laid down their lives in the war to defend the motherland, the STDCM also conveyed deep respect to all those people who have been taking pivotal roles in defending Manipur.

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