Send needed recommendations to Centre: WMC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09 2022: The World Meetei Council (WMC) has appealed to Chief Minister N Biren Singh to send the ethnographic and socio economic reports of Meetei/Meitei to the Centre so as to enlist the ethnic group in the Scheduled Tribes list of the Indian Constitution.

In a statement, WMC contended that Meeiteis/Meiteis fulfil all the five criteria given by the Lokur Committee for enlistment in the ST list.

Saying that they met some Central leaders over the issue at New Delhi and the latter proposed implementation of a certain land law instead of granting ST tag to the Meetei/Meitei as the matter is very sensitive and is being opposed by a section of people, the WMC stated that they rejected the proposal of the Centre as it is a matter of survival for the ethnic group.

The survival of Meeteis/Meiteis shouldn't be compared with the privilege of a section of people, it said and added that the Meeteis/Meiteis living in Assam and other North East States are also living in difficult times due to non granting of any Constitutional protection to them.

Saying that the Meeteis/Meiteis can live only in 6 per cent of total land area of Manipur and soon the ethnic group will live like refugees in their own land if prompt action is not taken up to protect them, the WMC urged the Chief Minister to send the two reports to the Centre so as to give Constitutional protection to the Meeteis/Meiteis.

Comment