Public convention bats against ST tag campaign
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18 2016:
A one-day public convention on ST status demand in Manipur was organised today by Protection and Preservation Committee (PPCM) and Pioneer Education and Sporting Union (PESU), Oinam at Usakhang community hall, Oinam in Bishnupur district.
Convener of PPCM, Dr Y Mani Khuman, retired ZEO S Tomba and Councillor of Oinam Nagar Panchayat Chongtham Kesho attended the programme as the presidium members.
Speaking at the occasion, convener of Ethnic Economic Development of PPCM, Tongbram (O) Ibemcha said that the public convention was organised to thrash out the pros and cons of ST status for the Meitei/Meetei community.
The Meiteis have been playing a pivotal role towards the realisation of a Manipuri Nation.
Instead of relegating to the ST status, the Meiteis should collectively work to lift up the community.
Ibemcha also urged the people rather to find a playing field among the global communities.
She further said that it is very unfortunate that the demand for ST status germinated among the people on the conviction that the Govt will approve their demand without even taking a second thought to discern the segregation, divisive policies.
Speaking as the resource person, Dr Thokchom Chandramani, a linguistic scholar said that there are certain set criteria to enlist a community in the ST category.
The criteria is that the community should be indigenous and live in geographical isolation; backwardness, indications of primitive traits; distinctive culture; shyness of contact with others.
Dr Chandramani further cited examples of different smaller tribes who could not progress despite their enlistment as ST.
He said that no ST community has so far taken the lead in the path of progress and development.
Dr MC Arun of Anthropology Dept, MU said that the ST status demand for Meiteis came in the second decade of the 21st century.
Prior to 1991, the Govt had made concerted attempt to convert the country into a welfare State.
But after 1991, the focus was shifted to neo-liberal economy, he said.
Then came the PPP model and reservation was made exclusively in the public sector.
As such, the people can decide whether the demand for enlistment of Meitei in the ST category should be carried forward or not, Dr Arun added.
The definition of ST is clearly mentioned in the Constitution.
Meitei is a community which had crossed the 'ST' stage.
All STs are tribals, but all tribals can be non-ST, he said.
Associate Professor of Modern College, Haobam Indrakumar also spoke as a resource person.
PPCM convener Dr Y Mani Khuman said that the demand for ST status for Meiteis, recognised globally as people who had lived in an independent kingdom, is not far sighted.
The PPCM does not believe that equality of all communities can be achieved by enlistment of Meiteis in the ST category.
The backbones of the Manipuri community are the Meiteis, Meitei-Pangals and the tribals.
As such, all concerned should broaden their mindsets, he said.
Comment
