Discuss ST demand in House : WMC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 27 2024: The World Meetei Council (WMC), Manipur Unit has appealed to the Government to discuss the demand of the Meetei/Meitei community for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list in the Assembly session which will begin tomorrow.

At Manipur Press Club, Imphal, WMC Manipur Unit president Urikhinbam Kunjo said ST status will give Constitutional protection.

Urging all legislators to support the Meeteis/Meiteis' demand, he said the State Government should send the ethnographic and socio-economic survey reports of the community to the Centre's Ministry of Tribal Affairs to consider its inclusion in the ST list.

Further, the State Government should take up steps to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC), strengthen the Inner Line Permit System, and fence the porous border with Myanmar, he added.

Kunjo asserted, "The illegal immigrants from Myanmar have not only settled in Manipur, but also got citizenship and benefits of Scheduled Tribe.

Further, they have entered the Manipur administrative services" .

Identifying illegal influx of immigrants as one of the causes of the current conflict, he said time has come for the people to support the demands being raised by STDCM, WMC, Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union, Kangleipak Kanba Lup and other like-minded groups.

Kunjo emphasised that the Meetei/Meitei community should be given the ST status before the delimitation process begins.

Reiterating that the State Assembly session should discuss the ST demand being raised by the Meetei/Meitei community, Kunjo appealed to all Members of the Assembly to support the cause.

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