MMTU to hold public convention on indigenes
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 28 2024: The Meetei/Meitei Tribe Union (MMTU), in collaboration with the Platform for Protection of Indigenous People (PPIP), will organise a one-day public convention on "Protection of Indigenous People of Manipur" on November 30, 11 am at Hotel Imphal.

The convention will be held under the aegis of Adivasi Samanvay Manch of India, an apex body representing indigenous tribes across the country.

A statement of MMTU informed that Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker Th Satyabrata would inaugurate the convention which will bring together tribal leaders from various parts of India, along with representatives of different indigenous communities in Manipur, to discuss pressing issues concerning protection of tribal rights, language, culture, tradition, history, political status, and economic interests.

Since the merger of Manipur with the Union of India in 1949, the Meetei people, along with other indigenous communities, have lived without adequate constitutional safeguards, which MMTU deems as a form of colonial rule, asserted the organisation and called for greater solidarity among indigenous groups, urging them to come together and demand constitutional recognition and protection from gradual cultural assimilation.

MMTU then appealed to the public to actively participate in the convention, emphasising the urgent need for a collective stand to safeguard the rights and heritage of the indigenous people of Manipur.

It added: "One of the key focuses of the convention will be the constitutional safeguards for the Meetei community and other smaller indigenous groups in the state.

A resolution on this matter will be passed during the event, emphasising the need for legal protection to preserve the indigenous identity of these communities" .

The statement informed that the convention is a follow-up on discussions raised during the national meet of Adivasi Samanvay Manch of India, held in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, in September.

"At that meeting, MMTU and PPIP highlighted con cerns regarding the political, socio-economic, cultural, and traditional challenges faced by the Meetei community, particularly in light of the shifting demographics due to the influx of illegal immigrants into the region," the statement said.

The Union stressed the importance of a united stand among indigenous communities of the Northeast, stating that despite 77 years of independence, these communities remain deprived of their constitutional rights.

According to MMTU, democracy in India has become increasingly dominated by capitalism, dynastic politics, and the affluent, leaving indigenous communities marginalized.

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