Ignoring sentiment and plight of the Meiteis/Meeteis

SK Singh *

The STDCM in a recent sit-in protest at Porompat asserted that protecting the major community in the state could be fulfilled only by inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei in the scheduled list of STs of the country.

It was asserted that outsiders have already bought and possessed lands in the valley, even acquired authority to contest public elections and have become MLAs. The STDCM Youth Co-convener lamented that despite 10 years-long approach to the government for necessary recommendation of the case to the Centre, the state government has ignored the sentiments and plight of the major community.

While it's a known fact that the state government despite knowing the demands of the STDCM is going slow, rather not moving at all, we need to reassess our own position, vis-à-vis, the state government's. We all know for certain that claims for inclusion of certain community in the list of ST/SCs, specific pre-requisites are to be satisfied.

The GOI Ministry of Tribal Affairs, C @LM-I Division, letters no 12026/03/2014-C @LM-I, dated 2nd and 30th June, 2015 on the subject: streamlining of procedure for scheduling of communities as STs- regarding, have to be followed in letter and spirit.

While the government of Manipur is tasked with these spade works, there is no gainsaying that we merely rest satisfied with staging protests and rallies demanding immediate action by the government. We too need to follow up with some positive steps.

True, the Committee has raised many relevant issues to justify the consideration for inclusion in the ST list of the country. Their talks about recognizing ethnic identity and providing constitutional safeguard to the Meiteis/Meeteis are issues for further deliberation and examination by the appropriate authority of the GOI.

All such claims for recognizing as ST are viewed more closely in terms of specified parameters prescribed by the Centre. Merely raising these issues without support from specific rapport from prescribed documents, specified inputs from authenticated reports, it would be an exercise in vacuum.

To make things in order and uniform nationally, the GOI had prescribed specific criteria from time to time. A cursory examination of some of these makes it appear that the case has prim-a-face, positive components. These need however corroboration from authenticated reports and documents.

The Panda Committee in 2014 prescribed the following criteria for consideration of a community as ST:-
i) Autonomous Religious Practices, although practicing the Hindu way of life would not be a bar;
ii) Marital Relationship with other tribes;
iii) Distinctive Culture;
iv) Historical and geographical Isolation;
v) Socio-economic and Educational backwardness; and,
vi) Distinctive Language.

Very roughly, the major community, the Meiteis almost satisfies criteria i), ii) and iv) though these are to be substantiated by authoritative documents. About iii), v) and vi) too, enough justifications can be generated but again need be corroborated or supported by authorized agencies. Here come the roles of Socio-economic Report of Manipur and also the Ethnographic Report of the state.

In some form of a nonacademic analysis, the criterion i) namely 'Autonomous religious practices', one can appreciate that we the Meiteis fit best at least as I can perceive. We can recall that we worship 'Lainingthou Sanamahi' even now though we practice too, 'Vaishnavism' courtesy the intrusion by Santidas Gosai after burning down our epic 'Puyas'.

Each and every Manipuri family worships both Radha Krishna and Sanamahi. We perform special pujah of evil spirit by way of 'Thou Touba'. We celeberate 'Deitei Puja', the Lai Haraoba and many such purely indigenous religious practices. These are unique by themselves typical of the Meiteis. And these are still in vogue in every Manipuri family.

What is essential is that these observations and views are the absolute preserve of the appropriate authorities. Conjectures and personal views as we project are not counted. Only an Ethnographic report would be the right authority. Similarly in respect of 'distinctive language', again the words of an Ethnographic report prepared by not an Anthologist of repute but by a Recognized Institution of repute would be acceptable to the GOI.

Prim-face, the Meiteis appear to meet most of the criteria prescribed by the Panda committee. The crux however is that the two documents referred to by the GOI, prepared by reputed Institutions would be the answer, nothing less, nothing more.

The ongoing sit-in protests however poorly attended definitely raise the awareness of the masses about the issue in hand. They need to know, however, more about these parameters too. As it stands today few, very few indeed, among us all, appreciate this crux of the entire issue of enlisting the Meiteis in the ST list of the country.

Even the GOM appears not to fully grasp the core issue of the stated 'Panda Criteria'. For if they appreciate, why no initiative to get the two essential documents prepared. Preparation of these documents, tabling these two Reports does not in any way guaranty grant of ST status to the Meiteis.

Its not that since these documents had been prepared by an authorized institution, the Meiteis would automatically get listed as ST. These are only instruments to help in measuring the eligibility for consideration as ST. Further examination, rather probes by various Ministries and academic institutions of the Centre would be steps on the pipeline.

I was wondering, after appreciating these basic steps, both academic and administrative, why the STDCM is shy of pursuing the GOM to cause preparation of these basic documents, first of all. While some sections are tight with organizing conclaves, mass sit-in protests, dharnas, one can mention quite a few nomenclature, some other group with members having some touch of academic-bent-of-mind, can approach the CM for causing preparation of the two documents.

In any case, every single state government needs these documents for their own use in many other sectors. Once these are available, we are nearer to the goal, the ultimate goal, inclusion in the ST list or rejection ab-initio.