Meetei's demand for ST is for Constitutional safeguard of Meetei and fertile Imphal valley
- Part 2 -

Dr Thangjam Ranjit *

Mera Chaorel Houba at Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, Haying Khongbal temple in October 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

Again, Meetei fulfills to be included in the ST list in totality. The criteria laid down by Ministry of Tribal affairs, Govt. of India are :
a) Indication of primitive traits
b) Distinctive culture
c) Shyness of contact with the community at large.
d) Geographical isolation.
e) Backwardness.

By Indication of Primitive Traits in Meetei may be traced to its age-old practice of worshipping natural objects like, the sun, the moon, forest/trees, hills and mountains; offering of animals, birds, fishes, etc. to propitiate the ruling deities; celebration of Lai Haraoba, Lai Ikouba, Saroikhangba, Chaban Thaba, Yeningthaba, etc. may be considered primitive traits in Meetei Community.

By Distinctive Culture of Meetei, mention may be made of many rituals of birth, marriage and death ceremonies. The age-old practice of burial of placenta of male and female child on the southern side and northern sides of house respectively where water drops from the eaves; the practice of not declaring a dead person as death until and unless a local priest (maiba) declares it even when medical doctor certifies or declares it, death; covering of head with cloth by married woman in presence of her father in-law and elder brother in-law, receiving a member of family with fire after his/her return from a journey outside the state: offering of 7 pairs of banana of good look in ritual ceremonies, etc.

Shyness of Contact with the Community at Large is inherent among the Meetei. It is the sense of seclusion, reservation, or outreach arising from the lack of communication, geographical isolation, aloofness, remoteness, lack of contact with different communities, people or strangers for a long time. In other words, it is the attitude of inability to adjust, mix, mingle or associate freely and harmoniously with the people living outside his society or community in harmonious, cordial, compatible way but in doubtful uneasy, irritating and uncomfortable manner.

By Geographical isolation, it is meant to indicate a place located separately due to natural barriers like water bodies hills and mountains. Imphal valley is a land locked area isolated and surrounded by rows of hill ranges, and thus separating it from the rest of the world. Further, it also means a land area located inaccessible due to rugged hilly terrain, far away from cities or towns, where people live in backwardness or below some perceived cultural norms of development. In the context of the country, Imphal valley is located in geographically isolated place, and hence, is one of the important factors for backwardness.

Indigenous Meetei community living in the land locked or geographically isolated Imphal valley/Manipur valley is one of the backward communities in the country. The backwardness of the Meetei community can be judged from few major constraints, which are common yardsticks adopted by many. The important parameters are :

(a) Low per capita income
(b)Lack of infrastructure
(c) High unemployment problem
(d)Low literacy rate
(e) Low level of financial inclusion
(f)Lack of skilled labour
(g) Lack of well organized transport and communication
(h)Slow rate of urbanization
(i) Lack of health care facilities

Among the various constraints, per capita income is the most effective indicator for ascertaining the economic condition or backwardness of a State. The indigenous Meetei community living in the state is one of the most backward states in the country as the state's annual per capita income is at the lowest in the country for the last two years, 2016-17 & 2017-18. Likewise, the other parameters also indicate the backwardness of the state, for that matter Meetei community which forms the major community in the State is backward.

In fine, all concerned should note the gravity of situation that may follow after the arrival of trains upto Imphal and Trans-Asia High way will pass through Imphal-Moreh in the next few years, possible pressure on land in the Imphal valley in the name of urbanization and consequent shrinkage of arable land, possible scarcity of food grain production, non availability of jobs in the fields and cultivable lands by our farmers and indigenous people, among others.

The fertile Imphal valley districts of the state should also be protected to save the Meetei Community in particular and people of the state in general, under Article 342(1) of the Indian constitution by enlisting the Meetei community in the ST list of the country, which is genuine and constitutional, and not directed against any people or community in the country.

Concluded .....