Why can't we have a referendum on ST status

Free Thinker *

Once you come out from this country only your citizenship matters. Nobody bothers whether you are a ST or SC or OBC. So, it is unnecessary to be fussy about caste or class or ethnicity. What matters most is whether you are in the reckoning or not, whether you are lagging behind or not, whether you are at par with other citizens of the world.

If we are lagging behind in terms of economic power, material progress, employment, and also lagging behind intellectually and technologically, then you need to find out all possible means to bridge the gaps. Listing ourselves as STs may not be the panacea for all our problems, malaise and backwardness. However many of our problems may be lightened by doing so.

Originally the Meiteis are a proud people; they are very proud of their independence, courage, culture, dance, sports , heritage, refinement etc. But the problem today is, the people are struggling for a square meal a day particularly in remote areas, our children are not getting jobs (forget about IAS or IPS) anywhere, our skills and know-how are not up-to-date and educationally, scientifically and technologically we are far behind from the rest of the world. It is not at all a bad idea to get all the possible amenities, facilities and advantages in the name of ST.

Please don't think I am against meritocracy. In an ideal situation meritocracy must be the rule. But when you are not getting an equal footing or a level playing field it is nonsense to talk about meritocracy and fair competition.

A student from a hill/remote area can't compete with a student from a cosmopolitan city; because the level and quality of exposure is extremely uneven and different. Equality and equal opportunities are mere provisions in the Constitution, rather utopian. So finding all means for our younger generation to be at par with the rest of the world through quota or through patronage or otherwise must be encouraged.

Let us stop behaving like frogs in a well. Let us come out and compete, yes of course with some support and backing in the beginning. For this, ST route is an option. Indian quota system is not permanent; let us take the advantage as long as it is in vogue.

According to Art 342(1) of the Constitution, the President of India in consultation with the Governor of the State, by public notification specify tribes or communities or groups for the purpose of the Constitution be deemed to be Schedule Tribes in relation to that State.

Again Art 342 (2) maintains that Parliament may by law include or exclude from the list of Schedule Tribes, any tribe or community or group. The definition of Schedule Tribe is given in Art 366 (25) saying that STs means such tribes or communities or groups as are deemed under Art 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for the purpose of this Constitution.

No criterion is prescribed in the Constitution for recognizing a community or ethnic group or tribe as Scheduled Tribe. However there is a broad guideline approved by the Registrar General Census for declaring a community or an ethnic group as Schedule Tribe. This guide-line is based on five parameters namely, (1) primitive traits, (2) distinctive culture,(3) geographical isolation, (4) shyness of contact with the other communities at large and (5) backwardness.

There is a procedure to be followed. The State government must recommend the name of the community to the Central government (Home Ministry) for their inclusion in the ST list. The Centre sends the same recommendation to the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India.

A team of the Census Registrar General will look into the recommendation of the State government. If they find the recommendation bona fide they send their report to the ST Commission. Then the ST Commission shall take a view. Once it is cleared by the ST commission it will come back to the Union government (Home Ministry).

The Union Cabinet will take a decision and finally bring it to Parliament for its approval. In the eyes of other Indians you are a tribal; prove me if I am wrong; the rest of India thinks NE people are tribal, prove me if I am wrong. The mainstream sociologists maintain that the Meiteis are tribal Hindus (after sanskritization).

You have to give several explanations to prove your forwardness and convince them that you belong to the general category. Those who have crossed the chicken neck (West Bengal) they can tell you a similar tale. When you are already a tribal in their eyes then what is wrong to be listed as ST. Believe me educational, employment, financial, legal and constitutional advantages of being a ST are manifold.

If Rajkumars, Maharajkumars and Bamons are not happy to be STs they may be exempted. For that matter any clan or family may exclude themselves from being ST. But it would be wrong to impose their ideas and ethics on the down trodden hapless people like me, who desperately need protection, promotion, patronage etc., in this era of cut-throat competition.

Do you think that the Patels and Jats are fools as they demand OBC status and reservation? Will you say that Tai Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis and Morans are retrogressive for asking ST status? Those who have seen Meiteis from close quarters may not be willing to put them in the ST list. But it is more about relevance, politics and opportunism.

Whether people take the issue seriously or not, we can fathom from their reactions or responses. Why can't we have public debates? We had extensive debates and discussions on the issue of OBC. This time can we have a referendum or an opinion poll on the issue of ST? I believe, we all would like to kowtow to the will & mandate of the people.