ANSAM details opposition to ST demand for Meiteis
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, December 01 2022: The All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), has stated that the demand of the dominant Meitei/Meetei community to enlist them in the Scheduled Tribe category imperils the aim of the Constitution.

The ANSAM had articulated myriad reasons for standing against the STDCM's demand for inclusion of the Meeteis/Meiteis in the ST list of India in its representation submitted to the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

In the backdrop of the STDCM drive gaining momentum in the valley for enlisting the Meeteis/Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list of India, the ANSAM alleged that the same demand imperils the aims of the Constitution to protect and promote weaker sections.

"We steadfastly stand our ground against enlisting the Meeteis/Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list of India," the ANSAM said.

Highlighting that the reversal of social strata is a backward process, it stated that ANSAM does not refute the tribal roots of any community whether big or small due to the fact that even the most civilized community and races of the world today such as Greeks, Romans, Aryans etc had tribal roots and in the case of the Meeteis/Meiteis, they must have all the characteristics of a tribal trait in the process of evolution but having undergone several phases of civilization for over a period of 2000 years dating back from 33 AD, they have surpassed all tribal traits to be categorized in the ST list.

Claiming tribal roots in the twenty-first century is an "ill-conceived" and "ill-timed" demand because it amounts to reversal of social strata, descending from civilized to uncivilized, urban to rural, literate to illiterate, light to darkness, forward to backward with an ulterior motive to further suppress and exploit the regressed tribal society, it stated.

"In the case of the Meetei/Meitei community's demand for inclusion in the ST list, it is crystal clear that the criteria presently laid down for the specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribes do not match in any manner since they have superseded all the characteristics of a tribe despite the valley brethren articulating that any community has the right to demand for inclusion in the ST list as per the provision enshrined in Article 342(1) and 342(2) of the Indian Constitution and no organization has the locus standi to decide one's status provided the criteria laid down for determining ST status is fulfilled", read the ANSAM's representation.

Scheduled Tribes are spread across the country mainly in the forest and hilly regions who are segregated from the rest of the world socially and economically.

In the context of India, Scheduled Tribe means the selected tribes for protective discrimination validated for 10 years only after the promulgation of the Constitution of India but since the scheduled groups could not come up at par with the rest of the advanced society/ community in every sphere of lives, protective discrimination continues even after a lapse of seventy-five years of Independence, it stated.

A case study with special reference to the Meetei/Meitei community of Manipur for inclusion in the ST list is quite debatable on the question of homogeneity of such ethnic group after centuries of ethnic mixing in the course of civilisation with various ethnic groups at different points of time, specially with Burmese and their ethnicities who came in the course of several wars and demographic movement down the line and with a sizeable proportion of people from Bengal, Assam and Bihar who were merged into the mainstream ethnic fabric of Imphal valley by ties of inter-marriage and cultural assimilation after the emergence of Shanti Das Gosai, a Hindu preacher from Sylhet during the reign of Garib Niwas in 1728 AD.

Thus, given to understand the above background, it is quite empirical to wonder or question as to whether the most advanced Meetei/Meitei group as a whole would even qualify to be a homogenous society leaving aside qualifying the definition of a tribe, it farther said.

As per the NER District Development Infrastructure Index 2009, Imphal West ranked number 1 in the NE States, Imphal East ranked no 6, Thoubal - 11, Ukhrul - 68, Tamenglong - 75, Churachandpur - 76 and Chandel - 78 respectively.

As against the characteristics of a tribe/tribal, the Meeteis/Meiteis have all indications of advancement.

Unlike the hill areas of Manipur, the habitation of the valley is well connected by three National Highways, one Asian Highway, one international airport (Tulihal) and railway line.

The Meeteis/Meiteis have a rich cultural heritage and a well-developed sense of hygiene.

They have a well-developed script/Meitei Mayek which is included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

The Meitei classical dances and music are of unparalleled finesse in the classical world.

The Manipuri dance, referred to as the Manipuri Raas Leela is one of the eight major Indian classical dance forms originated and performed only by the Meiteis surpassing many well-placed Indian States.

In terms of shyness of contact with community at large, it is just the reverse with a significant diaspora within and outside the country.

Unlike the tribes whose occupations are mostly hunting animals, trapping birds and stone carving, the Meeteis/Meiteis are well represented in the service sector viz UPSC, MPSC, RBI, SBI, academics and professional sectors like medical, engineering, sports, etc, it said.

In the Legislative Assembly that has 60 seats, they represent 40 seats in an area covering just 10 per cent of the geographical expanse of 22,327 sq km while the hill areas comprising 90 per cent have 19 +1 representatives.

The Meiteis have all the amenities of a civilized world with all the mega projects concentrated in the valley.

To cite a few, Manipur University, DM University, National Sports University, Manipur University of Culture, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), JNIMS, NIT, CAU, NIELIT, Manipur Technical University, JN Manipur Dance, Academy, CIPET, ICAR, SAI, ITP, and B.Ed Centres, etc are all in the valley.

The literacy rate being as high as 76-87 %, they are well represented in Govt/public and private sectors, political institutions from local bodies to Parliament, it continued.

Revered as the powerhouse of sports in India, Manipur is studded with Olympians and star sportspersons shining bright on India's map for being at the forefront of producing world class champions in Boxing, Weightlifting, Judo, Archery, Hockey etc, all belonging to the Meitei community except for MC Mary Kom.

Interestingly, Manipur is the birthplace of Polo, known to Meiteis as Sagol Kangjei, an egalitarian game of the Meitei family owning a pony - a position even well-developed Nations find hard to achieve.

Similar to the Gregorian Calendar, the Meiteis had not only invented the lunar calendar but also claimed that the concept of the had been claimed to be well developed in the kingdom of Kangleipak, the erstwhile name of Meitei kingdom, during the reign of Maliyapham Palcha in 1397 BC, it said.

Unlike other Indian States, the tribals of Manipur are neither safeguarded by the Sixth Schedule nor administered within what the Constitution calls "Tribal Areas" of the Fifth Schedule.

"We are merely governed under Article 371(C) which has become redundant due to the non-implementation of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business", it alleged.

While placing its unequivocal and shared opinion before the HAC Chairman justifying its grounds of opposition against the campaign of the STDCM for inclusion of the advanced community in the ST list of India, ANSAM stated that intimidation in social media will exacerbate the fluid situation beyond repairs and to this end, it is beseeched to initiate prompt action to ensure that "fair play" is executed for the well being of all ethnic communities.

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