Ahead of proposed delimitation of 2026...WMC gives more teeth to ST for Meiteis call
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 15 2024: Meiteis/Meeteis must be recognised as a Scheduled Tribe before the 2026 delimitation, and this is "the only way forward" for the community that is being gradually reduced to a minority status in Manipur, said the World Meetei Council (WMC) as it continued to hold ST demand rally in different parts of the State.

From April 2, 2024, WMC has intensified its demand for inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.

Yesterday, it organised a Meira rally at Langmeidong in Kakching district.

People, largely womenfolk, participated in the rally that displayed placards and banners demanding the ST status for Meiteis/Meeteis.

Ahead of proposed delimitation of 2026...WMC gives more teeth to ST for Meiteis call

During the rally, womenfolk raised slogans and urged the Chief Minister to send recommendations along with the latest socio-economic survey and ethnographic report to the Central Ministry of Tribal Affairs for its consideration to include the community in the ST list.

Notably, the Ministry of tribal Affairs had sought the recommendations and the reports from the State Government in 2013 .

The womenfolk at the Langmeidong rally held banners that read "ST status for Meetei: The only way forward" .

They identified 2026 as the "Red Zone"--deadline for recognising Meitei/Meetei as a Scheduled Tribe.

Meiteis/Meeteis must be given the status before delimitation is conducted in 2026, they said, urging the Chief Minister to take up the necessary steps and send the recommendations and the reports required at the earliest.

Only the ST status would give Constitutional protection the community needs, said the women.

While the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) that regulates visitors is good, the ST status would protect and safeguard the community and its interests.

Without the status, Meiteis/Meeteis are vulnerable on all fronts, they said.

Tools like the ILPS and NRC (National Register of Citizens) are important, but only the ST status would protect the identity, integrity, and interests of the Meitei/Meetei community, they said.

The Meitei/Meetei population is dwindling and over time, the community may be reduced to a minority status without much needed protection.

The Meitei/Meetei population has now been reduced to 44 percent of the total population, they added.

It may be noted here that the Meiteis/Meeteis can buy land and live only in the valley area that is merely 10 percent of the total geographical area of Manipur.

On the other hand, members of all the other communities can buy land and live on the 10 percent land.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, the World Meetei Council (WMC) said the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and border fencing are encouraging but these aren't enough to protect and safeguard the people, their identity and interests.

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) has already been implemented in Assam.

Implementing it in Manipur would take time and it may not be effective.

When it may protect the State, it will not protect the Meiteis/Meeteis from going "extinct" .

The ST status, on the other hand, would protect and safeguard the Meiteis/Meeteis Constitutionally.

Giving the status to the Meitei/Meetei community would be a boon to the people and it will truly honour Lamjing Meira Robinhood, said WMC.

Sapam Robinhood popularly called Lamjing Meira Rabinhood was a student who died in police firing during a public demonstration held for demanding Inner Line permit System in Manipur on July 8, 2015 .

The Nagas who have been coexisting with the Meiteis for ages were given the ST status in 1951 .

Furthermore, the Kukis who "shouldn't have got the status" in the first place have also been given the status.

The indigenous Meiteis/Meeteis, on the other hand, have been deprived of this status despite the community meeting all the criteria, it said.

The WMC then quoted former Governor Ved Marwah's statement describing the Meiteis/Meeteis--"The dominant ethnic group in Manipur is Meeteis who constitute two-third of total population.

They come from the same racial stock as the other hill tribes but have not been accorded tribal status.

Meeteis and Nagas belong to the same racial stock and Meeteis are no less tribal in their way of living than the Nagas" .

"Jananeta Hijam Irabot had rightly stated that there would be chaos and turmoil until the people in the hills and the valley coexist and occupy a same status," said WMC, identifying the current issues plaguing Manipur as results of the difference in the status of the communities .

Hinting that giving the ST status to the Meiteis/Meeteis would resolve most of the issues, WMC reiterated that the Meiteis/Meeteis must be given the ST status before the 2026 delimitation.