Education Minister backs ST demand for Meeteis/Meiteis
STDCM's campaign receives a shot in the arm
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 23 2022: Just a day after All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) expressed its opposition to the movement spearheaded by Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) to recognise Meetei/Meitei as a Scheduled Tribe (ST), Education Minister Thounaojam Basantakumar has extended his support to the movement.

The Minister said that granting ST tag to Meetei/Meitei is indispensable to protect the ethnic group and the demand being raised by STDCM is legitimate.

Today, volunteers of STDCM and several other organisations including DPUVO, WAMA, AMSGO, WASDEV, DESAM, LSTKL, IKAL, KKL etc submitted a memorandum to send the recommendations being sought by the Centre for enlisting Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of the Constitution to Th Basantakumar at the residence of the latter at Utlou.

Education Minister backs ST demand for Meeteis/Meiteis

The movement, however, is being opposed by the apex tribal student organisation of Manipur ATSUM as it claims that the demand of STDCM poses a serious threat to the land and existence of tribal people.

ATSUM, in a statement issued yesterday, had sought intervention of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) over the matter.

After accepting the memorandum brought by STDCM, the Education Minister said that he endorses the movement as it only aims to safeguard the future of Meetei/Meitei.

He further said that the demand being raised by STDCM is very important as it will ensure the progress of the ethnic group.

Saying that the younger generations of Meetei/Meitei and the society at large will be benefited greatly if the ethnic group gets ST status, Basantakumar continued that he will speak in favour of the STDCM while discussing the matter at the Cabinet level.

Convenor of STDCM women wing RK Tharaksana said that the committee has been staging different protests in different parts of the State to make the Government aware of the necessity to protect Meetei/Meitei.

She maintained that STDCM resolved to visit the residences of Ministers and MLAs so as to understand their view on the matter during a public meeting held on September 30 last. Saying that STDCM and other like minded organisations have visited the residences of four Cabinet Ministers so far, she continued that they, however, failed to submit the memorandum to MAHUD Minister Yumnam Khemchand and it was saddening.

"Other than Khemchand, the three Cabinet Ministers viz CAF & PD Minister L Susindro Meitei, Social Welfare Minister H Dingo and Education Minister Th Basantakumar heartily accepted the memorandum," she added.

Further stating that the Centre has granted ST tags to certain communities in other parts of the country recently, Tharaksana asked why the State Government is hesitating to send the ethnographic and socioeconomic reports being sought by the Centre.

She also said that granting ST tag to Meetei/Meitei is necessary to bring a conducive atmosphere for coexistence among the indigenous people.

Appealing to all concerned to not make a fuss about the movement being launched by STDCM as it only wants to secure the future of Meetei/Meitei, she said that they will launch different agitations if the Government fails to send the recommendation at the earliest.

STDCM resumed its movement on August 26 last.