Public meet backs ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2018: A public meeting held today at Chandapur Leikai, Bishnupur district endorsed the demand for enlistment of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe category being spearheaded by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM).

Speaking at the meeting organised by the Coordinating Body of Schedule Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (CBSTDCM), STDCM executive member S Robindro said that Meiteis/Meeteis would not survive the strong force of globalisation if the community still chooses to live with general category tag.

If the Meeteis/Meiteis should be protected from the devastating current globalisation, all the people need to work together so that Meeteis/Meiteis are enlisted in ST category, Robindro said.

CBSTDCM convenor Mutum Churamani said, "The demand for enlistment of Meeteis/Meiteis in ST category is about knowing our origin, ensuring equal states to all the communities of the land and saving the community from the juggernaut of globalisation" .

He went on to ask what kind of development scheme can save Meiteis when there are no lands/territory for them.

Many experts and scholars have pointed that enlistment of Meeteis/Meiteis in the ST category is crucial for survival of the community and the same demand is supported by a vast majority of the people.

If the State Government still chooses to remain silent, the outcome would not be pleasant, Churamani said.

He then advised the Government to understand the pulse of the masses and act accordingly.

Moirang Khunou Gram Panchayat Pradhan Laishram Dhaneshor remarked that the Meitei community has been regressing rather than progressing.

The demand for ST status is about living at par with other communities.

STDCM president Moirangthem Nongdrenkhomba asserted that even God cannot prevent Meiteis from being enlisted in the ST category.

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