ST demand for Meiteis to be studied in-depth: Gaikhangam
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 25 2014 : Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also in-charge of Tribal Affairs & Hills, has said that the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community of the State would be discussed with the Centre after making a thorough study.

He was replying to a calling attention motion raised by MLA Dr I Ibohalbi during the second sitting of 7th Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today. Gaikhangam further said that way back in 1953, the Central Government had sought opinions of the people of the State regarding the Scheduled Tribe status.

However, the tribal people accepted the ST status while the Meiteis came under the general category after they did not respond to the Centre.

Many people belonging to ST now want to quit from the scheduled list after the general people begin to mock at them for joining the Government services under the reservation policy.

In the midst of such embarrassing scenario, the demand for ST status for the Meitei community could be for a new change.

But, they are trying to come down to a lower position from a higher one, Deputy CM said on a lighter note.

He affirmed that the State Government has received a copy of the memorandum of ST Demand Committee which was sent to the Central Government.

However, the State Government cannot grant the ST status and the matter has to be discussed with the Centre after making a thorough study.

In the past, deceased legislator Irengbam Tompok had also raised the issue of ST status for Meiteis in the House.

But, unfortunately other legislators did not support him (Tompok) on the issue, Gaikhangam recalled.

Above all, the demand for ST status for Meiteis is somewhat ambiguous as question arises whether the ST status would be for all people belonging to Meitei community or only for some sections within the community.

Similar controversies had happened in the case of Zeliangrong, which is a composite name for Zeme, Liangmei and Rongmei tribes.

The Centre had rejected the composite name of tribes, Deputy CM noted.

While raising the calling attention motion, MLA Dr Ibohalbi said that the Meiteis were categorized under the Scheduled Tribe right from the census report of 1901.There were 60,644 Meitei STs as per the census report of 1931.However, the category of Meiteis changed to the general in the year 1950 according to an Act of the Indian Government.

The scheduled tribes are the indigenous people.

They can change their religions, but their indigenousness cannot be changed by any law.

The House should discuss on the issue not in the interest of a community, but in the larger interest of the whole State.

There is no harm in categorizing the Meiteis as scheduled tribes, Ibohalbi added.

Comment