Another MLA endorses ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 03 2022: The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) received a shot in the arm today as MLA Dr Yumnam Radheshyam en-dorsed its demand to include Meitei/Meetei community in the ST list of the Indian Constitution.

The demand for Constitutional protection under 5th Schedule and inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list is a reasonable demand and is achievable, said MLA Radheshyam today.

Significantly, MLA Dr Yumnam Radheshyam is the latest to join a club of other legislators who have openly endorsed the ST demand for Meitei/Meetei.

Notably, STDCM members visited Dr Radheshyam at his official residence at Babupara at around 1 pm today and submitted a representation asking for his support.

As STDCM members took the case to him, the MLA assured that he would do his best as a legislator to move the demand forward.

Another MLA endorses ST demand

Speaking to reporters about the STDCM's demand for ST status, MLA Radheshyam said it is the duty of individuals and the community as a whole to protect and preserve their culture and identity.

"It is the duty of a community to protect and preserve their culture and identity.

If the Meiteis in the valley don't protect and ensure their future, no one else will" .

Radheshyam said he is apprehensive of the Meetei/Meitei indigenous people becoming a minority and losing their culture, identity and values in future due to illegal influx of migrants.

"The demand for Constitutional protection under 5th Schedule and inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list is a reasonable demand and is achievable," he said.

He expressed happiness that the STDCM is being supported by more than 30 civil society organisations on the issue.

STDCM members submitting memoranda and holding talks with legislators regarding the ST demand is a good initiative, he said assuring that he would be doing his best on the issue as a representative of the people.

Meanwhile, the STDCM's representation submitted to MLA Radhe-shyam emphasised that the indigenous Meitei/Meetei community of Manipur is presently without any Constitutional safeguard to protect their distinctive indigenous identity and preserve their ancestral land.

It said, the Meitei/Meetei are being gradually margi-nalized in their own ancestral land.

If the current trend where there is no Constitutional safeguard conti- nues, they will be reduced to minority ultimately and the community would become refugees in their own ancestral land of Manipur.

In order to save the community from such catastrophic and tragic situation, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM), on behalf of the Meitei/Meetei community has been urging the Government of Manipur to take up the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei/Meetei community with the Government of India .

Notably, in response to a representation STDCM submitted, the Government of India on May 29, 2013 had asked the Government of Manipur to furnish specific recommendations along with required ethnography and latest socio-economic survey reports of the Meitei/Meetei for further consideration of the demand for ST status.

However, the Government of Manipur is yet to send the reports and the required recommendations.

In the representation submitted today, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) also reiterated its demand and urged MLA Dr Yumnam Radheshyam to impress upon the State Government to send the reports and recommendations sought by the Centre.