No identity crisis for anyone from inclusion of Meeteis in ST list: STDCMV
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 10 2013: The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur Valley (STDCMV) has clarified to all the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Manipur that inclusion of Meeteis in ST category would have no effect or lead to identity crisis to other ST communities in the state.

Meeteis who are included under general and other backward communities are also indigenous group of people and as per the provision of Indian constitution, the Meeteis have every right to identify themselves as one of the ST communities in the country, Convenor of STDCMV N Ishorchandra contended in a statement.

He pointed out that inclusion of a community in the list of ST is made under India government's policy and programmes.

In the policy-programmes of India government, it is clearly mentioned which communities are to be included or excluded in the list of ST and Meetei community fulfills all the criteria of claiming themselves the status of ST, Ishorchandra argued.

Citing the criterions of claiming a community as ST, Ishworchandra said that Meeteis in Manipur follow animism and also some of the main beliefs of Hinduism.

Moreover, being the indigenous group of people, Meetei community also fulfills the Supreme Court's order of native or origin factor to include in ST list.

However, the community was wrongly included in general category due lacking of research from Indian government's side and delayed approach from the side of Meeteis.

Meeteis have no intention to snatch the constitutional rights and opportunities of any ST group in Manipur.

However, inclusion of Meetei community in the list of ST would be a benefit for the state and people of Manipur and the decision is in the hands of India government, Ishorchandra said.

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