STDCM reiterates demand to send recommendation
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 16 2024:
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) has reiterated its demand to the state government to send its recommendation over the demand of ST status for Meetei/Meitei.
Recalling the support pledged by Meetei MLAs, ministers and MPs, the committee also asked all the MPs, MLAs and ministers to submit written proposal to the chief minister in this regard by the end of the current month.
Addressing a press meet at Ima Khunthokhanbi Shan-glen, DM University Campus on Tuesday, STDCM general secretary K Bhogendrajit recalled its earlier campaign from October 16, 2022 to January 21, 2023, during which MPs, MLAs and ministers pledged their support to the cause while calling the demand as a legitimate demand.
The movement slowed down after the ethnic clash erupted on May 3 last year.
However, after witnessing a respite in violent clash, the committee will revive its movement, he said.
He demanded the MLAs, ministers and MPs, who pledged their support to the cause, to write proposal to the chief minister by January 31.The committee will launch a campaign to visit their residence to press them in this regard, he said and recalled the missed call campaign initiated by some fellow organisations last year, which received around 9 lakh missed calls to show solidarity to the ST demand.
Considering the public support and the fate of the community, the chief minister should take up necessary measures to send the required recommendation to the ministry, he demanded.
World Meetei Council chairman H Nabashyam, who also attended the press meet, said that the 2026 delimitation exercise will bring some changes in the seat sharing ratio in the state.
Delimitation is conducted based on population and the present seat sharing ratio of 40:20 for unreserved and ST reserved is based on the 1971 Census data.
The 2011 Census report showed an unnatural demographic shift, which will likely reduce the unreserved seat to 30, he said, adding that the ST demand is for constitutional protection for the survival of the indigenous community in its own land.
Members of Salai Kanba Lup also attended the press meet.