MTPRM objects to STDCMV's demand
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, January 06 2013 :
The Movement for Tribal People's Rights, Manipur (MTPRM) expressed strong objection to the demand raised by the so called Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur Valley (STDCMV).
The MTPRM terms the STDCMV as a committee constituted by few individuals of vested interest who hail from the Meitei community.
The STDCMV has claimed that the Governor of Manipur assured to lend assistance towards the realization of the demand when they met him, the tribal rights body said.
The STDCMV's demand for inclusion of the Meiteis in the tribal category indicates that the Meiteis are like 'a catalyst' which has no identity of its own, the MTPRM added.
"It is an undeniable fact that the Meitei community who are enjoying maximum benefits on different categories in employment avenues at the time of recruitment of any post claiming as Other Backward Class (OBC), Schedule Caste (SC) and considering themselves as the general category as their exclusive category now raised demand for inclusion of Meitei community in the tribal category in addition to these categories is a serious issue.
The STDCMV's demand has now come out in the fore which is the long plan of the Meitei community eying to grab the benefits meant for the tribal community which is only 31 percent out of 100 percent i.e.31 posts for the tribals out of 100 posts created under the government of Manipur at the time of recruitment in government or public services.
There are more than 30 tribal communities in Manipur thereby the number of tribal communities outnumbered the total number of posts allocated for tribal communities under the Scheduled Tribes category even if distribution of one post to each tribal community," the MTPRM pointed out.
The claim of the STDCMV that there are huge tribal population in Manipur valley districts scattering in most of the forty assembly constituencies and settling together in valley areas is not a valid reason for them to converting the Meitei community into the tribal category, the MTPRM said.
"Neither the claim that the Meiteis have mongoloid physical features cannot be the basis for recognizing them in Scheduled Tribe category.
Similar physical structures and features will be found in different places in different communities or in different countries but recognizing all the resemblance physical features as Scheduled Tribes irrespective of different community backgrounds, traditions and practices will be absurd.
Not only the tribals and the Meiteis live together in the valley districts but various communities live together purely because the state capital is situated in the valley," the tribal group reasons.
The STDCMV's demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category is a serious threat to the aged old relationships between the hills and valley people, the MTPRM said.
"There are completely separate laws and rules administered because of different cultures, tradition, customs, faith, religion, etc.
between the tribals and the Meiteis who are in the general category therefore, the respective community's sanctity be maintained with respect and honour.
The STDCMV's willingness to join ST category has atleast some immediate agendas such as to grab tribal people's lands for one reason.
To get all the ST quota reserves in job avenues and to get benefits under relevant provisions given for ST community are some other agenda of the STDCMV", the tribal rights group stated.
"It is a fact that the Meitei community has been enjoying all the above mentioned categories such General, Other Backward Class (OBC), Sheduled Caste (SC) and other categories and despite these facts demanding for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category exposed unlimited desires and wants which consequences will not be that appealing," the MTPRM said.
The MTPRM then advises the STDCMV to maintain justifiable reason and stop their demand forthwith so that no other community's sentiment is hurt.
Comment
