WMC for unified recognition of Meetei in 2026 caste census
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, August 17 2025: The World Meetei Council (WMC) has urged the government to recognise Meetei community as a single entity in the upcoming nation-wide caste census scheduled for 2026 .

In a memorandum submitted to the Director of Census Operations, Manipur, and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, the council stressed the need to correct past divisions that fragmented the indigenous community.

It stated that the Meetei, descendants of Ibudhou Pakhangba, were split into different groups under Hindu religious influence, a division that worsened situation of their already small population.

The council noted that under the Indian Constitution, some Meetei are classified as General caste while others are placed under Scheduled Caste, a division it described as "very unfortunate" .

WMC argued that such categorisation had undermined the community's collective identity and weakened their demographic representation.

Calling for rectification in the 2026 census, WMC demanded that the Meetei be recorded as a single caste and identified as "Yelhoumi" or "Indigenous" in English, or "Adivasi" in Sanskrit.

It said that the responsibility lies with both the Manipur Census authorities and the people of the country to acknowledge Meetei as one.

"If our identity is not corrected this time, our efforts to unite as one will be in vain," the statement said.

The council appealed to citizens to use the upcoming caste census as an opportunity to establish Meetei as a unified community.

WMC also pointed out that unlike the Nagas, Mizos, Khongjais, Khasis, Tripuris and Arunachalis, Meeteis do not enjoy equal constitutional protections.

It urged an end to divisions that label some members as "Loi" and others as "Kshetriya", saying the focus must be on building the spirit of being one Meetei.

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