ATSUM takes argument against ST demand to Kiren Rijiju
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 20 2022:
After meeting and submitting a memorandum to Aijun Munda, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs on Saturday in New Delhi, the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) met Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju today in New Delhi on the issue of the Meitei/Meetei community's demand for inclusion of the community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of India and submitted a similar memorandum.
The apex tribal student body of Manipur has been camping in New Delhi since the past two days opposing the Meitei/Meetei community's demand for ST status.
In its memorandum submitted to Kiren Rijiju, the ATSUM said that there is a sense of insecurity among the tribal people of Manipur State due to the alleged illogical and illegitimate demand of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei community in the ST category.
In this regard, ATSUM also submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister pointing out the reasons why the Meitei community should not be given ST status, the ATSUM said.
"After hearing the woes of the Manipur tribal students' leaders, the Union Minister appealed to the ATSUM team to remain calm, saying that as the matter being Constitutional it will be examined minutely before any decision is made," the ATSUM said.
The ATSUM said that they were compelled to submit a representation as the demand for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei community in the ST category has been gaining momentum with most of the legislators from the valley including the MP (Rajya Sabha) openly declaring support without taking into account the alleged irrationality of the demand and sentiments of the tribal community of the State.
Time and again, the ATSUM said, it "unequivocally expresses" its stated position on this contested demand of the majority community as it poses a serious threat to the land and existence of tribal people.
The ATSUM memorandum then said, "The fact that the Meetei/Meitei community has done exceedingly well in the fields of technology, medical, engineering, sports and civil services under UPSC is indicative of their advancement".
For instances, according to the ATSUM memorandum, 15 students from the community cracked the NDA examination last year, two civil service this year and the bulk of MBBS successful students in the whole North-Eastern States came from the Meetei/Meitei community.
"It may be noted that all the State and Central higher educational institutes in Manipur are concentrated in the Meitei dominated valley districts, particularly Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
Recruitments conducted in all these institutions under the Unreserved (UR) category are being filled up by the members of the Meitei community.
This is just one of the pieces of evidence to show that the Meiteis are an advanced community rather than backward", it stated.
Presently, the ST of Manipur have 31% reservation in all State Government services, the ATSUM memorandum mentioned.
"If the advanced Meitei community is recognised as ST by the Government, all the seats reserved for ST in the present will be occupied by the Meiteis.
Despite already availing the reservations from SC and OBC categories, the Meiteis are insisting for inclusion in ST category with a sole objective of grasping the benefits presently reserved for the hill tribes," it added.
"It is well known fact that the Meitei/Meetei community, a majority in the state of Manipur, categorised as General, Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes is excelling and commanding in all aspects of life," the memorandum also stated.
The memorandum then said, "Therefore, in the light of the above facts and circumstances, the tribal people of the state called upon your honourable self to help prevent the inclusion of Meitei/ Meetei as Scheduled Tribe in the Constitutions of India" .
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