Torch rally continues demanding ST status
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 20 2024: Continuing to mount pressure on the state govern ment for sending recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list of Indian Constitution, large numbers of Meira Paibis, youth and volunteers of local clubs took out a torch rally at Sekmaijin Khunou in Kakching district on Friday evening.

During the rally, Meira Paibis and youth raised several slogans demanding inclusion of Meetei/ Meitei in the ST list before delimitation commission of 2026, saving Meetei/Meitei with the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list and urging CM Biren to send the requisite reports to the Centre for the ST inclusion.

On the other hand, World Meetei Council (WMC) has appealed to the state government to discuss the inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list in the forthcoming state assembly session and reminded chief minister N Biren Singh not to take the issue lightly as it a matter of life and death for the Meetei/Meitei today.

According to a statement of WMC, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of the Meetei/Meitei has fallen to 1.77 percent and demographic experts pointed out that the communities with TFR below 2.22 percent are likely to extinct within 25 years if not taken extraordinary precautions.

Due to non-inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list, the Meeteis settling in Assam are unable to figure among list of communities under process for granting ST status initiated by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Even though many prominent people have worked for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in the ST list at different points of time, some sections of people in Manipur particularly socio-religious and political leaders neglected the demand and remain adamant till date, he said.

Comment