The Meeteis are tribe: STDCM
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 23 2015 :
Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) urged the government of Manipur to concede to their demands on inclusion of the Meiteis in the list of scheduled tribes of India.
Speaking to the media persons at Manipur Press Club STDCM President Dr Y Mohendro said the demand is in the context of Indian constitution.
He urged the government of Manipur and elected 60 MLAs to recommend the demands in the coming Assembly session or take an immediate cabinet decision which can put up to the Parliament as is done in case of Assam.
Mohendro further said that the government of India has already started process for inclusion of six communities of Assam like Tai Ahoms, Koch-Rajbongshis, Morans, Muttoks, Tea tribes and Chutiys in the ST list.
Mohendro disclosed that once the six communities of Assam are accorded ST status, the Meeteis will be left out of tribal fold in the indigenous community of North eastern states.
He said that according to India census in 1931 the Meiteis were recorded as tribe.
Mohendro said the committee will organise sit in protest at Keishampat Junction on June 25 demanding on inclusion of Meitei in the scheduled tribe of India.
Meanwhile STDM General Secretary L Lokendra said the Meeteis fulfill all the criteria for consideration of a community as scheduled tribe under Indian constitution.
He said the vision for demanding scheduled tribe is to safeguard the Meiteis' ethnic identity as indigenous people of Manipur to prevent it from becoming extinct or minority on their homeland.
Removing the constitutional divide creating social division as tribal hill people and non-tribal plains people amongst indigenous communities of Manipur is needed, Lokendra said.
He said "it will provide constitutional safeguard to valley districts of Manipur as scheduled area under the fifth schedule of the constitution in the same manner as that of other hill districts of the state" .
Lokendra further told that it will also solved creating a composite tribe state of Manipur with equal respect for all indigenous communities so as to bring about a cohesive and harmonious society based on ethnic social society.