MTU hopes Govt honour rights of citizens
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 06 2024:
Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union Women Wing convenor Thokchom Rupanjali expressed belief that the state government would honour the wishes of the nine lakh citizens who participated in the 'missed call' campaign for inclusion of Meetei/ Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) List.
In a press meet held at MTU office at Soibam Leikai Wangkhei Khunou on Wednesday, Rupanjali said that many have been demanding for inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the ST List for a long time.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs also had notified the Manipur government multiple times in 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2022 to forward the recommendation containing an ethnographic and socio-economic report which the state government is yet to comply with.
Subsequently, a writ petition was filed at the Manipur High Court, which directed the state government to send the recommendation.
Rupanjali continued that as per the High Court's order, the state government sought a time period of one year, which the former accepted.
As the one-year timeline will end on March 26, MTU believes that the government will forward the recommendation and honour the wishes of the nine lakh people, she said, adding that in case the government does anything otherwise, the consequences could cast a shadow over the upcoming polls.
She then appreciated Khundrakpam MLA Th Lokeshwar for bringing up the matter of inclusion of Meetei/Meitei community in the ST List on the floor of the House in the recent Assembly session.