STDCM urges all to withdraw objections
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 30 2022: Noting that some organisations including ATSUM have been opposing the demand for enlistment of Meetei/Meitei in the Scheduled Tribe category under the Constitution of India, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has appealed to all concerned to withdraw their objections.

Members of STDCM Coordinating Committee submitted a memorandum to Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan at his Konthoujam residence today urging the State Government to send the requisite recommendation to the Central Government for enlistment of Meitei/Meetei in the ST category.

Speaking to media persons after submitting the memorandum, STDCM convenor Laishram Romesh said that ATSUM not only came out openly in media a few days back against the demand to enlist the Meitei community in the ST list but also submitted a memorandum to the State Government.

He said that the ATSUM and the STDCM had already talked on the demand and the apprehensions it generated in the minds of ATSUM leaders.

If the ATSUM thinks Meetei/Meitei as their brothers and members of the same family who have been living together, they ought to support the demand for enlistment of the particular community in the ST category in view of the fact that the Meeteis/Meiteis are not given any Constitutional protection and imminent influx of non-local people to the tiny Manipur Valley once Trans-Asian Highway and Railway connectivity becomes a reality, Romesh said.

It is rather unfortunate that the ATSUM has been opposing tooth and nail against the demand as if they are determined to see complete annihilation of Meitei/Meetei community, he decried.

By clamouring for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in ST category, the STDCM does not demand any piece of property that belongs to the ATSUM, he asserted.

Whether the Meitei/Meetei community is eligible for categorisation as ST or not should be determined by the authorities concerned based on documents submitted to the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, he said.

Saying that a few Meitei CSOs like UCM, AMUCO and PPCM too submitted representations to the State Government highlighting their disagreement with the demand, the STDCM convenor appealed to all the organisations to think over and withdraw their objections.

The Health Minister gave assurance that he would shoulder whatever responsibility he can in the efforts to get ST tag for Meitei/Meetei community, Romesh conveyed.

Comment