Indigenous Peoples' Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2025: As in the previous years, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) will observe the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2025 at 2 pm at Manipur Press Club.

Since the indigenous Meitei/Meetei people of Manipur have not been recognized as ST under the Constitution of India till today, thereby depriving the community of formal recognition as indigenous people under international norms, forfeiting Constitutional safeguards provided to other fellow indigenous peoples of India, Meitei/Meetei have nothing much to celebrate about on this occasion, according to a press release issued by the STDCM.

"Nevertheless we must continue with this observance so as to let the world know that Meitei/Meetei are also one of the indigenous people of Manipur.

STDCM's movement will continue till the constitutional recognition of ST is given and Meitei/Meetei are formally recognised as indigenous people of Manipur", it said.

While the year's team for the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is "Indigenous People and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures", STDCM would observe the day under the local theme, "The Future of Indigenous Meitei/Meetei Tribe of Manipur", it said.

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