Delhi convention lists ST for Meiteis demand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 16 2025:
The Meetei People Convention, Delhi 2025, organised by the Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee on its second raising day yesterday took several resolutions for protection and promotion of Meetei culture and their rights by including the Meetei tribe in the scheduled list of the tribals as ST.
The convention took a total of 10 resolutions--
Resolution 1) It is resolved that Meeteis living in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Bangladesh, and Myanmar will collectively work together and support each other for the protection and development of the social, cultural, polity, economy, and land rights of the Meeteis.
Resolution 2) Cultural Protection: Protection of the Meetei culture of maintaining "Thakshi-Khashi" is the essence of the community.
It must be protected and promoted.
Resolution 3) The traditional Laiharaoba: Its philosophy and cultural practices - must be protected and preserved.
Resolution 4) Legal protection of the Meeteis within India: There must be legal protections for Meetei people living in Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur concerning their culture, economy, political rights, and land rights.
Meeteis in Tripura constitute 0.5% of the total population, 0.4% in Assam, and across India, the Meetei population is approximately 0.6%.It is pertinent to protect the Meeteis under the Scheduled Tribe category of India as a legal mechanism available within the Indian legal system.
The Meetei Scheduled Tribe inclusion movement was initiated by Meeteis in Tripura in 1969, and again revived in the 1980s in Tripura.
The Meeteis in Tripura are a minority within a minority, and their legal and cultural identity must be protected.
Meeteis and other indigenous communities are the original inhabitants of Manipur, and their rightful inclusion under the Scheduled Tribe provisions of India must be ensured.
Resolution 5) Protection of Yumballon (Rule of Family): Traditionally, a Meetei man marrying two women or a Meetei woman marrying two men at the same time is against the practice of Meetei Yumballon.
It must be strongly condemned and must be stopped by concerned elders of the Sagei (clan) and Leikai (local elders).
This kind of cultural deformity sends a negative message to the younger generation of the Meetei community.
Resolution 6) Protection of Meeteis and Manipur: The existence of Meeteis and Manipur has been under threat since the 3rd May 2023 attack on the Meetei community.
It is resolved that Meeteis living in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and across the world should stand together collectively to protect the Meeteis and Manipur in this critical time.
Resolution 7) For the rationalisation of land and forest protection, the Manipur Hill Areas (Acquisition of Chiefs' Rights) Act, 1967 (Manipur Act No 5 of 1967), which received the assent of the President of India on 14th June 1967 and was published in the Manipur Gazette (Extraordinary) No 61-E-50 dated 20 June 1967, must be fully implemented in Manipur.
Resolution 8) Political representation of Meeteis in Assam: It is a matter of serious concern that no Meetei Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) has been elected from among the Meetei community in Assam in recent decades, despite a population of nearly 3 lakh Meeteis residing in the State.
Historical records indicate that around 50 years ago, three Meeteis were elected as Members of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
All possible measures must be undertaken through collective efforts to ensure the political representation of Meeteis in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
This includes political mobilization, community awareness, leadership development, and coordination with political platforms to safeguard the political rights of Meeteis in Assam.
Resolution 9) Meetei Yumpham in Delhi : A sociocultural and ritual centre for all Meeteis living in Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Bangladesh, and Myanmar�will be established in Delhi under the Meetei Yumpham Charitable Trust (Delhi-India), through public contributions from Meetei communities and well-wishers.
Resolution 10) Paying back to Meetei society: It is resolved that every Meetei will contribute not less than 1% of their monthly income for community defence, development, and service to any community agency of their choice.
This will be a voluntary contribution as a form of giving back to the Meetei society.
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