"Only ST status can save Meitei"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09 2025: Prof Yumnam Premananda, Head, Department of Law, Manipur University has asserted that there is no practical way for Meiteis to save themselves other than enlisting the community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

Prof Premananda was speaking at an International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples observation held today at Manipur Press Club here under the aegis of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM).

He said that the present crisis would not have occurred had Meitei/Meetei been listed in the ST category.

The only way to survival for the Meiteis who are being wiped out steadily is getting themselves listed in the ST category, he asserted.

The sorry state of affairs seen today in Manipur is an outcome of the failure of political leaders to work with a vision for the future, Prof Premananda said.

Deprived of any kind of constitutional safeguards for decades, the Meiteis are now staring at a very bleak future and the community is facing extinction, he said.

He said that there are very few or no politicians who would speak for the cause of Meitei community in the parliament.

The Meitei community needs to study the population ratio of the community to the total population of India and it is imperative for the community to work collectively in order to obtain the ST status.

The total population of the Meitei community is comparable to the population of a district of Bihar.

It is imperative to launch and sustain a strong political movement in order to secure constitutional safeguards through enlistment of the community in ST category, he said.

"The long-standing demand will not be granted easily but we must work consistently and tirelessly until we are given the ST status and constitutional safeguards", he said.

He then called upon the entire Meitei community to work collectively and unitedly on how to achieve the ST status.

STDCM general secretary K Bhogendrajit said that the movement for ST status was slowed down on account of the violent crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023 but the movement was never halted and memorandums were submitted to Government authorities including the Governor in the meantime.

The Meitei community is facing slow but certain death on account of depriving the community of any constitutional safeguard for decades, Bhogendrajit said.

Former MHRC acting Chairman Khaidem Mani, Leihaothabam Saratchandra, STDCM chief patron Moirangthem Naodalenkhomba, STDCM working president retired Lt Col L Lokendra and STDCM advisor Prof H Jayantakumar were also present at the event.

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