IT News
Imphal, June 29:
Maheshwar Thounaojam has intensified his efforts to include the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list while calling for the exclusion of Chin-Kuki groups. In a recent meeting with Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, Thounaojam expressed his concerns and submitted a detailed memorandum.
The meeting, held at Union Minister Jual Oram’s residence on 8 Talkoda Road, Delhi, also saw the presence of Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas B Athawale.
His memorandum highlights the historical context, noting that the British had pushed the Chin-Kuki groups into Manipur. He argued that the present recognition of these groups as STs is based on this colonial-era migration. The memorandum called for a thorough re-evaluation of this status, suggesting that these groups should not be included in the ST list while advocating for the inclusion of the Meitei community.
During the discussion, he stressed the need for an immediate review of the situation. He urged the Tribal Affairs Ministry to recommend the removal of Chin-Kuki groups from the ST list and to consider the Meitei community’s longstanding demand for inclusion. The memorandum presented included extensive historical documentation and highlighted the socio-political implications of the current ST status.
