Imphal: The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) met Harsh Chouhan, Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Government of India, today at his office, 6th Floor, B-Wing, Loknayak Bhavan, Khan Market in New Delhi and discussed the “persistent demand” of the Meitei community to be recognised as Scheduled Tribe (ST) “which at the moment is gaining big momentum,” said the apex tribal student body of Manipur.
It can be mentioned here that ATSUM leaders have been camping in New Delhi in the past few days on the matter.
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ATSUM leaders apprised him of the “seriousness” of this demand pointing out that ST status for the Meitei would result in adverse social upheaval not only in the state of Manipur but also in the whole tribal society in the country, once the Meitei community is granted ST status.
According to the ATSUM, the student body explained to Harsh Chouhan that “his demand for ST status is nothing but a policy of the community to circumvent the existing laws in Manipur to enable them to buy and own lands in the hill areas”. The ATSUM added, “The plausibility of the demand to jeopardise the constitutional protection for tribal people of the state was also seriously discussed with the Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
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ATSUM also submitted a memorandum to the Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes requesting him that the the commision should not accord due consideration to the demand of Meitei community for ST status.
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