(1) KaKa Kalelkar Backward Classes Commission report of 1956, also known as the Second Backward Classes Commission report states that the Meiteis, when given an opportunity to be ST, did not include themselves. This is a startling and undeniable fact!
(2) The first Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 were notified Presidential Orders under Article 342(1) of the Constitution. These Orders were based on the list of depressed classes framed by Dr. J.H. Hutton in his Census Report 1931. The list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the State of Manipur was first notified through the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Part C States) Order, 1951. The Meiteis claimed that they were left out in the ST notification under President’s Constitution (STs) Order, 1950. This was found to be not true by the KaKa Kalelkar Commission of 1956.
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(3) A Backward Classes Commission (BCC) was constituted on 29th January 1953 with KaKa Kalelkar as the Chairman. The Commission was directed to determine the criteria to be adopted in considering whether any section of people should be treated as socially and educationally backward. The Commission was also directed to investigate the conditions of all such socially and educationally backward classes and the difficulties which they encountered in carrying out their work and prepare a list of such classes.
It was asked to make recommendations on the following matters:
(a) As to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties or to improve their conditions
(b) As to the grants that should be made available.
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(4) The Commission took two years to complete its work, and prepared a list of 2,399 castes and communities and suggested several measures for their social and economic development. About 70 per cent of India’s population was considered backward.
(5) The following criteria were suggested for determining backwardness:
- Low social position in the caste hierarchy
- Lack of educational progress
- Inadequate representation in government service
- Inadequate representation in the fields of trade, commerce and industry. Caste was taken as the key factor in making a list of backward classes. The Commission thought that the problems of a caste- ridden society could be minimised by promotion of the socially and educationally backward classes.
(6) A questionnaire was sent by the BCC to all the states and union territories and it included questions like: “Do you think that the lists of SCs and STs issued under the President’s s order need any revisions? If so, what castes or communities do you suggest for inclusion or exclusion from the above mentioned two lists (SCs & STs list)? Please state reasons… Have your state government recommended the inclusion in or exclusion from the existing lists of any tribe, caste, or community?” The report of Kalelkar Commission indicates that the Meiteis were not denied or left out from the STs List as they claim in 1950. Rather, it was the Meitei who chose not to be included. When the BCC requested a list of tribes to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (modification) list from each state and union territory including Manipur, the Meiteis did not include themselves. Given these facts, it is indeed sad that the Schedule Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur did not carry out a serious study of available information for their ST tag demand. Had they done so the existence of the Kalelkar Commission report would have made them understand what had transpired in the past and that the Meitei community was not included as no one asked for becoming a ST.
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The news item in the local dailies that Shri KK Sethi IAS(Rtd), a former Chief Secretary of Manipur favours the demand of Meitei community to become ST as they were left out by the KaKa Kalelkar Commission. This is total falsehood as may be seen from the preceding discourse. The Meitei community left themselves out from the 1950 Order. They were afforded an opportunity by the Kalelkar Committee but again they chose to opt out in 1956 from the modification list too. No one is to blame but the Meiteis themselves who may have considered, at that point of time, that it was denigrating for chaste Hindus like the Meiteis to be termed as Scheduled Tribe.
(7) The Kaka Kalelkar report mentioned about advanced communities in each State who it stated do not require any positive discrimination. It stated that along with their educational advancement they have also begun sharing effectively in politics, governmental posts and other spheres of life and do not suffer any more from the inferiority complex common to the Shudras and the Meiteis were designated as an advanced community.
(8) Schedule Tribe implies a nomadic descent, with distinct customary code of conduct, mode of worship and cultural ethos, shaped in accordance with the given traditional moorings and customary beliefs and practices, and generally inhabiting hilly or intractable regions or forests, which results in seclusion from the mainstream of national life leading to severe historical deprivation thereto. In stark contrast, Meiteis constitute more than half of the total population of Manipur and being the dominant majority, there is conscious historical process of marginalization of ethnic minorities in the State. Historically, Meiteis constitute the ruling “caste” and the hill tribals are considered as social and cultural outcastes. Their socio-economic and political dominance within this casteist-conceived hierarchy is prevailing even today. Thus, the claim of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur based on the aspect of socio-educational deprivation has no legs to stand on.
(9) It is also important to understand the extend of OBC coverage as far as Meiteis are concerned. As per the Central List of OBCs for the State of Manipur, 1995, the Meitei Pangals, Meiteis and Meeteis, including Meitei Brahmins, Meitei/Meetei Sanamahis and Rajkumars are recognized as OBCs. The aspect of job creation, social and educational advancement, if any, is sufficiently taken care of by the OBC reservation. Over and above this, some Meiteis have been notified as SC under Article 241 in 1950 and they also enjoy the reservation benefits. The extend of reservation facility under SC and OBC available to Meiteis is more than 90% of their population.
(10) The question about the Constitutional legality of a single community being allowed to enjoy all three categories namely SC, ST and OBC need to be answered by Constitutional pundits. Answering this question would be the first priority and would eliminate all misinformation circulating among the Meitei society regarding their objective to become ST. There is also the quagmire the Meitei SC of Manipur would be faced as to whether they would still be SC or will become ST too like the rest of the Meiteis if the ST demand of Meitei community is given. This would need an answer too. The irresponsible approach of dragging in the lumpen masses into the fight for ST tag by the valley CSOs causing loss of lives, properties and irreparably tearing up the delicate fabric of Manipur society would need accountability. The intellectuals of Manipur are complicit by their silence of not informing the correct position to the valley CSOs who are misleading the people with untenable hope based on false and erroneous assumptions.
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(11) On the demand for ST status by the Meiteis it is important to understand that there is now an elaborate process laid down by the Central government to declare a community as SC or ST. Socio-economic survey of the Meitei community vis a vis the STs of Manipur would need to be carried out. Further an ethnographic study of the Meitei community to establish their claims of being a tribe will need to be carried out too. The criteria to be considered has already been laid down by the Lokur Committee. The reports will then be examined and considered and specific recommendations would be made by the State government for sending the proposal to the RGI (Registrar General of India). The reports, recommendations of state government etc will be examined, analysed by the RGI and its conclusions will be sent to the Central government for consideration. Thereafter there will be an inter-ministerial consideration of the proposal for comments and placing it before the Union cabinet. Finally it will be sent to the parliament to make it into law. When all these processes are completed favourably the President of India will notify it under a Presidential Order.
(12) The Meitei claimed that they were left out of the President’s Constitution (STs) Order, 1950. This is not true as stated in the report of the Backward Classes Commission chaired by KaKa Kalelkar. When the first BCC requested a list of tribes to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (modification) list from each state and union territory, Meiteis did not include themselves. The Meitei were not denied or left out from the STs List as they claim – they chose not to be included both in 1950 and 1956.
Ngaranmi Shimray is an activist and political observer based in New Delhi. View are personal. Shimray2011@gmail.com. Feedback/comment @Aran Shimray on X.
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