IMPHAL, May 15: The Development and Protection, United Voluntary Organisation, Nambol and the Awang Nongpok Pana, Yaingangpokpi Bazar have pledged support to the demand for enlistment of Meetei/Meitei in ST category.
Separate press releases issued by the two bodies said that ST status for Meiteis can bring equality among different communities of the State.
ST communities are provided different safeguards by the Indian Constitution but Meiteis, despite their tiny population, enjoy no such protection for they are enlisted in the General category.
It is crucial to get Meiteis enlisted in the ST category so that they can protect their identity. Meiteis can protect their identity in the midst of the crores of Indian people only when they are given a Constitutional safeguard.
The assumption that enlistment of Meitei in ST category would breed animosity among hill people and plain people is quite irrelevant.
It’s time for Meiteis to give up their chauvinism. The deliberate campaign to derail the movement of inclusion of Meiteis/Meeteis in ST category is creating confusion and unrest among the masses.
The campaign to get Meiteis enlisted in ST category is a movement to protect the culture, traditions and economy of the community, and ST status does not necessarily imply degeneration in the social status of the Meiteis, asserted the Development and Protection, United Voluntary Organisation, Nambol.
The STDCM is spearheading the ST campaign.
Sources: The sangai express
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