Mail News Service
Imphal, Aug 29 : The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) led by its chairperson Prof. (Dr.) Yumnam Mohendra had got an assurance from Prime Minister of India Dr. Man Mohan Singh for the grant of ST (Scheduled Tribe) status to the Meiteis of Manipur.
The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Kishore Chandra Deo told STDCM that the central government was ever ready to grant ST status to the Meitei, but the Meitei did not receive it from the central government.
In the same tune, the Union Cabinet Minister of Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes told the delegation led by the chairperson of the committee that the hill and the valley people of Manipur are two brothers.
The implication is that while the hill people are already with ST status, there is no reason why the valley people i,e. the Meitei people should not be given ST status.
The advice given by the Prime Minister and other Union Cabinet Ministers of India is that the STDCM should request the Government of Manipur for the recommendation of ST status to the Meitei to Union Government of India. In this connection, it is stated that the STDCM has been requesting the Chief Minister of Manipur for more than once to grant an interview to the STDCM to enable the committee to place its views before the Chief Minister. Unfortunately, so far, no interview has been granted to the STDCM by the Chief Minister.
STDCM requested the Chief Minister of Manipur to be so kind enough as to grant an interview to the STDCM, keeping in view of the interest of the Meitei, according to an open letter from Nongmaithem Isworchandra,Vice-President, STDCM.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/central-leaders-favour-meitei-becoming-schedule-tribe/
