ST Demand Committee to meet Works minister on Oct 24

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 22

Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) today announced that the committee has extended its deadline for organising a strong democratic agitation against the government for failing their proposal of sending a formal presentation to the central authorities.

Retired Colonel Laishram Lokendra, general secretary of the committee today addressed media persons at Manipur Press Club that the decision taken by the committee on September 24 at Iboyaima Shanglen urging the state government to send a recommendation of tribal status for the Meiteis to the central government by October 20.

He said that a memorandum was also submitted to the government on September 29.

Lokendra said the deadline is over but the committee got a response from the government, inviting them to meet Works minister Thongam Biswajit in his chamber on October 24, 4 pm to discuss the related recommendation letter.

The general secretary expressed hope that the government will give a positive response.

He also added that a poster campaign will be carried out for spreading awareness of the issue amongst the public, but the plan for an intense agitation is suspended for the time being, he added.

One of the members of the committee also commented that Meiteis are already a tribe, it only need to be recognised and be included in the ST list of Manipur.

STDCM was formed in 2012 demanding ST status and since then it has gained momentum and has also garnered the support of many existing tribal communities who initially opposed their demand.