State commission asked to study feasibility of ST tag for Meiteis

IMPHAL | Oct 2

Government of Manipur will take appropriate action as soon as a report is received from the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribe (MSCST) as the government of India has sought for socio-economic survey and ethnographic report.

A release issued by home department said, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has demanded the government of Manipur to include ethnic Meitei community in the scheduled tribe (ST) list.

The committee has been demanding for the same since December, 2012 and submitted a memorandum to the state government and the government of India.

However, in reply to the representation of the committee on May 3, 2013, the ministry of tribal affairs had responded that the

Centre had sought for specific recommendations regarding the demand along with latest socio-economic survey and ethnographic report by an organisation of repute so that the proposal could be considered.

After being communicated by the central government, the state government has requested the MSCST on September 19 to examine the matter and make appropriate recommendations, said the release.

It said, STDCM is a statutory body formed on March 27, 2014 under Manipur State Commission for the Scheduled Tribes Act, 2014 and the state government constituted the MSCST on August 8, 2016 with S.H. Gonmei as chairman and Simpson Sareo and John H. Pulamte as members.

The action of state government will be taken as per New Delhi’s pursuance for which MSCST would be examining the matter from the relevant angle to conduct the studies and submit a recommendation, it added.