Meiteis’ ST status demand: STDCM to hold mega public convention on October 13

The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has decided to host a massive public convention on October 13 to decide the fate of the ST status in order to forward its demand to add Meetei/Meitei to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Indian Constitution.

Additionally, the STDCM will organise this massive public convention having received no communication or directive from the Manipur government regarding the demand for the indigenous Meitei community to be added to India’s ST list.

It is worth noting that the STDCM has been protesting for the past 40 days.

Today, the STDCM organised a sit-in at Pishumthong in Imphal with Keithel Macha and other women vendors.

On the other hand, the working president of the STDCM, L. Lokendra, said that the government and the Chief Minister should take initiative so that there are positive consequences rather than continually stating that they are thinking about or discussing it.

Earlier, on October 2, during a demonstration, one of the demonstrators urged the government to send the Centre’s suggestions so that Meetei/Meitei may have some form of constitutional protection.

He urged the government to comprehend the views of the people and deliver the ethnographic and socioeconomic report of the ethnic group as soon as possible, saying that it was wrong for the Government to ignore the agitation led by STDCM.