IMPHAL, May 12: The ten-day long public discourse on the theme “Scheduled Tribe Status in Manipur” kicked off today at Manipur Dramatic Union, (MDU) Hall. The discourse is being organised by Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur (PPCM).
Retired professor of history department of Manipur University N Joykumar attended as moderator and PPCM convenor Dr Y Mani Khuman attended as president while MU department of economics professor Dr Ch Priyokumar, associate professor of Department of political sciences MU Dr N Somorendro, associate professor of department of economics of Manipur College Dr L Gojen, social scientist Dr Dhanabir Laishram and Dr Arambam Birjit attended as resource persons.
Speaking on the occasion, Y Mani Khuman stated that demanding of the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the schedule tribe list by some organisations will misguide the general public and it could divert attention from the ongoing movement on implementation of ILPS in the state by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS).
Mani observed that the members of Schedule Tribe Demand Committee (STDC), Manipur are retired central government bureaucrats and army officers and alleged that the demanding of inclusion Meitei/Meetei to ST status is an outcome of backdoor politics of
some agencies to divert the ILPS movement and cautioned the people to be aware of such objectives.
In order to provide awareness to the general public on this issue, PPCM will be organising a series of public discussion at various places on the theme “Schedule Tribe status in Manipur”. The programme will be held in Wabagai on May 13, Iboyaima Sumang Leela Shanglen on May 14, Wangjing on May 15, Patsoi on May 16, Wangoi on May 17, Oinam on May 18, Moirang on May 19, Yairipok on May 20 and Keirao on May 21 respectively.