IMPHAL, May 9: The Kuraomakhong United Club, Sagolband Sayang Road; Council for Youth Welfare Club, Konthoujam Leikai Sayang Road, Juvenile Club, Tera Sapam Leirak; Pakhangba Cultural Club, Mayaikoibi; Youth Bright Star Club, Sapam Leirak Nongmaithem Leikai and the Thounaojam Leikai Development Association, Kwakeithel have pledged support to the demand for enlistment of Meetei/Meitei as a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India.
A common press release issued by the six clubs asserted that Meiteis need privileges and opportunities guaranteed by ST status so that they can compete with other communities of India.
As of now, Meiteis are economically quite backward and they are becoming poorer and poorer in the absence of big factories, companies and business establishments.
Meiteis are finding it more and more difficult in securing jobs not only in Central Government departments but also within the State. In their struggle for survival, a large number of Meiteis have been selling off their household plots and other properties to non-local people. Given these harsh realities, Meiteis need to be enlisted in the ST category, they asserted. They then questioned as to why should they feel ashamed of being tagged as an ST when they feel nothing wrong with the OBC status.
Meanwhile the Sawombung Students’ Club, and the Kege Moirang Apunba Lup (KEMAL) have also vowed support to the campaign for ST status of Meiteis.
Separate press releases issued by the Sawombung Students’ Club and the KEMAL informed that they are all prepared to join the mass rally scheduled on May 22 under the aegis of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Manipur (STDCM) in pursuit of the demand for enlistment of Meiteis in the ST category
