Manipur: World Meetei Council Reiterates Demand for Scheduled Tribe Status, Seeks Constitutional Protection
Imphal, July 11: The World Meetei Council (WMC) has once again called for the inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list, stating that the demand is rooted in constitutional provisions aimed at protecting the community’s identity, ancestral land, language, and cultural heritage.
In a statement released on Saturday, the international socio-cultural organisation urged both the Central Government and the Government of Manipur to accelerate the process of granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meetei community. The council maintained that the demand has received overwhelming public backing across the state and should be addressed without further delay.
According to the WMC, a statewide signature campaign carried out in 2024 gathered support from nearly one million people, which the organisation described as a strong reflection of public endorsement for the long-standing demand.
Established in 2018, the World Meetei Council said it is committed to safeguarding the rights, culture, and socio-economic interests of Meetei communities residing in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The organisation noted that securing Scheduled Tribe status remains one of its key priorities.
The council stated that constitutional recognition under the Scheduled Tribe category is essential to preserve the Meetei community’s traditional land ownership, language, customs, and cultural identity, particularly in the face of changing demographic and socio-economic conditions in Manipur.
The WMC also recalled the massive rally organised by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) in 2015, claiming that nearly 1.5 lakh people participated in support of the demand for ST status.
Highlighting the estimated population of around 17 lakh Meeteis, the organisation asserted that constitutional safeguards are necessary for the community and stressed that the issue should be treated as a constitutional and legal right rather than as a subject of negotiations between different communities.
The council further referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment delivered on August 1, 2024, regarding sub-classification within reserved categories. It appealed to both the Centre and the Manipur government to implement the ruling promptly and take appropriate steps concerning the Meetei community’s demand.
In its appeal, the World Meetei Council also urged tribal communities to support what it described as the constitutional aspirations of the Meetei/Meitei people. The organisation said extending constitutional safeguards would help ensure the long-term protection and preservation of the community’s unique identity, heritage, and cultural traditions.
