IMPHAL, Oct 12: The World Meitei Council has presented a memorandum to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, urging the immediate recognition of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meetei community living in Assam. The Assam State Unit of the Council expressed concerns about the Meiteis’ lack of political representation in Assam, where they fear their identity could be overshadowed by a population of 33 million.
The memorandum pointed out that the push for ST status in Assam predates similar demands from the Meiteis in Manipur. It emphasized that the Assam government has stated that the recommendation for ST status for the Meiteis in Assam is contingent upon the recognition of the Meiteis from Manipur as Scheduled Tribes.
Additionally, the Council noted that several significant communities in Assam are close to being added to the ST list, highlighting the urgency for the Meiteis living outside Manipur, who are facing considerable economic and political hurdles. They urged the Chief Minister to acknowledge that his responsibilities extend beyond Manipur, representing the larger Meitei community throughout India.
The memorandum also raised concerns regarding the upcoming delimitation of constituencies in 2026, which could adversely affect the political representation of Meiteis in Manipur due to their declining population. The Council appealed for timely action to ensure the inclusion of the Meiteis of Manipur in the ST list before the delimitation takes place, which would also aid their inclusion in Assam.
