Home » HERICOUN observes 14th Foundation Day: announces clear stand on the demand for ST; calls opposers for open debate

HERICOUN observes 14th Foundation Day: announces clear stand on the demand for ST; calls opposers for open debate

by IT Web Admin
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Imphal, May 16: The battle line between groups of people supporting the demand for Scheduled tribe Status for Meitei and Meetei and those opposing the demand is becoming clearer as both the supporters and opposers now take public platform and started justifying their stance.
When group of people who are against the demand are conducting series of peoples’ convention at different places, President of the Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) Manipur Longjam Ratankumar today said that those standing against the demand for ST status for the Meitei and Meetei still fails to convince the reason on why the demand should be opposed.
Speaking during the 14th Foundation Day of HERICOUN held today at GM Hall Imphal, Ratankumar said that the various problem being faced by the Meitei/ Meetei people in survival will find its solution only after the conversion of the Meitei / Meetei to Scheduled Tribe.
“Unless we convert into ST there is means to safeguard the Meitei Meetei people”, said the President of HERICOUN.
Criticizing those standing against the demand for ST status, Ratankumar said that opposing to the demand is unfortunate.
“Why should those who oppose the demand campaign instead of coming to the office and discussed over the issue”, Ratankumar asked.
He said that the ST demand committee had been there since 2011 and their office too is widely open for any discussion. Instead of going to the newspaper or public platform, the matter should have been well discussed.
The demand for ST is nothing but to bring harmony in the community.
Wangkhem Sharatcandra , President of the Assam Meitei Apunba Lup elaborated the condition of the indigenous Manipuri people in Jiribam. While delivering his speech as the Chief Guest of the Foundation day of HERICOUN, Sharatchandra calls on all those who oppose the ST demand and those supporting the demand to have an open debate.
“Let us have a debate, and let the people decide whether we need status like ST or not”, Sharatkemar said.
Giving factual data of the population figure of Jiribam Sub Division as according to the census record, Sharatchandra said that in 1951 census report the population was only 7767 in Jiribam. Among this Meitei population is the highest with a total of 2273 and Bangali reaching 1429.
In 2011 census report the population figure reached 44,836. Among this Meitei / Meetei and other indigenous tribal community population s only 29,222. When the population of Bangali and other outsiders is over 15,616.
The movement of ILPS got strong opposition from outsiders settling in Jiribam, Sharatchandra said. Even the media based at Silchar report propaganda opposing the ILP movement.
The 14th Foundation day of HERICOUN was also attended by R.T. Akhel Aimol, President of the Aimol tribe Union as the Guest of Honour

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3 comments

L B Devi May 16, 2016 - 4:46 pm

The demand of ST status for Meitei community is a way to the common identity of all indigenous people of both hill and valley of manipur in particular and North East in general. Why Tai Ahom, Motak, Moran, Rajbangshi, Chetia demand has strong justification for the protection of socio-political and economic right of indigenous people of Assam treating the state as tribal state. Being a tribal state, the constitution delimitation in 2026 may not affect the indigenous people political right from the onslaught of huge migration from North Indian and Bangladeshi. In Manipur also, the demand of Meitei is important because Meitei community is champion for the cause of Manipur. Anti-ST demand party should remember that in the initial stage, there will be severe protest as done in the inclusion of kakching, kakching Khunou, Chairen, Wangoo, thanga etc in the SC list. It will subside as it is the democratic right of marginalized and endanger Meitei community in the mist of illegal migrants from Myanmar and bangladeshi.

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L B Devi May 16, 2016 - 5:06 pm

The press release and news report covering the propaganda of anti-ST demand groups under the dictate of some under ground parties can’t dampen the spirit of STDCM and its supporting organizations. How the senior citizens and their own selfless services for the future Meitei generation is one of the commendable jobs! Why they so call intellects are misleading our youths to the hopelessness standing against the popular demand? The present news report about HERICOUN supporting the STDCM about the st demand of Meitei may be appreciated from every Meitei families. How our respected Human right Activists, economists and political scientists are misleading people by imposing their shallow political ideology. If you are standing against the popular demand, you will face the wreath of Meitei community. We are living in the present and not in the past. How we try to survive is more important than false pride remembering the past glory. It is not right way to let the Meitei community decay in the mists of all hostile divisive forces blocking all way of development of endanger meitei community in their own land.

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aribam May 17, 2016 - 9:35 am

nice one

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