IT News
Imphal, June 25:
World Meitei Council (WMC) has released a statement demanding the submission of ethnographic and socio-economic reports on the Meitei community to the central government to expedite their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The Council highlighted the increasing threats and hardships experienced by the Meitei people and called for both national and international legal protections to ensure their safety and well-being.
The press release expressed concerns about demographic changes, noting that the Meitei’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is 1.77, which is below the replacement level. In contrast, the TFR of other groups in the region, such as the Kuki community, is significantly higher, around 4-5, leading to fears of demographic imbalance and cultural erosion.
The Council reiterated the need for the Meitei community to be granted ST status under Article 342(1) of the Indian Constitution. They stressed that this recognition is crucial for their survival and equal treatment under the law.
The WMC urged Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to expedite the submission of two critical reports – the Ethnographic Report and the Latest Socio-Economic Report – before the delimitation process in 2026. The Council believes these reports are essential for the Meitei community to secure ST status and prevent further marginalization.
