STDCM to observe World’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day on August 9

The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has extended warm greetings to all indigenous peoples of Manipur, both recognised and unrecognised, ahead of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which falls on August 9.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the observance in December 1994 to commemorate the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in 1982. Since then, the day has been globally observed to honour the resilience, pride, and dignity of indigenous communities.
STDCM, which has been observing the day since 2014, stated that while Indigenous Meitei/Meetei people remain unrecognised as a Scheduled Tribe under the Indian Constitution, the observance serves as a platform to highlight their status and demand formal recognition under both national and international frameworks.
The Committee noted that despite the lack of constitutional safeguards provided to other indigenous communities of India, the Meitei/Meeteis will continue to observe the day to assert their identity and seek justice. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to continue the movement until ST status is constitutionally granted to the Meitei/Meetei community.
This year, while the UN’s global theme is “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”, STDCM will observe the day under the local theme “The Future of Indigenous Meitei/Meetei Tribe of Manipur.”
The observance will be held at 2 PM on August 9 at Thangjing Hall, Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal. Notable figures including former MHRC Chairperson Khaidem Mani, IAS (Retd.) Dr. R.K. Nimai, MU Law HOD Prof. Y. Premananda, political analyst L. Saratchandra, mathematician Prof. H. Jayantkumar, STDCM Chief Patron M. Naodalenkhomba, President Dhiraj Yumnam, and Working President Lt. Col. L. Lokendra (Retd.) will attend as presidium members.