WMC responds to ANSAM statement on Meetei ST demand

The World Meetei Council (WMC) has clarified that the demand for inclusion of the Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list should not be subjected to debate among communities already recognised as Scheduled Tribes in Manipur.
In a statement issued by Secretary General Yambem Arun Meetei, the organisation said it had taken note of a press statement issued by the All Naga Students’ Association Manipur seeking clarification from Congress Member of Parliament Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on several issues, including the demand of the Meetei community for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category under the Constitution of India.
The WMC stated that the right of the Meetei people to seek Scheduled Tribe status is a constitutional matter and should not be negotiated or contested among communities already included in the category within the state.
According to the council, the indigenous Meetei population of Manipur, estimated at around 17 lakh in India, meets the criteria recommended by the Lokur Commission for Scheduled Tribe status, including distinctive culture, geographical isolation, social backwardness and other characteristics.
The statement noted that the Meetei community continues to preserve its traditional cultural and spiritual practices alongside later religious influences. It cited traditional festivals such as Lai Haraoba and Saroi Khangba as examples of enduring indigenous practices guided by Maibis, or traditional priestesses.
The council also pointed to issues such as geographical constraints, limited land access in the valley region and economic challenges faced by many Meetei households, stating that these factors contribute to concerns about the community’s future and cultural identity.
Appealing for understanding, the WMC urged communities across the country, particularly in Manipur, not to create obstacles to what it termed the legitimate aspirations of the Meetei people. The council stated that the demand is not directed against any community but is aimed at securing the future, dignity and security of the coming generations.