Northeast Desk, 9th January: The Indian government has undertaken a review of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for specific communities, notably the Kukis and Zomis in Manipur. The initiative comes in response to a representation by Maheshwar Thounaojam, National Secretary of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), prompting the Centre to urge the Manipur government to consider removing “Nomadic Chin-Kuki” from the ST list in the state.
Maheshwar Thounaojam, in a statement to India Today NE, emphasized that the Kukis and Zomis should not enjoy ST status as per the Indian constitution, citing a memorandum submitted to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda. He referred to a Supreme Court judgment on January 5, 2011, stating that those not original inhabitants of India cannot obtain ST status.
In a letter dated December 26, 2023, the Union government conveyed that the inclusion or exclusion process from the ST list necessitates a proposal from the concerned State government. Therefore, the representation was forwarded to the State government for its recommendation.
This move is part of a broader discussion on the inclusion and exclusion of communities from the ST list, governed by criteria set by the Lokur Committee in 1965. These criteria encompass primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, and backwardness.
The ongoing debate occurs amid ethnic tensions in Manipur between the dominant Meitei people in the valley and the Kuki-Zo people in the hills, escalating since May 3, 2023. Triggered by a Manipur High Court order regarding ST status for Meiteis, the conflict has raised concerns among existing STs in the state.
Thounaojam argues that indigeneity should be the principal criterion for defining STs, contending that Kukis and Zomis do not qualify as original inhabitants of Manipur. The process for altering the ST list involves proposals from the state government, approvals from relevant authorities, and ultimately, the President’s notification for changes.
This inquiry into the ST status reflects broader discussions on ST classification criteria and the adequacy of the current inclusion procedure. While the Centre deemed the procedure adequate as of March 15, 2023, criticism persists for being outdated, potentially impeding the inclusion or exclusion of communities. The Manipur government’s response will be pivotal in determining the future ST status of Kukis and Zomis in the region.
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