Manipur CM Announces Formation of All-Tribe Panel to Determine ‘Chin Kukis’ ST Status

GG News Bureau
Imphal, 10th Jan. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced on Tuesday that a committee consisting of representatives from all tribes would be formed to decide whether the Chin Kuki community should be removed from the Scheduled Tribes list of the state.

This decision comes after the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs asked the state government’s opinion on the demand to remove the “nomadic Chin Kuki” community from Manipur’s ST list.

The demand was made by Maheshwar Thounaojam, National Secretary of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), who argued that the community is not indigenous to India but are immigrants.

Singh stated that the inclusion of the Chin Kuki community in the ST list needs to be re-examined and that a committee of all tribes will be formed to provide recommendations. Once the panel’s recommendations are received, the state government will be able to express its view on the matter.

The Kuki community is a collective term for various tribes in Manipur, and the Chin community shares ethnic ties with the Mizos of Mizoram and a portion of the residents of neighboring Myanmar.

Manipur has experienced ethnic violence since May of last year, resulting in over 180 deaths. The violence began after a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s request for Scheduled Tribe status.

The Meiteis make up approximately 53% of Manipur’s population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while the tribal population, including Nagas and Kukis, accounts for 40% and mainly resides in the hill districts.