Imphal, Manipur: Two influential organizations from Manipur, the Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance, have jointly appealed to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to remove the "Any Kuki Tribes" (AKT) category from the state's Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. The organizations submitted a joint memorandum to the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, urging the deletion of "Any Kuki Tribes" (AKT) from the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur under Article 342 of the Constitution. The appeal follows the Government of Manipur’s official stance, based on cabinet decisions on October 19, 2018, and January 2, 2023, with a formal recommendation sent to the Ministry on February 8, 2023.
The petitioners argue that the ambiguous classification of "Any Kuki Tribes" poses a threat to the rights, land, and resources of indigenous communities within the state. They claim the vague nature of the "Any Kuki Tribes" (AKT) designation allows individuals without verified indigenous lineage to claim constitutional privileges reserved for Scheduled Tribes, potentially undermining the rights of genuine tribal communities and endangering their land and natural resources.
In the memorandum, the organizations stated that the appeal aligns with the official position of the Government of Manipur, which, following cabinet decisions on October 19, 2018, and January 2, 2023, formally recommended the deletion of “Any Kuki Tribes” category.
The groups argue that the AKT designation fails to meet the requirements laid out under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution, which mandates characteristics such as distinct language, cultural heritage, and geographical isolation for recognition as a Scheduled Tribe. They assert that "AKT lacks a unique identity and serves only to exacerbate ethnic discord and create legal ambiguities". The memorandum further alleges that the AKT category was added to the ST list in 2003 through what they described as "politically motivated and non-transparent means". They claim that the classification lacks the linguistic and cultural distinctiveness that characterises other recognised Scheduled Tribes in Manipur.
The organizations stated that "only such action could uphold the legal, cultural, and demographic integrity of Manipur and foster lasting peace and mutual coexistence". They also argued that references to the use of 'Kuki' in Assam, Meghalaya, or Nagaland are not relevant in the case of Manipur, which already has a well-established and detailed tribal classification system. The groups emphasized that such a step is necessary to preserve constitutional integrity, uphold the rights of genuine Scheduled Tribes, and ensure long-term peace and harmony among communities in the state.
The memorandum asserted that AKT is not recognised by any native Scheduled Tribe communities in Manipur, including Thadou, Paite, Hmar, Zou, Gangte, Simte, Aimol, Vaiphei, Kom, and those under the Naga fold, nor by the Meetei community. Rather, its inclusion has exacerbated ethnic tensions and disrupted social harmony. It further highlighted that AKT is a duplicate of the Thadou tribe, which has been listed as a Scheduled Tribe since the first post independence Census in 1951.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has yet to respond publicly to the memorandum.
