State Government Go-Ahead Must For ST List Changes: Centre To Manipur Leader

After the Tribal Affair's Ministry's response, Manipur leader Maheshwar Thounaojam has asked Chief Minister N Biren Singh's government to send a proposal to the Centre for removing Chin-Kuki communities from Scheduled Tribes (ST) list

The Tribal Affairs Ministry in a reply to a representation by a Manipur-based leader of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) has said any move to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST) needs the state government's permission, along with a go-ahead from the Registrar General and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).

"The recommendation of the state government concerned is a prerequisite to process the case further," Ashish Kumar Agrawal, Undersecretary to the Centre, said in the letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of Manipur.

The Tribal Affairs Ministry's response came on a representation filed by Manipur-resident Maheshwar Thounaojam, the National Secretary of the Republican Party of India (A), who requested for removal of the "nomadic Chin-Kuki" from the list of ST communities in the ethnic violence-hit state bordering Myanmar.