Imphal, December 28 2008: A campaign demanding inclusion of Sanamahi faith believers in the Scheduled Tribes list of the Indian Constitution has kick-started from today.

Spearheaded by the Indigenous Sanamahi People's Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, the campaign was kick-started at Keirak.

The campaign which would cover the whole State will continue till the early part of next.

After this, a public meeting will be organised and the resolutions adopted there will be submitted to both the State and Central Governments.

The campaign has been launched under the theme, "Which Article/Section of the Indian Constitution should provide protection to the subjugated Sanamahi faith believers ? " .

The inaugural function of the campaign held today at Keirak was graced by Pukhrambam Tolhal, Thongam Tolpishak, Salam Angou, Chingakham Yaima and Nongthombam Boudhajit as presidium members.

Speaking at the occasion, convenor of the Indigenous Sanamahi People's Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, Babloo Laishram lamented that the Meiteis who once ruled over a vast area are now engulfed by a highly insecure and uncertain circumstances considering the existing geo-political, socio-economic, educational conditions and cultural and religious obliteration.

Moreover, the valley and hill people who have common roots and similar cultures and traditions have been divided by artificial barriers resulting in separate perspectives and conflicts amongst themselves, Babloo noted.

Since the day when one group was included in general class and the other in Scheduled Tribe category by the Constitution of India allegedly based on caste differences, the hill and valley people have been pulled apart in different directions, he asserted.

Observing that the Meiteis are being recognised and treated as Hindus within the constitutional and legal framework of India, he decried that many Sanamahi followers are also living within the fold of Hinduism consciously or unconsciously.

But no one has studied till date regarding under which Article/Section of the Indian Constitution, the Sanamahi followers should be given recognition, Babloo observed.

The meeting also adopted several resolutions which included identification of the Sanamahi followers with other indigenous groups who have common ancestral roots.

Another resolution was that the Indian Constitution should recognise Meitei Sanamahi followers as Scheduled Tribe by virtue of being indigenous people.

It further resolved that the Sanamahi followers should be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes under Indian Constitution.

It also resolved to send appeals in this regard to the President, Prime Minister, and the Governor and Chief Minister of Manipur.

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