Manipur's Proposal to Remove 'Any Kuki Tribes' from ST List: Understanding the Controversy and Its Implications

The Manipur government formally requested the Centre in February 2023 to remove the 'Any Kuki Tribes' category from the state's Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has indicated that inclusion or exclusion of communities in Manipur's ST list "may be kept on hold" due to the "sensitive nature of the prevailing situation" in the state, according to responses to Right to Information (RTI) queries.

The ministry expressed concern that acknowledging such representations "may spark untoward incidents to disturb peace and tranquility in the region."

Historical context shows that Parliament initially removed the 'Any Kuki Tribes' category from Manipur's ST list in 1956. However, 46 years later in 2002, the then Manipur Congress government successfully requested its reinstatement, with implementation taking effect in 2003.

In its follow-up communication to the Tribal Affairs Ministry on July 25, 2024, the Manipur government clarified that no communities would actually be removed from ST status. The proposal aims only to eliminate what it describes as "redundant nomenclature Any Kuki Tribe," as these communities would remain listed under their distinct tribal names.

The state government further alleged that the insertion of 'Any Kuki Tribes' has enabled "illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries" to "enlist themselves" under this broad category.

For any inclusion or exclusion from the ST list, the ministry explained that a state government must provide a proposal with ethnographic details, which then requires concurrence from both the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) before legislative amendment can be considered.

The Manipur government's cabinet had initially approved the deletion of 'Any Kuki Tribes' from the ST list on October 19, 2018, and reiterated this decision on January 2, 2023, before formally communicating it to the Centre on February 8, 2023. The state also proposed correcting 'Any Mizo (Lushai) Tribe' to simply 'Mizo'.

The Tribal Affairs Ministry responded on March 27, 2023, seeking clarifications about how affected communities would be treated if the changes were implemented, requesting lists of communities currently covered under these categories, and asking for ethnographic studies supporting the proposal.

Shortly after these exchanges, the Meitei-Kuki ethnic clashes erupted on May 3, 2023.

In its July 2024 response to the ministry, the Manipur government explained that individuals belonging to 'Any Kuki Tribe' would continue to be recognized under their specific sub-tribes, which are already independently listed. It further argued that an ethnographic report was unnecessary since the proposal wasn't adding new communities but removing "redundant nomenclature" in "the interest of national security."

The state government provided historical context from the 1956 parliamentary proceedings when the ST list was being formulated. At that time, the government had meticulously described all sub-tribes separately rather than under umbrella terms beginning with 'Any'.

Manipur alleged that the 2002 reinstatement of 'Any Kuki Tribes' was done "for political reasons" under the then Congress government, noting that if this broad tribal group was restored, 'Any Naga Tribe' should have been reinstated as well, but wasn't.

The Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes supported the proposal, stating there was "no objection" to removing 'Any Kuki Tribe' since all sub-tribes were already included independently in the 1956 Act, making the umbrella term "unnecessary."

The state government expressed concern that the insertion of 'Any Kuki Tribe' has facilitated illegal immigration from Myanmar and Bangladesh, allowing migrants to "enlist themselves" under this category while depriving "genuine recognised Scheduled Tribes" of benefits.

Activists seeking updates on the proposal's status through RTI appeals have been denied specific information. The ministry has cited concerns that disclosure "may lead to interference by vested interests" and potentially "disturb public peace, tranquility and encourage enmity between the communities."

Thadou community activists argue that indefinite delay "denies justice" and "perpetuates the error created by the wrongful inclusion of 'Any Kuki Tribes' in 2003." They contend that the presence of this category "has distorted the classification of Scheduled Tribes" and is "at the root of the Manipur conflict and violence."