New Delhi/Imphal: Two prominent Manipur-based organizations—Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei Alliance have jointly petitioned the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs to remove the "Any Kuki Tribes" (AKT) category from Manipur's Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.

The memorandum, addressed to Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, alleges that AKT's inclusion in 2003 was "politically motivated, ethnographically invalid, and a threat to indigenous tribal rights."

" The vague nature of AKT allows foreigners to claim tribal rights in Manipur. This poses a serious threat to the land, resources, and constitutional privileges of pre-existing Scheduled tribes. It mirrors the tribal certificate scam in Maharashtra, where over 10 lakh fake ST certificates were issued to non-tribals over decades," it read.

Why the Demand? Key Arguments

The groups argue that AKT violates Article 342 of the Constitution, which mandates distinct language, culture, and geographical isolation for ST recognition. AKT, they claim, has none of these traits and instead serves as an "umbrella term" for unrelated groups, including potential illegal immigrants.

The memorandum states that AKT was added without proper ethnographic study, unlike the 29 other STs of Manipur (Thadou, Paite, Hmar, etc.). It also contradicts the 1956 ST Modification Order, which had removed colonial-era terms like 'Any Kuki' after the Kaka Kalelkar Commission's recommendations.

AKT allegedly overlaps 95% with the Thadou tribe, already recognized since 1951. Despite this, AKT was separately listed with 28,306 people (2011 Census), raising concerns about fake tribal certificates—akin to Maharashtra’s 10 lakh fake ST certificates scam.

The vague definition allows foreign-origin groups (Rohingya-Kuki, Kachin-Kuki) to claim ST status, jeopardizing land rights and resources of native tribes. The letter warns of "mass infiltration," comparing it to border-state demographic crises.

AKT encourages clan-based divisions (Haokip, Kipgen, Doungel)—which are sub-groups of Thadou—to seek separate ST status. This could lead to endless fragmentation and legal chaos.

Continuation of a Deleted Colonial Classification

During the 1951-56 period, colonial-era broad groupings like 'Any Kuki Tribe', 'Any Naga Tribe', and 'Any Lushai Tribe were used temporarily. After proper survey by the Other Backward Commission headed by Kaka Kalekar Commission and with the recommendation of the government of the state of that time and proper ethnographic verification, the 1956 SC/ST Amendment Act or Modification Order deleted 'Any Kuki' and 'Any Naga' and instead enlisted 29 Scheduled Tribes. However, the broad classification of Any Mizo (Lushai)' was retained for linguistic-cultural reasons. The re-insertion of 'Any Kuki tribes' in 2003 violated this settled constitutional and ethnological framework.

The memorandum states that the current list of Scheduled Tribes for Manipur includes all historically recognized and distinct tribes (Thadou, Paite, Vaiphei, Simte, Hmar, Gangte, etc.). Among them, only AKT lacks definition or prefix/suffix, making it a legal anomaly. It stands in stark contrast to the well-defined and consistent recognition of all other tribes.

• Manipur’s Cabinet had twice recommended AKT’s deletion (2018, 2023), but no action followed.

• The issue is linked to ethnic violence (2023 Meitei-Kuki clashes), where ST status disputes exacerbated tensions.

• Kuki groups defend AKT, calling it essential for minority rights, while Meiteis and Nagas oppose it as "backdoor inclusion."

"The use of 'Any Kuki tribes' in Assam and Meghalaya or the use of 'Kuki' in Nagaland cannot be applied to Manipur. These are legacy classifications for states where tribal mapping is less refined. Manipur, on the other hand, has a fully defined ST list based on historical, linguistic, and ethnographic clarity", the letter read.

Concludingly, the memorandum asserted that there is no justification for creating AKT. Its creation sets a dangerous precedent: if every discontented sub-group within a tribe claims separate ST status, it will result in unending community fragmentation. The deletion of AKT will preserve the sanctity of the ST list as well as the integrity and unity of the recognised communities of Manipur.