MMTU decries Govt’s indifference to ST campaign

IMPHAL, Nov 12: The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) Women Wing has expressed strong indignation against the Government’s indifference to the sustained campaign for inclusion of Meetei (Meitei) in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
A statement issued by the MMTU  Women Wing rued that the status of Meitei people would not have been so downtrodden had the Government not sidelined the ST campaign for such a long time.
On account of the sustained war being waged by Kuki narco-terrorists, the prolonged blockade on National Highways, rampant extortion on National Highways, large scale displacement of tens of thousands of people after their houses were razed by Kuki narco-terrorists, many youngsters/entrepreneurs who took loans from banks to set up small businesses can no longer repay the loans.
Following strong pressure from banks to repay the loans, many loanees now have a tendency to commit suicide, the MMTU Women Wing said.
Banks have even attached properties/household plots of the defaulter loanees thereby raising the number of landless people, it said.
The MMTU Women Wing then asked if the bank authorities have enquired why the loanees are unable to repay loans.
For the past 18 months, Meiteis have been denied access to National Highways. Even articles sent through couriers in the names of Meiteis are blocked, it said.
At the same time, flight operators have been charging exorbitant flight fares, it pointed out.
Majority of the loanees are small businessmen or entrepreneurs but no business or entrepreneurship will ever succeed in the absence of access to markets and transport facilities, it asserted.
Now Meiteis are now living in a desolate condition , it added.