The United Manipuri Association, Assam (UMAA) formally submitted a memorandum to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam, outlining critical demands for the creation of a Manipuri Autonomous Council and the inclusion of the state's Manipuri community in the Schedule Tribe (Plain) list. The memorandum was handed over through Hojai MLA, Sj. Ramkrishna Ghosh, on Sunday, April 20th, coinciding with the conclusion of the UMAA's 36th Annual General Meeting held in Hojai.
The two-day Annual General Meeting, which took place on April 19th and 20th at the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Hall in Nuton Bazar, Hojai, served as the backdrop for this significant political appeal. The memorandum, dated April 20, 2025, represents a renewed push by the UMAA to secure constitutional safeguards and administrative mechanisms aimed at the socio-economic, cultural, educational, and political development of the Manipuri community residing in Assam.
In the memorandum, signed by UMAA President L. Sarat Chandra Singha and General Secretary E. Manitomba Singh, the association strongly appeals to the Chief Minister to "kindly initiate necessary steps" towards fulfilling these long-standing demands.
The call for a Manipuri Autonomous Council references the UMAA's democratic efforts initiated back in 1992. The document highlights the precedent set by the Assam government in granting similar autonomous councils to the Moran, Motok, and Rajbongshi communities, urging equitable consideration for the Manipuris.
Furthermore, the UMAA emphasized its demand, pursued since 2012, for the inclusion of the Manipuri community in the Schedule Tribe (Plain) list under the Constitution of India. The association argues that the Manipuri community living in Assam possesses all the distinct features and characteristics, akin to other communities already listed, and that ST status is crucial for preserving their unique cultural identity, language, and traditions within the state.
The memorandum expresses gratitude for the prior recognition of the Manipuri language as an official language in four districts of Assam but underscores that the creation of an autonomous council and inclusion in the ST list are vital steps for the comprehensive upliftment of what they describe as the "deprived and underprivileged Manipuri Community in Assam."
