Thadou Groups Oppose Census Over ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ Row

• Thadou civil society bodies reject census without removal of “Any Kuki Tribes” (AKT).
• Say AKT has enabled illegal immigrants to claim ST status in Manipur.
• Allege Kuki armed groups could coerce enumeration in hill areas.
• Manipur government proposal to delete AKT still pending with Centre.

GG News Bureau
Imphal, 17th Jan: Major civil society organisations of the Thadou tribe in Manipur have strongly opposed the initiation of the census exercise in the state, describing it as “reckless, irresponsible and inherently dangerous” unless the controversial ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ (AKT) category is first removed from Manipur’s Scheduled Tribes list.

In a joint statement issued by Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) and Thadou Community International (TCI), the groups warned that conducting a census while AKT remains on the ST list would deepen ethnic tensions and distort Manipur’s demographic record. They insisted that deletion of AKT must precede both the Census and any future National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise.

The organisations argued that AKT, reintroduced in 2003, has become a “systemic loophole” allowing illegal immigrants to obtain residency, constitutional entitlements and ST status in Manipur. They claimed that this has compromised indigenous rights and national security, particularly along the Myanmar and Bangladesh borders.

The statement recalled that Parliament had originally removed AKT from Manipur’s ST list in 1956. However, in 2002 the then Congress-led state government sought its reinstatement, which was approved by Parliament in 2003. Since then, AKT has been treated in Manipur as a distinct tribe rather than an umbrella category, unlike in Assam where certificates are issued in the names of specific sub-tribes.

The Thadou bodies pointed out that the Manipur government, under former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, formally recommended deletion of AKT through Cabinet decisions in 2018, 2023 and 2024, and sent a proposal to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on February 8, 2023. A follow-up communication dated July 25, 2024 alleged that AKT had facilitated organised entry of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh while depriving genuine ST communities of benefits. The proposal is currently awaiting views from the Registrar General of India.

Expressing security concerns, the groups said that in the current law-and-order situation in Manipur’s hill districts, Kuki armed groups exercise “parallel authority” over large areas inhabited by non-Kuki tribes such as Thadou, Aimol, Vaiphei, Paite, Gangte, Simte, Kom and Zou. They alleged that census officials and villagers could face intimidation and forced misclassification under AKT.

They cautioned that any post-enumeration corrections would be “illusory, impractical and administratively unworkable,” effectively locking in distorted data.

The Thadou organisations maintained that they have opposed AKT since the 1970s, warning that its inclusion would lead to instability and conflict. They said the current crisis in Manipur vindicates those concerns and reflects “policy failures driven by political appeasement.”

Sources indicated that resolving the AKT issue will be among the first priorities of any new government formed in Manipur.