How Far Are Manipur Scheduled Tribes Lagging Behind?

The contentious discussion about whether the majority Meitei population group should be recognized as a scheduled tribe has turned violent in India's North-Eastern state of Manipur where dozens were reported killed and thousands displaced.

While the valley-dwelling Meitei have had access to more economic and infrastructural progress, data from the 2011 Census shows how developmental gaps persist for all groups in the state. The area where current scheduled tribes in Manipur, like groups belonging to the Nagas and the Kukis, lag behind most is the source of their livelihood. As per the latest data, 82 percent of all tribal members working in the state were active in the field of agriculture, associated with lower average incomes. Only 35 percent of working non-tribal residents of Manipur had jobs in agriculture.

For education, the picture was more mixed. While around 29 percent of tribal members over the age of 15 were listed as illiterate in the latest Census, the same was true for just around 21 percent of non-tribal people over that age. Around 9 percent of tribal members that were older than 20 years in the state were degree holders. That number was just under 16 percent for residents who are not part of current tribal groups.