The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. The Kukis have Mongoloid features and are generally short-stature with straight black hair and dark brown eyes. The different Kuki clans are recognised as scheduled tribe of India.[4] This tribe recognition is based on the dialect spoken and region. They spread out in the contiguous regions of Northeast India, Northwest Burma (Myanmar), and the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. They are most prominent in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram. Kuki is composed of many different entities and clans.
For its small size (22,327 sq.km), Manipur has a bewildering number of tribes and sub-tribes. There are 33 Scheduled Tribes, all living in the hills. The Meiteis, commonly called Manipuris, live in the Imphal Valley and constitute the bulk of the population. They are Vaishnavite Hindus. They have seven clans inhabiting the hills of Manipur. The Kukis are allied to the Mizos of neighbouring Mizoram.
Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) was formed on November 2, 2010 to articulate and champion the political will of the Kuki people in present-day state of Manipur.
Reasons for formation of KSDC
KSDC’s demand for Kuki state is also prompted by the following issues that show gross discrimination of Kukis in the state of Manipur:
· Denial of Sadar Hills District
· Denial of Tribal Protection Under the Sixth Schedule
· The Eight Schedule
· Disparity in Development: Neglect of Tribal/Kuki Areas
· Rendering Hill Areas Committee Non-functional
· Denial of Proportionate Representation
· Land Alienation and Annexation of Tribal Land through state administrative mechanism (overlapping in the 2011 census), which is taken up by COPTAM (Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur)
· State Government meddles with chieftains rights to deprive them of their land.
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