the uipo (khoibu) tribe is a highly endangered community of manipur and in great need of social recognition and constitutional protection from the government since their identity, traditions and cultures are endangered and today hanging on the brink of extinction. the equation of powers among the ethnic enclosures in hill areas of the state also matters while deciding who should be recognised as tribe or st. even the state that has the authority to recognise tribes as schedule tribe is influenced by strong lobby of a powerful tribe who is against the recognition of certain groups as st.