Sikkim MP in Parliament on tribal status for left-out communities, reserved seats for L-T

Sajal Pradhan, EOI, 16, 2022: Sikkim M.P. Indra Hang Subba on Friday raised in Parliament the issues of seat reservation for the Limboo – Tamang communities and tribal status for the 12 left-out communities of Sikkim.

Subba demanded the concerned Ministry should expedite the process of seat reservation for the L-T community as they achieved tribal status in 2003 but was still without reserved seats in the state assembly. The 12 left-out communities in Sikkim wanted to attain tribal status on the basis of article 371F of the Constitution, he said.

Later he told reporters: “During discussion on the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order (Third Amendment) Bill 2022, I apprised the House regarding the pending demand of inclusion of 12 left-out communities of Sikkim in the Scheduled Tribe list. 

Among the three major communities of Sikkim, the Bhutia and Lepcha community was included in the Scheduled Tribe list in1978 and the Limboo and Tamang community in 2003. Despite the fact that we share similar tribal traits and socio-economic conditions, 12 communities have not yet been included in the Scheduled Tribe list, despite repeated appraisals of the State Government to the Centre."

Subba also apprised the House of the importance of preservation and development of languages and dialects of the tribal communities.

"It is important that regional institutions must be involved in this task. It is not just about social and economic development but preservation of identity as well,” Subba told reporters. 

It may be mentioned that the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India has already submitted its report saying the 12 left-out communities do not possess any tribal traits. 

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government has decided to approach the issue in a different way, on the basis of article 371 F.