Sikkim CM CM Chairs Inaugural Meeting of SSHLC to Facilitate Inclusion of 12 Left-out Sikkimese Communities in Scheduled Tribes List

IPR, Gangtok, December 15, 2024 : The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr. Prem Singh Tamang, chaired the inaugural meeting of the Sikkim State High-Level Committee (SSHLC) today at Samman Bhawan, organized by the Social Welfare Department (SWD). The committee was formed to work on the inclusion of 12 left-out Sikkimese communities in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list under the Indian Constitution.

The SSHLC's primary objective is to prepare a comprehensive ethnographic report and submit actionable recommendations within three months. This crucial initiative is aimed at ensuring the social and economic empowerment of these 12 communities by securing their rightful place in the ST category.

The meeting saw the participation of key SSHLC members, including Mr. B.V. Sharma (Chairman, SSHLC), Prof. Mahendra P. Lama (Vice Chairman, SSHLC), Dr. Shiva Kumar Rai (Chairman, Eleven +1 Indigenous Ethnic Communities of Sikkim), and other distinguished experts, anthropologists, and academic professionals. Notable attendees included Ms. Sarika Pradhan (Secretary, SWD), Mr. Bedu Singh Panth (MLA and Advisor, Directorate of Sikkim State Lotteries and Excise), and Dr. Sandhya Thapa (Head of Department of Sociology, Sikkim University), along with elected representatives and dignitaries from the 12 left-out communities.

In his address, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang welcomed the SSHLC members and outlined the historical context preceding Sikkim's merger with India. He emphasized the significance of this initiative for the inclusion of the 12 communities in the ST list, a step vital for their social and economic development.

The Chief Minister stated that the main aim of the SSHLC’s first meeting was to work out the modalities for inclusion, in line with directives from the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. He reiterated the state government's full commitment to this cause and called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to make this long-pending demand a reality.

The Chief Minister expressed his full support for the SSHLC and urged representatives from the 12 left-out communities to cooperate with the committee. He assured that the state government would work in tandem with all parties to ensure the success of this mission.

Mr. Suman Gurung, Special Secretary of SWD, highlighted the meeting's objective of addressing the inclusion of the 12 communities and welcomed the dignitaries. Ms. Sarika Pradhan, Secretary SWD and Member Secretary of SSHLC, presented a detailed status report on the progress and outlined the state government's proactive steps towards the inclusion of these communities. She also introduced the SSHLC members and shared their historical background.

Mr. B.V. Sharma, Chairman of SSHLC, stressed the importance of bridging gaps and utilizing the committee’s collective expertise to produce impactful results. He emphasized that the committee’s approach should be inclusive and well-researched to ensure that the report leads to significant outcomes.

Dr. Shiva Kumar Rai, Chairman of EIECOS Plus 1, thanked the Chief Minister for his leadership and the establishment of the SSHLC, expressing confidence that the inclusion of the left-out communities in the ST list would be achieved under his guidance.

Prof. Mahendra P. Lama, Vice Chairman of SSHLC, emphasized the need for a robust, evidence-based approach to the task ahead. He proposed focusing on five key criteria and encouraged the search for historical documents and manuscripts to strengthen the argument for inclusion.

The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Bandana Chettri, Additional Secretary, SWD. This was followed by a detailed consultation session with the representatives of the 12 left-out communities, where the members of SSHLC discussed the next steps and gathered valuable inputs for the process.

With a committed and collaborative effort from all stakeholders, the SSHLC aims to successfully bring about the inclusion of these 12 communities in the Scheduled Tribes list, a step that will greatly enhance their social and economic status in the state.