GANGTOK: The Sikkim State High-Level Committee (SSHLC) has finalized its report on the inclusion of 12 left-out communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The committee’s final meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay at Chintan Bhawan on Thursday.
Minister Arun Kumar Upreti, SSHLC Advisor and MLA BS Panth, SSHLC Chairman Professor BV Sharma, Vice Chairman Professor Mahendra P. Lama, Member Secretary Sarika Pradhan, EICCOS+1 Chairman Shiva Rai, and other key officials attended the meeting.
Chief Minister Tamang emphasized the significance of the work that began in mid-December 2024 and expressed his appreciation for the contributions of all participants. He noted that the final report, which includes extensive ethnographic data, will guide further engagement with government agencies and community organizations.
Highlighting the thorough research that went into preparing the report, SSHLC Chairman Professor BV Sharma thanked the government for its support throughout the process. Emphasizing the need for granting Scheduled Tribe status to the 12 communities, Professor Mahendra P. Lama, Vice Chairman of SSHLC, presented the executive summary of the ethnographic reports.
Chairman of EICCOS+1 Shiva Rai reflected on the historical context of the inclusion process and spoke about the importance of grassroots-level engagement.
The meeting concluded with the submission of the final report, followed by feedback from the community representatives. At the event, Deputy Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly Raj Kumari Thapa, cabinet ministers, MLAs, and other officials were also present.
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