Delegation of 12 indigenous communities led by Sikkim CM heads for Delhi to demand tribal status

GANGTOK: Led by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, a delegation with representatives from 12 communities in Sikkim has left for Delhi to demand tribal status from the government. Prior to their Delhi visit, representatives from 12 communities under the joint banner of Eleven Indigenous Communities of Sikkim held an awareness programme on the tribal status of 12 ethnic communities in Gangtok on December 3. All 12 left-out communities, led by their presidents and their apex organization EICOS, held deliberations on the various issues concerning their respective communities.

EICOS Convener Raju Basnet, speaking with the media, shared, "The resolution adopted today states that the rights and interests of all these communities have to be restored as they were guaranteed in the May 8, 1973 Agreement and Article 371F of the Indian Constitution. With the submission of the ethnographic report, backed by Article 371F, we are hopeful that the resolution will be brought to the parliament in this winter session and declare us tribal." A resolution has been adopted by the 12 communities, which states, "All the communities of Sikkim were enjoying equal status as per seat reservation, job reservation, and all other socio-economic benefits that were approved to a tribal of Indian context during the erstwhile Chogyal regime. Even after Sikkim's merger with India, these communities enjoyed tribal status and rights until 1979. When the seats reserved for these communities were abrogated, all other benefits were cut down, shared EICOS Convener. The delegation led by CM includes 18 members from the TN Dhakal-led committee and also members of EICOS. The Chief Minister will be calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other cabinet ministers in Delhi.

Speaking on the TN Dhakal Committee, Basnet shared, "The committee has prepared an extensive report on the demand of these 12 left-out communities and presented it to the government. The same report will be taken to Delhi and presented before the central leaders." On raising the issue before the 2024 election, Basnet shared, "It is during the election year that all the political leaders have their eyes and ears open, so this is an effort to make everyone hear that our rights and interests should also be preserved, and we are crying for justice." (ANI)

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