KalimNews, February 10, 2025: The second meeting of the Sikkim State High-Level Committee (SSHLC) for the inclusion of 12 left-out communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list was held at Old Sikkim House, New Delhi, on February 10, 2025.
The meeting was chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, and was attended by all SSHLC members, Hon’ble Members of Parliament from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, the Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Hon’ble Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Sikkim, Hon’ble MLAs, and Advisors representing the 12 communities. Representatives of the 12 left-out communities were also present to provide their insights, a press release issued by the Social Welfare Department reported..
During the meeting, the SSHLC members presented the First Draft Report on the inclusion of these communities for discussion and deliberation. The draft report emphasized that these communities meet the five essential criteria for inclusion: primitive traits, distinctive culture, shyness, geographical isolation, and backwardness. The members stressed that this draft was preliminary and prepared based on structured templates submitted by community members. Further research and reference documents are being compiled for incorporation into the final report, ensuring a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to their case for ST status.
The Hon’ble Chief Minister appreciated the dedicated efforts of the SSHLC members in preparing the initial draft report within a short timeframe. He acknowledged the scientific and technical methodology adopted and advised that the final report must be thorough, well-researched, and inclusive of all essential aspects to strengthen the case for recognition and inclusion in the ST list.
The Chief Minister urged SSHLC members and community representatives to proactively address the concerns and queries raised by various Committees of the Government of India. He specifically highlighted the crucial issues of data and information gaps pointed out by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Office of the Registrar General of India. He emphasized the need for compelling, well-substantiated responses that would equip the Government of India with all necessary evidence to make a final decision on the inclusion of the 12 Sikkimese ethnic communities in the ST list under the Constitution of India.
The meeting commenced with a welcome address by Smt. Sarika Pradhan, Secretary and Member Secretary of SSHLC, from the Social Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim. She outlined the objectives of the meeting and emphasized the importance of a collective effort to achieve the desired goal. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Shri Prem Kamal Rai, Joint Secretary, Social Welfare Department.
It is noteworthy that the SSHLC was constituted by the State Government on November 4, 2024, through Notification No: 59/SWD/ADM/2024, with the mandate to prepare a comprehensive and scientific report supporting the inclusion of these communities in the ST list. The first SSHLC meeting was held in Gangtok on December 15, 2024. Subsequently, a corrigendum (Memo No. 189-192/SWD/ADM dated December 23, 2024) was issued, setting a timeline of three months from the date of the first meeting for the submission of the final report to the State Government.
The ongoing efforts of the SSHLC and the proactive involvement of the Government of Sikkim reflect a committed and structured approach to addressing the long-standing demand for the recognition of these 12 communities. The final report, once submitted, is expected to serve as a crucial document for the Central Government’s consideration, potentially leading to a landmark decision in the socio-economic upliftment of these communities.
