CHETAN RAI, Gangtok 18 Feb:
EIECOS+1 [Eleven+1 Indigenous Ethnic Communities of Sikkim] addressed a press conference here today to provide an update on issues pertaining to the demand seeking Scheduled Tribe status for the leftout communities of the State.
Dr Shiva Kumar Rai, Chairperson-EIECOS, briefed the media about the Sikkim State High-Level Committee (SSHLC) meeting held in New Delhi on 10 February and discussed the organization’s upcoming strategies.
Deputy Speaker, MPs, and MLAs attended the New Delhi meeting, where Sarika Pradhan, Member Secretary-EIECOS, delivered the welcome address and presented the first draft of the ethnographic report with community-specific PowerPoint presentations.
Prof BV Sharma made a presentation on Kirat Khambu Rai and Yakha Dewan, Prof MP Lama presented on Gurung and Prof Nupur Tiwari on Newar. During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of addressing objections from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Registrar General of India (RGI) to strengthen the case for ST status approval, it was informed today.
At the meeting, Ms Pradhan presented the timeline- first draft by 20 February, orientation workshop on 24 February, field surveys from 01 to 06 March, peer review by mid-March, and final SSHLC meeting from 25 to 27 March.
Dr Rai said that efforts are being made to complete the final report of the committee by 31 March,2025, for submission to the State Government through the Social Welfare Department.
EIECOS Association was formed in 2016 to coordinate efforts for the demand for inclusion of Sikkim’s left-out communities in the Scheduled Tribes list.
Dr Rai emphasized the need for careful review of the ethnographic reports at various levels to ensure accuracy and authenticity.
The press conference was also attended by Mani Kumar Pradhan (General Secretary of EIECOS) and representatives from Sikkim’s 12 left-out communities—Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas (Chettri-Bahun), Rai Sunuwar-Mukhia, Thami, Yakha Dewan, Giri-Sanyasi, and Majhi.
