On the 23rd anniversary of Nepali newspaper Himalaya Darpan, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was honored with the prestigious Gorkha Gaurav Samman. In his acceptance speech, Tamang addressed several pressing issues resonating with the Gorkha community and the broader socio-political landscape of the region.
Tamang acknowledged enduring political challenges, notably the Limboo-Tamang tribal status issue. “Even though we have our own political scenario, some issues are common. The Limboo-Tamang tribal issue was a longstanding concern, and it was solved through collective effort,” he said. He also paid homage to the late Nar Bahadur Bhandari, former Chief Minister of Sikkim, for his relentless fight for the inclusion of the Nepali language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, highlighting Bhandari’s significant contributions to the Nepali community.
Reflecting on progress made, Tamang noted, “In 2003, the Indian government granted ST status to the Limboo and Tamang communities in Sikkim and West Bengal. This was a significant milestone, but we must continue our efforts to secure similar recognition for other communities.”
Emphasizing unity between Sikkim and Darjeeling, Tamang said, “We have been raising the issue of granting ST status to 11 communities in Darjeeling and 12 communities in Sikkim. Whenever I meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah, I advocate for the rights of these communities collectively, not just for Sikkim.”
Expressing gratitude for the Gorkha Gaurav Samman, Tamang remarked, “I feel I do not deserve this honor, but I am very thankful to Himalaya Darpan and the people of Sikkim for this recognition.”
As the leader of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), Tamang highlighted his government’s achievements in the health sector, mentioning initiatives that benefit both Sikkim and Darjeeling. “We have introduced schemes that reduce medical costs for the people of Darjeeling. For example, a treatment costing Rs 3 lakhs is reduced to just Rs 30,000.”
