Senior officials from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the Social Welfare Department are participating in the discussions, which are expected to mark a decisive step toward fulfilling a long-cherished aspiration of the people of Sikkim. For decades, several communities across the state have been advocating for Scheduled Tribe (ST) recognition. For them, the issue extends beyond constitutional safeguards—it represents an acknowledgment of their cultural heritage, social identity, and rightful space in the country’s political fabric. Today’s deliberations are therefore being viewed as a turning point that could bring these aspirations closer to realization.
The groundwork for this meeting was laid on August 2, 2025, when the Sikkim government finalized ethnographic reports of 12 left-out communities seeking ST recognition. The landmark exercise, held at Samman Bhawan in Gangtok, was chaired by CM Tamang and marked the culmination of months of fieldwork and consultations by the State High-Level Committee (SHLC). The 12 communities—Bhujel, Gurung, Jogi, Khas, Kirat Rai, Kirat Dewan Yakha, Majhi, Mangar, Newar, Sanyasi, Sunuwar (Mukhia), and Thami—have long sought inclusion, arguing that their cultural traditions and social practices fit the criteria laid down by the Centre.
The SHLC, headed by Anthropological Survey of India Director BV Sharma with JNU professor Mahendra P Lama as Vice-Chairman, conducted exhaustive field surveys and consultations to address all concerns flagged earlier by the central government. Following this, CM Tamang described the documentation as a “living testament to Sikkim’s collective heritage”, expressing confidence that the reports would stand scrutiny and pave the way for inclusion.
