Indra Hang urges RP Act review before Delimitation to ensure no SC/ST community is deprived of reserved representation

SKM MP attends all-party meeting beforeParliament’s Monsoon Session

GANGTOK: Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba on Sunday participated in the all party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, representing the Sikkim KrantikariMorcha (SKM) in the LokSabha. The meeting of Floor Leaders was chaired by RakshaMantriRajnath Singh, a press release informs.

During the meeting, the LokSabha MP from Sikkim urged the Union Government to accord priority to a number of pressing national issues, particularly those concerning the Himalayan region, border States, students from disadvantaged communities, and vulnerable farming households. He requested that these matters be taken up for substantive discussion during the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

A key issue raised by Indra Hang was the need to enhance the scholarship amounts for students belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC). He pointed out that the existing scholarship assistance has not kept pace with the rising cost of higher education and urged the government to rationalise the scholarship structure to ensure that deserving students from economically weaker sections are able to pursue quality education without financial hardship.

Drawing attention to the increasing frequency of flash floods, landslides, glacial hazards and other climate-induced disasters, Indra Hang called for a comprehensive national strategy for disaster mitigation and climate resilience in the Himalayan region. He emphasised that the ecological fragility and strategic importance of the Himalayan States warrant sustained policy attention, dedicated investments, and long-term planning.

On the issue of constitutional safeguards, the MP urged the Government to revisit the provisions of the Representation of the People Act before the delimitation exercise to ensure that no Scheduled Tribe (ST) or Scheduled Caste (SC) community is deprived of its constitutional right to political representation through seat reservation. He stressed that the delimitation process must uphold the constitutional safeguards guaranteed to historically disadvantaged communities.

Indra Hang also underscored the urgent need to strengthen sustainable, reliable and climate-resilient connectivity across the Himalayan region. He called for accelerated development of strategic road infrastructure, particularly along the Indo–Nepal border, to improve connectivity, enhance disaster response capabilities, strengthen border management, and promote balanced regional development.

Highlighting the growing incidence of human-wildlife conflict, Indra Hang sought a comprehensive discussion in Parliament on the issue. He urged the Government to adopt effective measures to mitigate crop damage caused by wild animals and to ensure timely and adequate compensation for affected farmers, particularly in vulnerable rural and forest-fringe areas.

Expressing confidence that these concerns would receive due consideration during the Monsoon Session, Indra Hang stated that addressing these issues is essential not only for the welfare of the people of Sikkim but also for safeguarding the interests of the Himalayan States and strengthening inclusive and sustainable development across the country, the release mentions.