Sunday, Dec 14, 2025 21:15 [IST]
Last Update: Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 15:41 [IST]
Some self-appointed custodians of people’s interests and political groups completely rejected by the people in the last election are always eager to project themselves as responsible outfits, especially when there is even a slim chance to gain some eyeballs on social media. Creating noise without substance comes easily to them. What seems unimaginably harder to them is standing with the people when the Government is steadily doing the real work of safeguarding the rights and the future of Sikkimese communities, particularly at this important juncture for the twelve left out communities.
They often pretend to remind everyone that criticism is their democratic right. That is not in question. What is often missing, however, is their ability to at least acknowledge, even if begrudgingly as responsible oppositions do, when the Government is seen acting with sincerity, constitutional clarity and genuine concern for the people of Sikkim.
Since the present Government came to office in 2019, the inclusion of the twelve left out Indigenous communities in the Scheduled Tribes list has been treated with the seriousness, sincerity and responsibility this important issue deserves, not as a mere political lip service. The sincerity and the commitment of the government towards this issue is reflected in various measures adopted right from 2019 that includes frequent representations made to the central government by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and concerned ministers. All the groundworks and initiatives eventually culminated into the constitution of the Sikkim State High Level Committee on 4 November 2024. The Committee, headed by the country’s renowned anthropologist Shri B.V. Sharma, included a range of accomplished scholars, anthropologists, subject experts, senior officials and community representatives, and carried out detailed work through consultations, field studies across the State, examination of historical records and careful ethnographic documentation. Just a look at the Committee’s members and their profile is enough to reflect the government’s commitment towards pushing this issue to its logical conclusion.
When the SSHLC submitted its Final Ethnographic Report on 18 August 2025 in New Delhi, it was the result of months of careful and focused effort. The Four Volume report presented a detailed account of Sikkim’s history, its unique social context, and comprehensive studies of the twelve left out communities. It clearly laid out the social, historical, ecological and constitutional grounds for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list, along with clear recommendations to move the process forward.
Sadly, at that crucial time, the self-appointed opposition displayed more interest in raising questions over tea and coffee bills instead of engaging meaningfully with this important issue of social justice and constitutional rights of the concerned communities. In any other states, this group would have been widely mocked for talking about coffee bills and room tariffs instead of the ethnographic report.
The Council of Ministers examined and accepted the Final Report of the SSHLC and approved its placement before the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Subsequently, on 12 December 2025, the Sikkim Legislative Assembly adopted and passed a resolution formally ratifying the report, marking a significant milestone under the inclusive leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang Golay and the SKM Government.
The ratified report will now be sent to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar General of India for further consideration. The State Government will take all necessary and proactive steps to ensure the timely processing of the proposal at the Union Government level, so that the long pending, consistently represented and legitimate aspirations of the twelve Indigenous communities of Sikkim are finally realised.
As expected, those who usually rush to issue press statements within minutes of any happening have chosen to remain silent. This issue gives them no space to shout or create confusion. The least they can do is, create a noise even on this resolution based nothing but on their delusional assumptions which has been their forte so far. While the Government continues to move ahead step by step with commitment and focus, they look elsewhere for issues that allow louder noise.
The Government of Sikkim continues its work with patience and clear intent. There is no promise of instant results, only confidence in the careful work done by the SSHLC and the sustained efforts of the Government to secure the rightful place of the twelve left out communities and strengthen Sikkimese society as a whole. This is not about publicity. It is about responsible governance. After decades of delay and half-hearted efforts by the previous government, the SKM Government has shown seriousness and resolve the issue deserves. Some may continue to chase social media attention, but the Government under the leadership of Shri Prem Singh Tamang Golay remains focused on justice, dignity and lasting progress for the people of Sikkim.
