Sikkim submits final report on inclusion of 12 left-out communities in ST list

The valedictory function of the Sikkim State High-Level Committee on tribal inclusion was held today in the national capital, marking a significant step in the state’s long-standing demand for constitutional recognition of 12 left-out communities. 

The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) and attended by senior officials from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and the Social Welfare Department.

In a landmark development, the Ethnographic Committee on Sikkim’s tribal inclusion formally submitted its much-awaited final report to the Chief Minister. 

The report recommends the inclusion of 12 communities — Bhujel, Gurung, Jogi, Khas, Kirat Rai, Kirat Dewan Yakha, Majhi, Mangar, Newar, Sanyasi, Sunuwar (Mukhia), and Thami — into the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list under the Constitution of India.

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Describing the submission as historic and potentially transformative, the Chief Minister said the recommendations would strengthen Sikkim’s long-pending demand to be recognised as a Tribal State. 

He emphasised that the recognition of these communities is not only a matter of constitutional justice but also essential for safeguarding their cultural identity, socio-economic upliftment, and political rights.

The issue has remained unresolved for decades, with successive governments and community leaders pressing for recognition. Today’s submission is expected to accelerate the state’s dialogue with the Union government and give fresh momentum to Sikkim’s push for full Tribal State status.