Gangtok, Dec 15: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Monday attended a discussion on “Indicators of Backwardness and Demographic Laggardness among Indigenous Ethnic Communities of the Sikkim Himalayan Region,” highlighting the socio-economic challenges faced by 12 left-out Indigenous Sikkimese ethnic communities.

The communities Bhujel, Gurung, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Kirat Yakha Dewan, Majhi, Manger, Newar, Sanyasi, Sunuwar, and Thami have made significant contributions to Sikkim’s heritage and development, but their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list has long been awaited.

Earlier, ethnographic reports (Volumes I to IV) from the Sikkim State High-Level Committee were submitted in August 2025 and approved by the Cabinet and the Sikkim Legislative Assembly on December 12. On Monday, Volumes V and VI, prepared by statisticians SK Chakrabarti, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, and Amitabha Panda under the guidance of Prof. Mahendra P. Lama, were presented and discussed.

The reports, based on extensive fieldwork and consultations, document historical disadvantages, socio-economic challenges, and cultural uniqueness of these communities. They provide data-driven evidence supporting their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list while highlighting pockets of deprivation even among recognized communities.

CM Tamang expressed gratitude to all consultants, committee members, officials, researchers, and field staff involved. He said the government will submit the reports to the Government of India to formally pursue the recognition of these communities, a demand he has repeatedly raised with the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.

“This milestone is not just about recognition; it is about a brighter future for all Sikkimese communities. Together, we are taking Sikkim forward, honoring our past while embracing the promise of tomorrow,” he said.