SIKKIM: Lepchas demand 50% reservation in education, 22% in govt jobs

FROM NEWKERALA.COM/UNI

Mangan, Aug 9 : The Lepcha community has urged the Sikkim government to provide 50 per cent reservation in education to the backward tribe and also ensure full implementation of the 22 per cent reservation in government jobs.

These demands were placed at the three-day-long state-level Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebration which concluded at Mangan yesterday. Different personalities of the Lepcha community were also felicitated for their contributions in different fields.

The final day of the celebration was chaired by Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly speaker, KT Gyaltsen as the Chief guest.

Roads and Bridges Minister and celebration committee chairman RB Subba said this statewide function was being celebrated every year since last 13 years to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of the indigenous Lepcha community.

He stressed that every member of the Lepcha community needs to work together for the preservation of the culture and tradition of the community, adding that the development efforts for the Lepcha community will get a fillip after they got the status of primitive tribe.

The function was also addressed by president of the celebration committee and state Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha.

A cultural show by the Lepcha, Nepali, and Bhutia communities was followed by distribution of Primitive Tribe Certificates among those who hailed from the constituency.

On the occasion, the GB Mainwaring Literacy Award 2010 was presented to Dhendup Lepcha, Retd Additional Secretary to the Government of Sikkim, and the Tendong Award 2010 was given to Namgyal Lepcha of Mutanchi Lom Aaal Sezum, Dzongu North Sikkim.
Likewise, Tengay Lepcha of the Directorate of Handicraft and Handloom, Government of Sikkim, was awarded with the Special Award and recognition for his skill in weaving Lepcha Hat Sumuk Thayaktuk and Late Lha Tshering Kunchudyangmoo Memorial Literacy Award 2010 was presented to Songmit Lepcha.

The celebration was also attended by MP, Rajya Sabha, OT Lepcha, Ministers, MLAs, government officials, members from the social organisations, local gentry and students.