The Sikkim Summit for Tribal Status 2018 will be held on May 3 and 4 next at the Manan Kendra in Gangtok.
The summit is an initiative of Eleven Indigenous Ethnic Communities of Sikkim [EIECOS] in collaboration with Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes [SCBC] and Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Department [SJEWD], Government of Sikkim.
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The main objective of the summit is to take the issue of realization of scheduled tribe status for eleven indigenous ethnic communities of Sikkim thereby making Sikkim a tribal state.
It is informed that this unique initiative has been taken to bring leading scholars and policy makers together to present their views on this demand.
The summit will have former Tribal Affairs Minister and presently president of All India Adivasi Congress, KC Deo, academician and leading Tibetologist with expertise in geopolitical matters between India, China and Tibet, Claude Arpi, former secretary to Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Hrushikesh Panda, Supreme Court advocate, Shomona Khanna, former Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University, Prof T B Subba, leading anthropologist and Director of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sanghralaya, Prof Sarit K Chaudhuri and former Speakers of Sikkim Legislative Assembly, D N Thakarpa and K T Gyaltsen among key speakers.
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The summit will also have joint secretary to Ministry of Tribal Affairs, G Ramesh Kumar as an observer.
Addressing a press conference in Gangtok on Monday, Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes Chairman, T N Sharma mentioned that the State Government led by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has been working on inclusive policies for the protection, uplift and welfare of every community of Sikkim.
He added that the State Government has ensured that no individual was left behind in the development process due to his religion, caste or ethnic origin.
He added that the government has been working relentlessly to convince the Central government for the recognition of eleven left-out communities of Sikkim and thereby to make Sikkim a tribal state.
Sharma informed that EIECOS and stakeholders have also submitted representations to the concerned authorities.
He also informed that the summit will have technical and brainstorming sessions and will document opinion and suggestions of experts and anthropologists on this issue.
“The summit will also pass Gangtok Resolution which will be submitted to the Central Government,” he said.
The press conference was also attended by Lok Sabha MP, P D Rai, Tourism Minister Ugen T Gyatso Bhutia, Roads & Bridges Minister GM Gurung and Social Justice & Welfare Minister Tulshi Devi Rai.
A booklet on an introduction to Sikkim Summit for Tribal Status was also released during the press conference.