Sikkim’s Lok Sabha MP, Dr. Indra Hang Subba, has stepped up his efforts to address long-standing concerns over tribal representation in the Himalayan state. In a meeting with Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durgadas Uikey, in New Delhi on Friday, the MP called for the urgent inclusion of several left-out communities in Sikkim’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
Dr. Subba said the exclusion of certain indigenous groups from the official ST list has resulted in deep-rooted social and political inequalities. He particularly drew attention to the plight of the Limboo and Tamang communities, who were granted ST status in 2003 but have yet to receive corresponding political representation in the state’s legislative framework. “Granting a constitutional label without political empowerment defeats the very purpose of social justice,” Subba reportedly told the minister.
According to the MP, the Sikkim government has been working closely with the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) to fulfill the necessary criteria for adding more deserving communities to the state’s ST list. The inclusion process, he noted, is not just a bureaucratic formality but a matter of restoring dignity, identity, and opportunities for those who have historically been left behind.
Subba’s meeting comes at a time when tribal rights in Sikkim are under renewed public scrutiny. Social organizations, community leaders, and student bodies have been pressing both the state and central governments to speed up the process, warning that prolonged delays risk deepening mistrust among marginalized groups.
The MP also stressed that Sikkim’s unique demographic profile and its history of protecting indigenous cultures should guide national policymakers in making timely, sensitive decisions. “For us, this is not merely about recognition on paper—it is about ensuring equal participation in governance, access to resources, and preservation of cultural heritage,” he said.