Sunday, Nov 20, 2022 08:00 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Nov 20, 2022 02:26 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The Limboo Tamang Voluntary Committee (LTVC) on Saturday demanded the State government to pass an Assembly bill granting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) – primitive tribe status to the indigenous Limboo tribal community based on its ancient history. The committee added that the demand should also be forwarded by the State government to the Centre for national-level recognition of the status sought.
Addressing a media conference here, LTVC president Yehang Tsong shared that the committee had submitted a memorandum to the State government and the Centre regarding the PVTG status demand in 2017-18.
PVTG-primitive tribe status legalized by the Union government and Sikkim government would eventually provide better protection for the indigenous Limboo community from the verge of extinction, said Yehang.
Yehang added that the LTVC, earlier this year, had submitted an ethnographic report on the Limboo community to the State government elaborating with the available data and statistics on the prescribed criteria for achievement of the PVTG primitive tribe status. In October this year, we submitted a memorandum wherein all political parties, former Chief Ministers, former MPs and ex-MLAs along with representatives of social organisations had committed solidarity to our demand, he said.
“Due to their absolute support, there should be no reason and/or cause for the incumbent State government leading to the immediate delivery of the status. And given the will and power of the incumbent at the Centre to restore lost heritages on historical backgrounds, primitive-PVTG status for Limboos cannot face any impediment,” asserted the LTVC president.
Yehang demanded the State government to pass a bill in coming winter Assembly session granting the PTVG-primitive tribe status to the Limboo community. It should also not be limited to Sikkim only for which the State government should forward the demand and bill to the Centre for PTVG status at a national level, he said.
The LTVC president mentioned that the Limboos were denied their historical right when the State government in 2005 proposed only the Lepcha community for the primitive tribe status to the Centre.
“Regretfully, the historic injustices have continued even after merger of Sikkim into the Indian Union, increasing continuously due to vote bank politics wherein the Limboos have been silently forced to accept getting clubbed within the Nepali/Gorkha community resulting in the absolute endangering of the distinct Limboo identity. Limboos were, are and shall remain proudly a distinct Himalayan tribe as their ancestors have guided them to be. Government of India, Government of Sikkim and all communities should respectfully treat them so,” said the LTVC president.
