Sikkim Government will always support unification of various communities of Sikkim: CM TAMANG

New Delhi, August 10: Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang announced construction of Lepcha Bhawan in Gangtok. He made this announcement while addressing the State Level Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration at Mannan Kendra in the state capital.

Tendong Lho Rum Faat is the festival of the indigenous Lepcha community celebrated to commemorate their deity who saved their ancestors from a deluge and to pay respect to the Tendong hill. It is believed that the land raised itself during the flood forming into a hill to save the people . This festival was declared a state holiday by the Government of Sikkim in 1997.

The Chief Minister said, the state government will construct Lepcha Bhawan which can be developed into a Lepcha Cultural Centre for which he has urged Sikkim Lepcha Association to identify the land for the construction.

The Chief Minister also announced to send Lepcha Bongthings on an annual Exposure Trip outside Sikkim under Culture Department.

Regarding the demand of inclusion of Lepcha language in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister said that the state government has always advocated this demand at the Centre and further informed that not only Lepcha but he has been placing the demand of Constitutional recognition to Lepcha, Bhutia and Limboo languages.

The Chief Minister also informed about the State Government forming a Committee headed by Padmashree Shri Sanu Lama to restore the lost original names of places of Sikkim.

Regarding demand for enhancement in reservation quota for Primitive Tribe from existing 5% to 10%, Chief Minister assured to look into the matter after consultation with concerned authorities.

While speaking about the developmental initiatives undertaken by the State Government for the welfare of the Lepcha community,

the Chief Minister informed that students belonging to underprivileged Lepcha families from Dzongu can avail scholarships under CM Merit Scholarship Scheme (CMMSS). Five seats at Tashi Namgyal Academy are reserved exclusively for Lepcha students from Dzongu.

Further, Kursongkit Lepcha from Yuksom-Tashiding has been selected to receive scholarship of Rs. 50 lakhs under Nar Bahadur Bhandari Fellowship Scheme (NBBFS) to study M.Phil in Cambridge University, United Kingdom. She will be awarded with an advance of Rs.25 lakhs on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day.

The CM said 1000 concept community- based home stays will be constructed following the traditional Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepalese architectural designs.

The Chief Minister, during the programme, also handed over Rs. 10 lakhs under Chief Minister’s Discretionary Grant (CMDG) to the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration Committee.

Tendong Award 2023 was presented by Renzyong Mutanchi Rong Tarzum (RMRT) to the Chief Minister in recognition of his outstanding contribution and continued, unwavering support for the development of the Lepcha Community and the state at large.

The award was presented to the CM by the Governor on behalf of RMRT.