The two MPs from the Himalayan state of Sikkim — one each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha — have lent support to the demand for the Scheduled Tribe status to 11 hill communities.

Over the past few years, Raju Bista, the BJP MP of Darjeeling, has time and again flagged the need to grant ST status to the communities. Even during the ongoing monsoon session, Bista has mentioned the issue in Parliament, while underscoring that such a status would help in the socio-economic development of these communities who dwell in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and also in the neighbouring state of Sikkim.

“We want reservation for Tamang and Limbu communities in the state. Also, it is the need of the hour to include the left-out communities under the ST list. If this status is granted, then Sikkim can be declared a tribal state like some other northeastern states,” said D.T. Lepcha, the BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP lawmaker also underscored that the Centre needs to take up the work of widening the NH-10, the principal highway that connects the state with the rest of
the country.

“We have mentioned the issue to the Prime Minister and the Union minister of road transport and highways. The highway often gets blocked because of landslides and needs immediate attention of the central government,” said Lepcha.

Indra Hang Subba, the lone MP of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha from Sikkim in the Lok Sabha, mentioned the same demands and also sought central intervention to help the victims of the flash flood which had occurred in the Teesta river in October
last year.

“We also want a regional centre on glaciology to be established in Sikkim as there are many glacial lakes in the state. The Centre can conduct research on the lakes and can also help in mitigating damage in case of a natural disaster like a flash flood,” said Subba.

In October last year, a flash flood — known as a glacial
lake outburst flood — had occurred in Sikkim because of the outburst of the South Lhonak Lake, which is in the northern parts of the mountain state.

Subba has also met the minister of state for defence, seeking his intervention for repair and restoration of roads in north Sikkim that were damaged by the flash flood, sources said.