Press Release
Press Release from the Office of the Additional Political Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Minister
Information & Public Relations Department
Date:29/3/26
The National Executive Committee Coordination Meeting was held at Bungalow No. 8, Safdarjung Lane, New Delhi, on 29th March 2026. The meeting was chaired by former Union Minister and present Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste, who also serves as Chairman for the Welfare of SC/ST.
The committee deliberated on several important agendas, including the long-pending demand of the Banjara community of Maharashtra for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes, even after 75 years of India’s independence. The meeting also discussed concerns regarding alleged atrocities involving Kuki and Naga tribes in the state of Manipur.
Mr Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, National Joint Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (All India Tribal Developmental Council) since 2017, highlighted the positive governance initiatives under the leadership of the present Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr Prem Singh Tamang. He emphasised nature-friendly schemes such as Mero Ruk Mero Santati, Mero Bato Mero Bot, and the Vatsalya Scheme, which aim to promote environmental sustainability and encourage an increase in the birth rate among indigenous communities in the state.
During the meeting, he also informed that the Sikkim Government has passed a cabinet resolution on the inclusion of the Bhutia Lepcha and Limbu languages in the 8th Schedule. He also submitted a memorandum—on behalf of the Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association—regarding the inclusion of the Lepcha language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, to the Chairman, Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste.
The National Executive Committee Coordination Meeting was held at Bungalow No. 8, Safdarjung Lane, New Delhi, on 29th March 2026. The meeting was chaired by former Union Minister and present Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste, who also serves as Chairman for the Welfare of SC/ST.
The committee deliberated on several important agendas, including the long-pending demand of the Banjara community of Maharashtra for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes, even after 75 years of India’s independence. The meeting also discussed concerns regarding alleged atrocities involving Kuki and Naga tribes in the state of Manipur.
Mr Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, National Joint Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (All India Tribal Developmental Council) since 2017, highlighted the positive governance initiatives under the leadership of the present Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr Prem Singh Tamang. He emphasised nature-friendly schemes such as Mero Ruk Mero Santati, Mero Bato Mero Bot, and the Vatsalya Scheme, which aim to promote environmental sustainability and encourage an increase in the birth rate among indigenous communities in the state.
During the meeting, he also informed that the Sikkim Government has passed a cabinet resolution on the inclusion of the Bhutia Lepcha and Limbu languages in the 8th Schedule. He also submitted a memorandum—on behalf of the Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association—regarding the inclusion of the Lepcha language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, to the Chairman, Mr Faggan Singh Kulaste.
