let alone the word Lepcha does not figure in the EIA done by the Centre for Inter Disciplinary Studies of Mountain and Hill Environments, Commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forest,” Mr. Lepcha pointed out.

He has made this reference in context to information/reports on the “sanctity of Dzongu” sought by the National Commission for Minorities and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

The Carrying capacity study has “clearly mentioned” that “the proposed Panan project lies in the Dzongu area considered sacred by the local people. Therefore, to undertake any activity in this region, it would require the consent of these people.”

In a letter dated October 16, 2007, the National Commission for Minorities had written to the State Chief Secretary regarding the “sanctity of Dzongu and protection of Dzongu Lepcha tribe’s holy land.”

Responding to the letter, the State Home Department through a letter dated November 11, 2007 to the National Commission for Minorities has answered that “the Review Committee will inter-alia examine all the concerns of ACT and submit the report to the State Government, for which the department had requested that the time for submission of suitable report to the Commission may be extended till December 31, 2007.

Following this, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes on January 30, this year in a letter to the Secretary of the State Energy and Power Department further sought “specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of Scheduled Tribes” from the Power Secretary.

In another development, the Sikkim Unit of All India Bharatiya Adivasi Bikash Parishad has requested the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to send an inquiry committee to Dzongu to look into the grievances of the tribe.

In a press meet held here at BL House, the body’s Vice President, Namgyal Lepcha also thanked the National Commission for their help in seeking information/reports on the “sanctity of Dzongu” from the State Government, for which the latter has asked for 30 days to respond.

Mr. Lepcha, who is also the convener of the Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim, said that the Sikkim Unit of the Adivasi Parishad with it’s headquarter in New Delhi is a platform for the tribals, whether Bhutias, Lepchas, Tamangs or Limboos to discuss their grievances and seek a solution.

Stating that the Primitive Status accorded to the Lepchas is only based on socio-economic upliftment and that there is no such political benefits, Mr. Lepcha through the newly formed Sikkim Unit of Adivasi Parishad has planned to reap the benefits, particularly on education accorded by the State Government.

He further appraised the State Labour Department to do a survey on Lepcha children who are working as domestic help in the State and also requested the department to implement certain schemes for their upliftmnet.

In another demand, the vice president of the State Adivasi body has requested the “few members” of the Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum to leave their post for educated Lepcha youth.

According to Mr. Lepcha, who is also the former president of Rong Ong Shejum, the Tarjum has become redundant with no democratic elections held for the last two terms for its executive members and that the body was functioning only for petty individual interests.

Informing that most of the Lepchas in the districts are unhappy over the proceedings of the Tarjum, Mr. Lepcha said that they will soon take over the Tarjum, established mainly for safeguarding the tribal Lepchas.

Meanwhile, the protest over the hydel projects in Dzongu has reached 250 days today. Protest in the form of indefinite hunger strike is still continuing.

It is also informed that all the Lepchas of the world would initiate a long march in March-April, this year. To organise the march peacefully, the Lepcha association from Darjeeling has already sent a petition letter to the State Chief Minister and Chief Secretary, it is learned.

It is also informed that the long march organised to pay respect to their holy land, Dzongu would begin from Melli to Dzongu. The march on foot would take 10-15 days with halts in between.