References:
A. Anthropological Survey of India ,Ministry of Culture Department ,Goverment of India,letter Number 13- 229/2000/Estt Dated 10 September 2004.
B.Government of West Bengal Home Department Circular Number 3519 (18)-p dated 12 July 2006.
C. Advertisetment of Riflemen/Other Recruits for Eastern Frontier Rifles, Salua, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal vide ICA/1254 (6)/2010.
1. It is absolutely true that the Lepchas are not Gorkhas. The Lepchas are the one and only original indigenous tribes of this Himalayan region, Reference ‘A’ refers.
2. The Home Department, Government of West Bengal, justifiable, sent a Circular to all the District Magistrates Vide Reference ‘B’ above to issue the necessary ‘Sikkimese Community Certificates’ to the indigenous Lepcha youths desirous of enlisting in the West Bengal Para-Military Forces.
3. This very important Circular, unfortunately, was not activiated in the Darjeeling Hills, West Bengal and as a result, the indigenious Lepcha youths were completely denied and deprived of enlisting in the West Bengal Para - Military Forces and serving their nation for the last few years. We believe, this problem arose, came about owing to the communication gap between the State Government agencies. It was certainly not meant to deprive or discriminate the indigenous Lepcha tribal youths living in the Darjeeling District, West Bengal from joining the Para-Military Forces in West Bengal.
4. The ‘Sikkimese Community Certificates’ were, finally, issued by the District Magistrate, Darjeeling to the Lepcha youths desirous of enlisting in the Para-Military Forces, West Bengal in August 2010 after four years from the issuance of ‘Reference B’ by the Government of West Bengal.
5. The Lepcha youths’ hopes of enlisting in the Para-Military Forces in West Bengal with their newly acquired West Bengal Government’s ‘Sikkimese Community Certificates’ were once again, dashed and shattered when the Government of West Bengal issued an advertisement for ‘Recruitment of Riflemen/Other Recruits for Eastern Frontier Rifles, Salua, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, Reference ‘C’ above refers. The Government
of West Bengal, ironicaly, asked the following two communities only to enlist in the Eastern Frontier Rifles:
(a) Gorkhas and (b) Jharuas ( and Sub - Castes Meches, Kacharies and Rabhas of Indian Nationality)
The original Lepcha youths belonging to ‘Sikkimese Community Groups’ were, once again, denied to enlist in the Para - Military Forces in West Bengal.
6. The original Indigenous Lepcha youths of the Darjeeling District, West Bengal, it is not too far wrong to state, are confused, unhappy, frustrated, tense and agitated because of this administrative lapses.
7. Who is going to sort this acute problem for the original indigenous Lepcha youths? When it is going to be solved? It remains to be seen.
A Senior Correspondent
Enclosers :
References :
A. Anthropological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture Department, Government of India, letter Number 13-229/2000/Estt dated 10 September2004.
B. Government of West Bengal, Home Department Circular Number 3519 (18)-P dated 12 July 2006.
C. Advertisement of Riflemen/Other Recruits for Eastern Frontier Rifles, Salua, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal vide ICA/1245(6)/ 2010.
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Tunggraong Hlo Rum Faat
Bom Gumba Village Unit Lepcha Association, Kalimpong, celebrated the Lepcha Festival of Tunggraong Hlo Rum Faat on 21 August 2010 at the Lepcha Boys Hostel, Bom, Kalimpong. The chief guest of the day, Ren Pasang Tshering Lepcha,(Simickmoo) hoisted the Lepcha flag and inaugurated the programme by lighting the ‘chhyoomee’ in a typical traditional way. Ren Sonam Tshering Lepcha, Padma Shree, and young Lepcha Boys and Girls read out the Naamthaar (old Lepcha monuscript ) on the Tunggraong Hlo Rum Faat .The President of Kyong Shezoom, Ren Tshering Lepcha welcomed the guests; Ren N.T Lepcha delivered a short theme speech on Tunggraong Hlo Rum Faat. The Lepcha folk artists from Samplyang, Upper Manchhyoo, Lower Manchhyoo, Royan, Duka, Bom and the Cultural Troupe of the Association presented their beautiful cultural programmes to the audience.
A Staff Reporter
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The Queen’s Baton Function in Darjeeling
The Lepcha Association Cultural troupe headed by Ren Sonam Tshering Lepcha, Padma Shree and Joint Secretary, N.T. Lepcha participated in the Queen’s Baton Cultural Progamme organised by the Information and Cultural Department, Government of West Bengal at Gyemkhana Club, Darjeeling on 13 July 2010.
A Staff Reporter
Advisory Board Meeting in Delhi
A member of the Indiginous Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquaters Kalimpong, Joint Secretary, Ren N.T Lepcha attended a Advisory Board Meeting of Himlok organised by the Bhasa Research and Publication Centre, Baroda, at Chintan Guest House of Indian Council for Social Science and Research, New Delhi on 18 August 2010.
A Staff Reporter
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Financial help to the land slide victims
The Lepcha Association,Kalimpong Branch collected donations and gave financial help to the Lepcha land slide victims of the following villages of the Kalimpong Sub-Division:
(a) Nimbong 8 (Eight) Houses
(b) Bom Dang 2 (two) Houses
(c) Naok Hlo 1 (one) House
(d) Chhebo 1(one) House
(e) Samalbong 1(one) House
(f) Git-Dabling 1(one) House
A Staff Reporter
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Julie and John Visit the Lepcha Night Schools
Julie and John from the Africa and Asia Ventures, England visited the Upper Pochaok Lepcha Night School, Git-Dabling, Kalimpong on 19 September 2010. They were accompanied by Ren Tendup Tshering Lama, the Assistant Regional Director, Darjeeling and Ren Lyangsong Tamsang.
The two guests were welcomed in a typical Lepcha traditional style at the Lepcha Night School by the Lepcha Language Teachers, their students and village people. The children demonstrated their skills in the Lepcha and English Languages to the guests. They also presented Lepcha folk songs, dances and one - act plays to the guests.
The next day, Julie and John visited St. Joseph’s School, Git - Dabling where Ren Reverend Father Felix D’Souza, the Director of the School, welcomed the guests and showed them around the School. The children of the School also presented a cultural programme to the guests.
The same evening, Julie and John visited Prektam Lepcha Night School. Ren Samden Lepcha and the village people welcomed them to their Lepcha Night School.
Africa and Asia Ventures, England send the English Native Language Teachers to various Lepcha Night Schools at Git-Dabling, Kalimpong as well as to St. Joseph’s School. We certainly hope that Julie and John enjoyed their visit to the remote Lepcha Villages. They returned to Delhi on 23 September 2010.
A Staff Reporter
Independence Day Celebration at Pano Gaeboo Achyok
Lepcha Primary School at Doring, Longsyaol
Pano Gaeboo Achyok Primary School is situated at a very remote Lepcha village in Block III Kalimpong. There is no electricity, no road, no Primary Health Care Centre in the village. One needs to walk down hill for approximately one and half hours to reach the village. It is an exclusive Lepcha village with twenty one houses.
Mr Ja Tshering Lepcha donated his own personal land, half an acre, free of cost, to the Longsyaol Lepcha Village Association to established a very much needed primary school for the Lepcha childern.The Longsyaol Lepcha Village Association constructed the primary school in 1996 with their bare hands and named it, Pano Gaeboo Achyok Lepcha Primary school. The last king of the Lepchas, Pano Gaeboo Achyok, was born in this village.
Presently there are 61 students studying in this school. There are four Teachers. The Lepcha language is also introduced in this school for the children as a subject.
Pano Gaeboo Achyok Lepcha Primary School has not been recognised by the Primary School Board, DGHC and Government of West Bengal as yet .
The Indigenious Lepcha Tribal Association, Headquarters Kalimpong is trying to help and assist the school and the deprived Lepcha children of this remote village, Doring, Longsyaol. Ren Lyangsong Tamsang accompined by Ren Palden Lepcha attended the Independence Day Celebration organised by the school and distributed the neccessary stationeries to the children on the day.
A Staff Reporter
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