Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced new measures to protect Lepcha culture on Saturday, August 8. He spoke at the Tendong Lho Rum Faat festival in Gangtok. The state is adding Lepcha language courses to government colleges and universities. It also created a permanent Assistant Professor post. Tamang designated Hee-Gyathang Senior Secondary School in Dzongu as a Chief Minister’s Model School. He called this project a “gift” to the Lepcha community.
The government is seeking the inclusion of Lepcha, Bhutia, and Limboo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Collaboration with UNESCO aims to document and revive Ru-Soam, the traditional practice of building cane and bamboo bridges. Progress on the Stairway to Heaven project in Daramdin hit 70 percent. Additionally, 166 Lepcha students have received support through the Chief Minister’s Education Assistance Scheme.
Environmental initiatives remain central. These include the Mero Rukh Mero Santati and Mero Bato Mero Bot programs. Under the Shishu Samriddhi Yojana, 2,077 families secured Rs 2.24 crore in investments. The Chief Minister also handed over land documents to the Sikkim Lepcha Association for a new Lepcha Bhawan in Gangtok. A record for the largest gathering of 32 Tungbuk musicians was officially recognized.
Community leaders distributed three awards. Pasong Namgyal Lepcha took home the Tendong Award. Pushpa Choden Thomas Lepcha won the G B Mainwaring Award, and Leezong Lepcha received the Lha Tshering Kunchudyangmu Award. The state also honored Gnersongmit Lepcha, the first Lepcha woman to summit Mount Everest, following her May 21 climb with the ITBP.
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