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Social Welfare Department

Government of Sikkim
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WELFARE DIVISION

S.C./S.T./ M.B.C./
Schedule Castes / Schedule Tribes /
O.B.C.
Most Backward Classes / Other Backward Classes
Prevention of
Schedule
Atrocities Against Since 1951 the Government of India Census has been Castes
(PAO) SC's & ascertaining the SC/ST status of the population. The objective
ST's of doing so is to discharge the constitutional obligation Schedule
Tribes
towards these socially, educationally and economically
Schemes and
backward communities. For this purpose the statutory lists of Tribal
Programmes
SC/ST are notified in pursuance of Articles 341 and 342 of the Sub Plan
Constitution. The extract of the same is given below:
WOMEN AND CHILD Grants
DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION The Constitution (Sikkim) Scheduled Castes order 1978,
C.O-110
Sikkim State
Commission for
Women 1. Damai (Nepali)
Scheduled Castes 2. Kami / Lohar (Nepali)
Nutrition
3. Majhi (Nepali)
I.C.D.S. 4. Sarki (Nepali)
Rights of Women
& Children T he Constitution (Sikkim) Scheduled Tribes Order 1978
State Plan of
Action for Children
1. Bhutia (Including chumbisa,
Helpline for
Dopthapa, Dukpa, Kagatey,
Women &
Scheduled tribes Sherpa, Tibetan, T romopa,
Children
Yolmo )
Schemes & 2. Lepcha
Programmes
SOCIAL WELFARE
DIVISION In partial modification of Notification No. 2/WD dated 2nd
Schemes & June, 1994 published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 60 dated
Programmes 2nd June, 1994 and Notification No. 236 / SW / 251 (3) WD
dated 15th June 2000 published in Extraordinary Gazette No.
Important
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Important th
94 dated 11 April, 2001 the Sate Government hereby
Notifications recognize and declare the following Communities as Most
Backward Classes and Other Backward Classes for the State
Useful Forms
Sikkim namely:-

Bhujel
Dewan
Gurung
Jogi
1. Most Backward Classes:
Kirat Rai
Mangar
Sunwar
Thami
Bahun
Chettri
2. Other Backward Classes:
Newar
Sanyasi

T his Notification No. 5A / SWD / WD dated 17.09.2003

shall come into force at once.

SCHEDULED CASTES

The four main Scheduled Castes in the State are Kami,

Damai, Sarki and Majhi who practice traditional occupation
viz. Blacksmithy, T ailoring, Tanning, And Fishing respectively.
T hey are not confined to any particular district and are
scattered all over the state as they are occupational group like
craftsmen engaged in manufacturing agricultural tools, gold,
silver jewelllery, metal work in copper, aluminum utensils,
(Kami / Lohar, Bishwakarma) tailoring (Damai / Darjee),
leather work (Sarki) and fishing (Majhi). The district wise
distribution of SC population is 3.55 % in the North District,
5.64% in South District, 7% in East District and 5% in West
District. They are predominantly agriculturist and also depend
on animal husbandry to support thier family. According to
1980-agricultural cencus, only 1.62% of the total operated
area is owned by SCs. Hence they get a low return from the
agriculture.

SCHEDULED TRIBES

The Scheduled Tribes of Sikkim constitute mainly

Lepchas, Bhutias, Limboo and Tamang. The district wise
distribution of Bhutia and Lepcha population is 19.03% in
North District, 41.40% in East Disrict, 21.23% in West District
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and 18.34% in South District. Except in North District, where
tribals live in compact areas, tribal in Sikkim are widely
dispersed in habitation. T hey are mingled with the general
population in varying degree of concentration in various
villages and hamlets. T aking the family size as 5, it is
estimated that there are about 18000 tribal families in the
state. Majority of the tribals depend on agriculture and animal
husbandry for their livelihood. The population of Limboo and
T amang recently notified as Scheduled Tribe is slightly higher
than the Bhutia-Lepcha population.

Tribal Sub Plan

Welfare Division of the department of Social Welfare has

been entrusted with the task of welfare of the Scheduled
T ribes in the State. The special central assistance for
Scheduled Tribes is channeled through this Department,
which co-ordinates in formulating, implementing and
monitoring the schemes. In addition to this it also evaluates
the impact of the schemes on the economic condition of the
Scheduled Tribes. The Department also implements welfare
schemes entirely funded from its own state plan resources.
T he aim of the department is to bring about an all round
economic development of the Scheduled Tribe families in
general and those below the poverty line in particular.

Grants Under Proviso 1 of Article 275 (1) of the

Constitution of India

In the changed scenario of globalization and liberalization of

the national economy, it becomes all the more critical that the
comparative vulnerability of the ST population is addressed in
a more focused integrate manner. In view of the human
development indices of the tribal population being lower than
the rest of the population and the infrastructure in the tribal
areas not being at par with others, it is necessary to dovetail
and direct resources in a synergetic manner to bridge the gap
in infrastructure in critical areas so that capacity of the
economy in tribal areas to meaningfully and effectively absorb
funds is substantially enhanced.

Grants under Article 275(1) will be an additionally to

Normal Central Assistance (NCA} to State Plan to meet the
cost of such schemes/projects as may be undertaken by the
States and approved by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the
purpose of the welfare and development of the Scheduled
T ribes or rising the level of administration of the Scheduled
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Areas.

T he grants will essentially be used for creation and up-

gradation of critical infrastructure required to the tribal areas at
par with the rest of the country. The infrastructure will be up-
graded so as to enhance capacity of the economy in tribal
areas to meaningfully and more effectively absorb funds,
including institutional finance and thereby create opportunities
conducive income and employment generation. Due
emphasis will be given to infrastructure in the sectors critical
to enhancement of human development indices such as in
health, education, income generation, etc.

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