Assembly makes Obituary Reference to late Ram Lepcha

GANGTOK, 10 Sept: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly today paid rich tribute to former member, the late Ram Lepcha who passed away on 05 September, last week following a prolonged illness.
Five-time MLA and two-term Minister under both Nar Bahadur Bhandari and Pawan Chamling’s chief ministership, Ram Lepcha was one of the tallest leaders of the Lepcha community as well as Sikkimese society, the Assembly noted today.
MLA Menlom Lepcha said that the late Ram Lepcha was a pro-democracy leader and participated in various social reforms as a political and social activist. He further added that late Lepcha was not only his political mentor but also a good human being.
Leader of the House, Pawan Chamling said that the late Mr Lepcha’s contribution in Sikkim politics will be remembered for a long time. The tallest tribal leader of Sikkim, Late Lepcha was a sincere and dedicated political figure, said the CM.
Speaker KT Gyaltsen read out the obituary reference on the passing of Late Ram Lepcha and said that he was a social worker who devoted his time for the welfare and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. His demise is a great loss to the Lepcha community and the State as a whole, said the Speaker.
Late Lepcha was born to late German Lepcha and late Chukit Lepcha at Namthang, Turung Basti, West Sikkim on 02 May, 1947. He passed away on 05 September, 2012 at his residence at Marchak, near Ranipool at the age of 65 after prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters.
Late Lepcha was elected to the Second Legislative Assembly in 1979 and served as Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Chairman, Estimates Committee and also served as the Minister for Local Self Government, Mines and Geology Department. He was again elected in 1985 to the third Assembly from Pathing Constituency and served as Deputy Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly.
In 1989 he was re-elected to the fourth Assembly from the same constituency and was inducted in the Cabinet as Minister of Land Revenue, Survey and Settlement, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department. He was again elected from Pathing Constituency in 1994 and served as Finance Minister from 1998-1999.
Two minutes silence was observed in the house as a mark of respect to the departed soul and heartfelt condolences were conveyed to the bereaved family.