Sikkim Lepcha Assoc and Sikkim Lepcha Lit Org thank CM

GANGTOK, 03 July: Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum (Sikkim Lepcha Association) and Renjyong Mutanchi Ringmom Kurmom (Sikkim Lepcha Literary Organization) have expressed their deep gratitude towards Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and the State government for the various steps taken to uplift the socioeconomic and educational condition of the Lepcha community since the formation of the SDF government.
A joint meeting held on Tuesday noted the various steps taken in favour of the community in an effort to bring social justice to all sections of the Sikkimese populace, informs a press release.
The meeting highlighted some of the steps taken by the state government like according Primitive Tribe status to the community, setting up of Primitive Tribe Welfare Board, 5% seat reservation for Lepcha students in various post-matriculation courses in different educational institutions in the country, 5% reservation in government jobs and declaring Tendong Lho Rum Faat a government holiday.
The Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum on behalf of the Lepcha Community of Sikkim has extended their good wishes to the Chief Minister and his family, the release adds.

SLYA dismayed over absence of reserved seats for Primitive Tribe in medical studies

GANGTOK, 15 Sept: Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association [SLYA] has expressed its displeasure over the absence of seat reservation exclusively for the Lepcha community [as a Primitive Tribe] in the recently issued counseling notice for MBBS and BDS seats.
An SLYA release informs that the association held a meeting on 13 September to discuss this along with other issues. The meeting was presided over by president, Ongden Tshering Lepcha and attended by all the office bearers.
The release states that the Chief Minister of Sikkim had on Tendong Lho Rum Faat last year declared the implementation of Primitive Tribe reservation in higher studies from this year onwards.
“The Association is also confused over the Notification issued by the HRDD informing about 5% reservation in higher studies for the Primitive Tribe Group”, it is stated. The association has appealed to the concerned authority to take prompt action regarding this issue of reservation which according to it should have been implemented this year itself.
Apart from this, the meeting has also decided to start Lepcha Language Classes from 01 November 2013 to all the interested people who want to learn, write and read the Lepcha language. The Classes will be under the initiative of Passang Dorjee Lepcha (vice president) and Dupden Lepcha (Tutor) for the 2013-14 sessions.
The meeting further decided to hold the election of the Central Executive Committee of the Association between November-December. The date for the election is yet to be fixed. It has also resolved that the Central Executive committee will tour across the state in the month of October to get the views from all the members of the District and Village Level Branches for the separate 50% Job reservation for the Lepchas within the 22% seat reservation for Bhutia-Lepcha.
The SLYA has also congratulated Primary Teacher of Pakshep, North Sikkim, Sangmit Lepcha who received the National Award for teachers from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of Teacher’s Day 2013 and Mickma Tshering Lepcha for receiving the Ustad Bismillah Khan award.

Ram Lepcha’s demise ‘great loss to Lepcha community’: Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum

GANGTOK, 07 Sept: Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum [Sikkim Lepcha Association] held a condolence meeting on the demise of former Minister Late Ram Lepcha at Kurmom Building, Development Area, Gangtok yesterday.
As per a press release, the meeting observed two-minute silence while members of the association on behalf of the Lepcha community of Sikkim expressed their heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family. The members expressed that late Ram Lepcha was an asset to the Lepcha community as a whole, his demise is a great loss to the community and the vacuum created due to his demise cannot be compensated, it is really an irreparable loss to the community, the release states.
Late Ram Lepcha was born to late Jerman Lepcha and late Thungkit Lepcha in the year 1942 at Turung basti, South Sikkim. He started his career as a Block Officer under Forest Department during the Chogyal’s period. He also served as a hotel manager in a hotel based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The release adds that in 1979, he became the MLA from the then Pathing constituency [the present Nathang Machong constituency] and became Minister In-charge for LSG. He served as a Deputy Speaker in Sikkim Legislative Assembly from the year 1985. Late Lepcha also took charge as Minister for Land Revenue Department from 1989. Similarly, he also served as Minister in-charge for Finance Department in 1994.
It is to be mentioned here that in consideration of his love and concern towards the overall development of the Lepcha community, he took part in affairs of the Lepcha Association and became president of Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum in 1982.
The Late Ram Lepcha was a soft spoken person, a simple hardworking man. He breathed his last on the fateful evening of 05 September 2012 at his residence at Marchak after suffering from prolonged illness. He was 70 years old. His funeral will take place on 09 September at Rumtek, East Sikkim, the release adds.

JNU’s KCRR engages earthquake affected in post-disaster deliberations

MANGAN, 01 Mar:  The Khushi Centre for Rehabilitation & Research (KCRR) of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in coordination with the Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association, Sikkim University and support of the State Government, organized a special interactive programme for earthquake affected people of North Sikkim at Lingzya, Upper Dzongu on 29 Feb and at Mangan community hall on 01 March.
The programme here started with a welcome address by Panu Pazo, PhD Fellow, JNU.  The chief guest, DM (N), TN Kazi, in his address, focused on the 18 September earthquake and its impact on Sikkim with special focus on North district. He also took the opportunity to underline the importance of preparedness and also thanked all who helped in the extensive rescue, rehabilitation & restoration efforts after the earthquake.
Dr. Bimal Ghimire of Sikkim University spoke on post disaster management, while the Director, KCRR, Saket Mani, addressing the Relief & Rehabilitation session, stressed the need to understand and address the importance of health requirements, sharing of responsibilities and positive counselling for shock & trauma in a post-disaster scenario.
The programme concluded with an interaction session and signature campaign. The programme was also attended by Mangan Nagar Panchayat President, KJ Bhutia, Councillor PK Malu, teachers, Mangan Senior Secondary School students and members of SLYA & Sikkim Youth.

Sikkim Lepcha Association congratulates Bharat Excellence Awardee, Karma Choter Lepcha

GANGTOK, 30 Nov: A meeting of the Renjyong  Mutanchi  Rong  Tarjum (Sikkim Lepcha Association) was held on 29 Nov at Development Area, Gangtok under the chairmanship of its President, Sonam Dupden Lepcha.

Lepcha Youth Assc carries out extensive survey of Dzongu, feels more needs to be done

GANGTOK, 10 Oct: A team from the Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association carried out an extensive second survey of the earthquake affected areas of North Sikkim from 02 to 08 October, a press release informs. The team toured Lingzya, Sakyong, Bey and Pentong with the prime objective of taking a comprehensive account of the devastation caused by the earthquake and landslides which inflicted severe damage to life and property, informs a release issued by Kunga Lepcha [joint secretary, SLYA] today.

SLYA resolves to coordinate relief and rehabilitation efforts

GANGTOK, 29 Sept: A meeting of the Central Executive Body of the Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Ong Shejum [Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association] was convened on Wednesday at its headquarters under the chairmanship of SLYA president, Ongden Tshering Lepcha, a press release informs.
The meeting expressed deep sorrow on the damage caused by the 18 September earthquake and extended its condolences to the affected people, informs the release issued by SLYA general secretary, Nim Tshering Lepcha.

Lepcha youth undertake plantation drive on Mt Tendong

GANGTOK, 08 Aug: Renjyong Mutachi Rong Ong Shejum [Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association] undertook a plantation drive as part of its observation of Tendong Lho Rum Faat today at Mount Tendong itself, a press release informs.
The association strongly believes that by seeking to protect the environment with the cultural preservation it can contribute towards a better world, a press release conveys.
The association has decided to make this plantation drive an annual event, the release adds.

Residential school for Bongthings in training to open next session

GANGTOK, 24 June: The “Cultural and Traditional School”, an institute for Bongthings-in-training coming up at Naga-Namgor in North Sikkim, is scheduled to begin functioning from the next academic session- 2012.
Speaking to NOW!, Nim Tshering Lepcha, former Chairman and a major initiator of the project said, “This project is actually a Bongthingism Institute and will be run in the Cultural Bhawan of Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum [Sikkim Lepcha Association], under construction at present.”
According to Mr. Lepcha, a majority of the Bongthings are illiterate [in modern education], though they play a major role in society. Seeing this, they are trying to reach literacy to them and help keep the tradition alive.
“It will be difficult to educate the seniors, so we decided to educate those who are below the age of 13 years,” he said.