Khamri RENYU/RENSONG.
It is with much regret and disappointment that we have come to realize the futility of our efforts in the issue of the non recruitment of the Lepcha candidates in the “RIFLEMAN /RECRUIT IN EASTERN FRONTIER RIFLES, WEST BENGAL ”. It has come to our notice that the Lepcha candidates who had cleared the recruitment process were asked to submit “Gorkha certificates” failing which they were asked to submit “Sikkimese” certificate. The entire selection process has come up with series of discrepancies.
The Recruitment notice clearly states that the selection is restricted to “Gorkhas” and Jharuas ((and sub-caste Meches, Kacharis and Rabhas) yet the panel for recruitment admitted Lepcha candidates’ application and no one noticed the error which clearly elaborates the fact that the panel was not aware of Lepchas status as a Scheduled Tribe (non-gorkha) in the State even though the EFR is a state paramilitary unit. The successful Lepcha candidates were asked to submit “Sikkimese” certificate which is but another major discrepancy as the recruitment notice does clearly mentions that the applications are invited from Gorkhas and Jharuas (and sub-caste Meches, Kacharis and Rabhas) only. No where in the notice is there any reference to the word “Sikkimese”.
The Recruitment notice clearly states that the selection is restricted to “Gorkhas” and Jharuas ((and sub-caste Meches, Kacharis and Rabhas) yet the panel for recruitment admitted Lepcha candidates’ application and no one noticed the error which clearly elaborates the fact that the panel was not aware of Lepchas status as a Scheduled Tribe (non-gorkha) in the State even though the EFR is a state paramilitary unit. The successful Lepcha candidates were asked to submit “Sikkimese” certificate which is but another major discrepancy as the recruitment notice does clearly mentions that the applications are invited from Gorkhas and Jharuas (and sub-caste Meches, Kacharis and Rabhas) only. No where in the notice is there any reference to the word “Sikkimese”.
As you may be well aware that the Lepchas (scheduled under Article 342 of the Constitution of India and West Bengal Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Recognition (Identification) Act, 1994 & SC STs Welfare department Order No.261-TW/EC/MR=103/94 dated 06.04.1995) are the indigenous and the original tribe of the Darjeeling district hills, so categorizing the Lepchas under the head “Sikkimese” with no official notification is inconsistent with the above mentioned constitutional recognition.
Article 371-F was included in the Indian Constitution according to 36th Amendment Act in the year 1975, which were the condition and an agreement between the people of Sikkim and the Indian Union for the merger. In the same manner, Article 371-F (k) protects old laws of Sikkim . Under the same, the definition of the term “Sikkimese” has different Constitutional implication. As such the West Bengal Government cannot issue a certificate to the effect.
The clubbing of Lepchas of Darjeeling Hill District as “Sikkimese” as highly confusing which has adverse ramifications in the near future to the “sons of soil” of the region.
About 400 members of Kalimpong and Darjeeling Lepcha Shejum has gone down to Silguri to protest this discrepancy. The Hunger strike is likely to start from 10.08.2010 In the Tenzing Norgay Bus stand in Siliguri.
