SIBLAC Welcomes Caste-Based Census, Demands Special Provisions for Sikkim’s Unique Constitutional and Geopolitical Status

GANGTOK: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has welcomed the Central Government’s landmark decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national Census.
“This long-overdue step is a vital tool for ensuring targeted and equitable development across India. However, SIBLAC firmly believes that Sikkim, due to its unique constitutional and geopolitical status, requires special attention and protective measures during the census enumeration process,” said SIBLAC convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia in a press statement.
According to SIBLAC, Sikkim requires special attention due to:

1. Strategic Geo-Political Location:
   Sikkim is a border-sensitive state sharing international boundaries with China (Tibet), Bhutan, Nepal, and proximity to Bangladesh. The open and porous borders in the east, west, and south make it highly vulnerable to unchecked influx and demographic manipulation.
2. Alarming Illegal Influx:
   Over recent years, Sikkim has been increasingly burdened by illegal migration, where outsiders have gained fake Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, trade licenses, SSC/COI and other official documents. Including such individuals in the official Census alongside the local population would not only distort demographic data, but also pose a serious threat to national security.
3. Constitutional Safeguards under Article 371F:
   The Indian Constitution provides special protections to Sikkim and its people under Article 371F, considering the terms of the merger in 1975. These protections must not be diluted through flawed enumeration that fails to distinguish between genuine Sikkimese and outsiders.

The key demands of SIBLAC are:

1. Protection of Sikkimese Identity:
   The identity and rights of genuine Sikkimese—especially holders of Sikkim Subject Certificates (SSC) and Certificates of Identification (COI)—must be protected. These must be recorded separately in the census.
2. Clear Differentiation of Pre- and Post-Merger Migrants:
   Migrants who entered before and after the merger in 1975 must be clearly distinguished to prevent corruption of Scheduled Tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC), and Other Backward Class (OBC) data.
3. Enumeration of All Original Castes and Communities:
   All indigenous castes and communities of Sikkim must be individually recognized and listed in the census format.
4. Special Census Format for Sikkim:
   A dedicated and tailored format must be created for Sikkim, reflecting its historical context, population structure, and legal documents.
5. Special Training for Enumerators:
   Enumerators assigned to Sikkim must be given thorough training, including exposure to pre-merger laws and documents, to ensure correct identification and data collection.
6. Separate Enumeration of Armed Forces:
   The armed forces personnel stationed in Sikkim must be enumerated separately, to avoid artificial inflation of the civilian population data.

“SIBLAC reiterates that national security, constitutional integrity, and protection of the Sikkimese identity are non-negotiable. A flawed or generalized census in a sensitive region like Sikkim could have long-term implications not only for the local populace but for India’s security and sovereignty in the eastern Himalayan region,” said the SIBLAC convenor.

• SA Report