Gangtok: A deep sense of gratitude and renewed hope echoed through the hills as villagers from Gnathang and Kyangnosla Gram Panchayat Units gathered at the Lumsay residence of Rajya Sabha MP Dorjee Tshering Lepcha. The residents, hailing from vital border communities like Zuluk and extending to the 3rd Mile along the historic Jawaharlal Nehru Road, expressed appreciation for the MP’s persistent advocacy for their land rights in Parliament.
The delegation, led by local Panchayat members, represented families who have lived and worked in the high-altitude stretches of eastern Sikkim for generations. These communities, rooted in the region’s history, have played a crucial role in protecting the Indo-Tibetan border during both wartime and peace. Their lives have long been tied to livestock rearing, mountain farming, conservation of fragile ecosystems, and the preservation of traditional knowledge—particularly in high-altitude medicinal flora.
At the heart of their concerns lies the lack of formal land settlement rights. Despite being generational stewards of the region, these families have no legal recognition over their homes, grazing grounds, and farmland. The absence of permanent land rights has created a lingering threat of eviction and uncertainty, even as they continue to support border security through their presence and practices.
“We feel seen and heard. His words in Parliament gave us hope,” said one elderly resident from Zuluk, recalling MP Lepcha’s powerful address in the Rajya Sabha.
MP Dorjee Lepcha, who has consistently raised the issue in the Upper House, reiterated his commitment to securing settlement recognition under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, or an equivalent legal provision. He emphasised the strategic importance of stabilising populations in sensitive border zones and acknowledged their contributions to national security and environmental stewardship. “I will not stop until we find a positive and fair solution,” he declared during the meeting.
The session also featured a regional development briefing by Panchayat President Pema Sherpa, who outlined progress under the Vibrant Village Initiatives. She praised the recent visit by the Governor of Sikkim, describing it as a sign of growing government attention to border area concerns.
As the meeting concluded, villagers left with a rare sense of political assurance—hopeful that their long struggle for land rights may finally be reaching a turning point.