History of the Department: The Department of scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes was set up in 1978 and renamed as Social Justice, Empowerment & welfare Department with the amalgamation of Women & child Development Department in 2004. The Welfare Division looks after the welfare and Socio-economic and educational development of the SC & ST as notified by the Government of India Vide constitution (Sikkim) scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Order, 1978 and Scheduled Tribes, 1978. Kami/ Lohar, Damai, Sarki and Majhi belonging to Nepali community of Sikkim have been notified as scheduled Castes and Bhutias and Lepcha have been notified as Scheduled Tribes Bhutia includes Chumbipa, Dopthapa, Tropama, Dukpa, Yolmo, Kagatey and Sherpa. Limboo and Tamang have recently been notified as ST by amending the Constitutions (Sikkim) Scheduled Tribes; order 1978 vide Government of India Gazette Notification No. 10 of 2003 (copy enclosed).

 As per 1991 census SC constitutes 5.93% and ST 22.36% of the total population of 4,06,457. The total population of the State is 5,40,437 as per 2001 Census Provisional Report. There may not be Substantial variation in the percentage of SC and ST population per 2001 census.

On the recommended of the Mandal Commission the Government of Sikkim issued Notification no.dt: 2/6/2009 declaring Bhujel, Gurung Limboo Manger, Rai Sunuwar and Tamang as socially and educationally Backward Classes or Other Backward (OBC). On the recommendation of the First of the Report of Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes set-up in 1994, Thami, Jogi and Dewan have been notified as OBC. Government of India has notified all theses communities except ‘Dewan’ as OBC in the Central list of OBC.