Forest Policies and Tribal Livelihood among the Lepcha Tribe of Sikkim Himalaya

India with 10.4 million tribes has 8.6% of its tribal population. Tribe and forest are closely linked with each other (B.S.Bisht; Tribes Of India, Nepal, Tibet, Borderland, 1994). For thousands of years, forest and tribal populations have progressed in interdependence. Forest plays a significant role in enhancing living necessities for rural community and in upholding ecological balance. Industrial development, have changed the forest policy which has led to convert forest land into commercialization pushing the indigenous group away from their soil. The state of Sikkim in India has a multi-cultural and multi-lingual population including about 22.36% tribes (Sikkim.nic.in). Out of them, Lepchas and Bhutias constitute the largest tribal communities of Sikkim. Majority of tribes are poor, illiterate and victims without assets as compared to the general population and victims of many development projects that have left them homeless. Therefore, the constitution of India /Government of India takes the responsibility to safeguard their interests and the forest. Sikkim as a state has also adopted State Policy of Environment, Forests and Land Use. Under which, basic objectives on how to govern environment, forest and land use are listed.