West Bengal Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board

The Organisation is headed by the Hon. Chairman, Shri Lyangsong Tamsang Lepcha, Shri Yusuf Simick, Vice-Chairman, Sri G Namchu IAS(R) is the Member Secretary. The office is situated at Town Hall, P.O. & District: Kalimpong, West Bengal-734301.

The Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board came into existence on 5th August, 2013. It has been formed for the broad purpose ‘to protect, promote and safeguard the Lepcha language, tradition and culture’, ‘to undertake activities for the overall development of the Lepcha Community’ and anything incidental and conducive for the attainment.

The Lepchas are acknowledged as the natives of Darjeeling district from before the time the present political boundaries were drawn. During the last century and half they have, in general, not been able to keep pace with the transformation of the region from scattered, sheltered village settlement to bustling hill station with a flourishing Tea industry and have in the process been marginalized.

The intention of the Government therefore is clearly to bring about positive change and contribute to the upliftment of the Community and has outlined a modest role for the Board.

The Board has conceived and prepared several schemes and projects in furtherance of its objectives. Despite the hardship faced due to the terrain and inaccessibility of the locations the Board is striving hard to achieve social, cultural and educational upliftment of the Lepchas. The Board is a registered Society under the Administrative control of the Tribal Development Department.