Darjeeling, July 17: Alarmed that they might lose their identity and tradition, the Limbus of the Nepali community who have been included in the Schedule Tribes’ category have demanded that the government come up with an anti-conversion bill.

The Limbus, who are followers of Yumaism — who worship nature as Mother Goddess — believe that if conversion to other religions continues unchecked, the tribe would lose its identity and eventually their existence.

General secretary of the All India Limbu Association B.P. Limbu said: “Our religion is the basis of our identity. If conversions to other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism or Christianity is not checked, our future will be at stake. This is also the reason why we have not absorbed members of other religions into our community. We want to preserve our identity.”

The Limbus were included in the Scheduled Tribes list in December under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act of 2002.

B.P. Limbu pointed out that a circular issued on May 2, 1995, read that Scheduled Castes (applicable to Hindus and Sikhs) would lose their status if they changed religion but no such clause was applicable for Scheduled Tribes.

“If such an order includes the SC, it should also be applicable to the ST,” said Limbu.

The association has decided to take up the matter with National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes chairman Bizay Sonkar Sashri.

The association’s campaign for the anti-conversion bill stems from its concern over the conversion of tribals into Christianity.

“We would not like to name any tribe, but many in the hills have almost lost their identity after converting to Christianity,” Limbu said.

Darjeeling United Christian Minority Society president David Mangratee said: “At the time of the promulgation of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950, the government of India had decided that neither language nor religion would be the basis of the ST status. Rather, it would be the tribe that one belongs to, that would determine the status. Tribal identity, therefore, does not change with religion.”

This is the first time that any tribal body in the hills has demanded an anti-conversion law in West Bengal.