A member of the Rai community, who had espoused the community’s cause for ST status, said: “This is very surprising. We were offered the status four years back but we had declined it fearing that this would jeopardise our demand for ST status. Once we get the notification and after discussing with our community members we might write back to the Centre to de-list us.”

In fact, all Gorkha communities are vying for the ST status, a demand which has been endorsed by all political parties, including the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and its rival, the GNLF.

Another reason for ST status clamour is that no economic criteria have to be met to avail of benefits under this category unlike under an OBC quota. “If the parents are occupying senior positions in government offices, their offsprings cannot get an OBC certificate. Also, OBC parents who earn more than Rs 4.5 lakh an annum (other than salaried class and income from agriculture) will not be entitled to the certificate,” said a district official. The official said “senior positions” included a long list of officers under various heads. In the hills, the Gurungs, Khas-Hitkaris and the Rais are already vying for ST status.

“The notification will definitely bring to life the community related demands in the hills which were lying low till date,” said an observer. Many are of the opinion that such a status could ultimately undermine the demand for inclusion of all Gorkhas in the ST list.

The Morcha has been demanding that the entire “Gorkha community, excluding the Scheduled Castes” be granted the ST status. However, with the “Gorkhas” being in the OBC central list status in Uttarakhand, there could be confusion all around. “If the Gorkhas from Uttarakhand are on the OBC list it is fine but for the Darjeeling hills we want Scheduled Tribe status,” said Roshan Giri, general secretary of the Morcha.