About Us

Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim is a registered social organisation with Registration No. 443 ,
Volume No.1 vide Memo No. 427/L/R dated 29.06.90 of the Land Revenue Department, Government
of Sikkim. The organisation functions on the basis of three-tier structure: Block Executive
Committee at the grass root level, District Executive Committee at the middle level and Central
Executive Committee at the highest level.
The Executive Members of the duly formed Block Committees in each District only have the right
to take part in the election for the formation of the District Executive Committee. Similarly, the duly
elected Executive Members of the District Committee take part in the election for the formation of
Central Executive Committee.
Hence, Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, South District, Namchi, Sikkim is the second tier organisation
of Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim with its functional jurisdiction within South District, Sikkim.
Objectives:
The aims and objectives of Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim as laid down in the Bye- laws of
the Association are:
1. Socio- economic upliftment of the poor, downtrodden, educationally backward Rai community
residing within the various remote places of the State of Sikkim.
2. To develop civic consciousness, to raise the standard of living and to take steps for development
and enactment of appropriate legislation for the interest of the members.

3. To provide facilities to the members of the Association for discussion on common problems,
encouragement of thrift, advancement of social welfare ideas, mutual assistance, protection of
interests of members, etc. and to provide for intuition and diffusion of knowledge amongst Rai
community
4. To attain the main aims and other objectives and purposes which may be conducive to and
beneficial for the members of the Association, the Association aims to fulfil the following further
objectives:
a) The Association shall carry out or conduct thorough or detailed survey, study or research of the
history of the origin, growth and expansion of the culture and traditions of Rai community and put
them on record ...
b) The Association shall carry out or conduct thorough or detailed survey, study or research of the
history, growth and expansion of different languages spoken by Rais and put them on record ...
c) The Association shall carry out or conduct thorough or detailed survey, study or research of the
culture and traditions of Rais and put them on record ...
d) The Association shall carry out or conduct thorough or detailed survey, study or research of the
reformation of various warranted and unwarranted rituals of the Rais and put them on record
e) The Association shall carry out or conduct through or detailed survey, study and research of the
tradition of excessive use of traditional liquor, drink ( local or distilled) at various functions , taking
of narcotic drugs like Surti, Ganja, Vang- Dhatura, etc. and continuous efforts to warn/ restrict the
people against dangerous effect of their uses .......................
f) The Association shall carry out or conduct thorough or detailed survey, study or research of the
various causes leading to the educational backwardness and continue its effort to motivate the
persons concerned to avail of the maximum benefit from the Government for educating their
children .....................
In short, the AKRS, Sikkim aims at preserving, propagating and developing the distinct
cultural practices, languages and literature and folk traditions of the Kirat Khambu Rai community
residing within the territory of Sikkim through activities like seminars, symposiums, training

programmes, orientation and counselling sessions, workshops on textbook development, language
learning classes and so on.
Accomplishments:
The Government of Sikkim has recognised Bantawa language as the State Rai language in
1995- a language for communication on the endorsement of the Central Executive Committee of the
Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim. While endorsing Bantawa language as the State Rai Language, the
Ahkil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim has also resolved that other Rai languages which are spoken in different
Rai belts would also be preserved and protected and necessary support would be provided for their
development.
Thereafter, after much deliberation, the meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the
A. K. R. S., Sikkim held on23 April 1998 decided to use Sumhung Script, originally designed by
Mahaguru Tikaram Rai of Rimbik, Darjeeling and popularised by Guru Kripasalyan Rai of Daramdin,
Sikkim as the Rai Script.
Late B. B. Rai of Tikpur was nominated as the Chairperson of the Rai language Development
Committee and it was under his guidance that textbooks on Rai Language began to be developed for
elementary level with effect from 1998.
Consequent upon the recognition of Bantawa language as the State Rai language, a post of
Sub- Editor, Rai language for the State Legislative Assembly has been created w.e.f 1996. Similarly,
a post Rai language Translator has also been created by the IPR Department, Government of Sikkim.
w.e.f. 2001. The Sikkim Herald is being published in Rai language since then regularly.
The Education Department, Government of Sikkim has created posts of Rai language
teachers and Rai language is being taught in Schools located in Rai belts of Sikkim as second language.
Presently, Rai Language is being taught upto Class XII level.