KOLKATA: Though it has been over a month since the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) came to power, the state is yet to transfer financial and administrative powers to the newly elected hill administration.
In a bid to give shape to their demands, a three-member team headed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) general secretary met the chief secretary and home secretary on Tuesday, seeking "absolute control" over 26 departments that are to be set up.
There are plans to set up as many as 59 departments and GJM wants control over 26 of them in which the state government has a say. It also wants the state to address the budgetary gap for GTA which arose due to a technical glitch in the agreement.
Teething problems over financial and administrative powers to be transferred to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration by the state, continue to plague the newly elected hill administration. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants "absolute control" over the nearly 26 departments - of the 59 expected to be set up - where the state government has a say. It also wants the state to address the budgetary gap for GTA which arose due to a technical glitch in the agreement. A three-member team headed by GJM general-secretary Roshan Giri on Tuesday met the state chief secretary and home secretary and submitted their demands.
Giri later told reporters, "This was an administrative meeting. We plan to hold another such meeting either on September 24 or 25. There will be another again this month on September 24/25. There are several questions regarding the a question of transfer of different departments to the GTA. It is an elaborate process that includes There are many aspects to it, the departments, their staff and financial powers and control over assets. For example, under the PWD we would want control over not just the roads, but also the department officers and bungalows. Also, the transfer shouldn't be done on a piecemeal basis, but in one go. We've submitted our proposals to the state," Giri told reporters on Tuesday.
The GJM also wants control over the forests that fall under the concurrent list. On Forests - which falls under the concurrent list - Giri said, "We've already written to the Centre over delegation of control to GTA on reserve forests," said Giri. He reminded that He also reminded that according to the agreement, it was agreed the state government would make a reference to the Centre on the issue of transfer of forests, including reserved forests.
"This apart, all offices catering to unreserved forests that fall under the GTA's purview should be transferred to it," added the general secretary. it was agreed that the State Government will make a reference to the Central government on the issue of Reserved Forests. However, all offices catering to unreserved forests under the jurisdiction of GTA would also be transferred to GTA, he said.
The GTA is all set to take over the Tauzi department which include to look after the tea gardens, the department of agriculture, animal husbandry, information and cultural affairs, school education, land and land reforms, PHE, urban development and municipal affairs. Some of these departments, GJM feels, could be able to generate revenue for the GTA.
The other demand by GJM also demanded that tribal status be granted today was also regarding the demand for granting Tribal Status to the Gorkhas, excluding the scheduled castes. As far as the latter is concerned, the GJM has already made an application to the backward classes welfare department of the state government. Giri said it was clearly mentioned in the GTA treaty made it clear that the budgetary allocation to it would have to be made in the state budget. "It is already September and This is September now.
The state and the Centre have pledged to provide all financial assistance to the GTA for all-out development of the region. The Centre has already promised financial assistance of Rs 200 crore per annum for three years for projects to develop socio-economic infrastructure in the Hills. These funds are in the GTA over and above the normal plan assistance by the state.
In a bid to give shape to their demands, a three-member team headed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) general secretary met the chief secretary and home secretary on Tuesday, seeking "absolute control" over 26 departments that are to be set up.
There are plans to set up as many as 59 departments and GJM wants control over 26 of them in which the state government has a say. It also wants the state to address the budgetary gap for GTA which arose due to a technical glitch in the agreement.
Teething problems over financial and administrative powers to be transferred to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration by the state, continue to plague the newly elected hill administration. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants "absolute control" over the nearly 26 departments - of the 59 expected to be set up - where the state government has a say. It also wants the state to address the budgetary gap for GTA which arose due to a technical glitch in the agreement. A three-member team headed by GJM general-secretary Roshan Giri on Tuesday met the state chief secretary and home secretary and submitted their demands.
Giri later told reporters, "This was an administrative meeting. We plan to hold another such meeting either on September 24 or 25. There will be another again this month on September 24/25. There are several questions regarding the a question of transfer of different departments to the GTA. It is an elaborate process that includes There are many aspects to it, the departments, their staff and financial powers and control over assets. For example, under the PWD we would want control over not just the roads, but also the department officers and bungalows. Also, the transfer shouldn't be done on a piecemeal basis, but in one go. We've submitted our proposals to the state," Giri told reporters on Tuesday.
The GJM also wants control over the forests that fall under the concurrent list. On Forests - which falls under the concurrent list - Giri said, "We've already written to the Centre over delegation of control to GTA on reserve forests," said Giri. He reminded that He also reminded that according to the agreement, it was agreed the state government would make a reference to the Centre on the issue of transfer of forests, including reserved forests.
"This apart, all offices catering to unreserved forests that fall under the GTA's purview should be transferred to it," added the general secretary. it was agreed that the State Government will make a reference to the Central government on the issue of Reserved Forests. However, all offices catering to unreserved forests under the jurisdiction of GTA would also be transferred to GTA, he said.
The GTA is all set to take over the Tauzi department which include to look after the tea gardens, the department of agriculture, animal husbandry, information and cultural affairs, school education, land and land reforms, PHE, urban development and municipal affairs. Some of these departments, GJM feels, could be able to generate revenue for the GTA.
The other demand by GJM also demanded that tribal status be granted today was also regarding the demand for granting Tribal Status to the Gorkhas, excluding the scheduled castes. As far as the latter is concerned, the GJM has already made an application to the backward classes welfare department of the state government. Giri said it was clearly mentioned in the GTA treaty made it clear that the budgetary allocation to it would have to be made in the state budget. "It is already September and This is September now.
The state and the Centre have pledged to provide all financial assistance to the GTA for all-out development of the region. The Centre has already promised financial assistance of Rs 200 crore per annum for three years for projects to develop socio-economic infrastructure in the Hills. These funds are in the GTA over and above the normal plan assistance by the state.
TOI.
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