DARJEELING: The state government on Tuesday formally upgraded Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive Bimal Gurung to the rank of a minister (MIC) of state with independent charges. The governor's office faxed an order to the GTA and the Darjeeling district administration apprising the state government's decision.
"At present, I am on an official tour in Delhi and have not got hold of the state government order. But yes, the GTA chief executive has been promoted to the status of MIC of state," Darjeeling DM and chief principal secretary to the GTA Saumitra Mohan said.
GTA deputy chief executive Colonel (retired) Ramesh Allay has been made the minister of state (MOS) while the GTA Sabha chairman Pradeep Pradhan has been conferred the rank of a deputy minister.
"It is a protocol status that has been given to us by the state government as we did not have any so far in spite of being GTA members. This is a welcome decision," said one of the members on condition of anonymity. Fourteen executive members of the GTA have also been upgraded and given the rank of secretaries to the state government.
In fact, the GTA members believe that with the official status could be helpful while attending meetings with the state and central governments over development issues. "Our words will now have more weightage. So far we attended meetings with the government only as a political entity that had its limitations in regard to reasoning our demands," pointed out a senior member.
The GTA member pointed out the order was to be implemented with immediate effect: "The order has come from the governor's office which mentions that it should be come into immediate effect."The GTA was formed in July 18 last year after four years of intense agitation for a separate state. However, the GTA members including the chief executive were sworn in by Bengal chief minister Mamata Benerjee in August this year in a ceremony in Darjeeling.
Presently, there are fifty members in the GTA of which forty-five are elected, while five have been nominated by the Governor. The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) which was formed in 1988 had 28 councilors headed by a chairman.
"At present, I am on an official tour in Delhi and have not got hold of the state government order. But yes, the GTA chief executive has been promoted to the status of MIC of state," Darjeeling DM and chief principal secretary to the GTA Saumitra Mohan said.
GTA deputy chief executive Colonel (retired) Ramesh Allay has been made the minister of state (MOS) while the GTA Sabha chairman Pradeep Pradhan has been conferred the rank of a deputy minister.
"It is a protocol status that has been given to us by the state government as we did not have any so far in spite of being GTA members. This is a welcome decision," said one of the members on condition of anonymity. Fourteen executive members of the GTA have also been upgraded and given the rank of secretaries to the state government.
In fact, the GTA members believe that with the official status could be helpful while attending meetings with the state and central governments over development issues. "Our words will now have more weightage. So far we attended meetings with the government only as a political entity that had its limitations in regard to reasoning our demands," pointed out a senior member.
The GTA member pointed out the order was to be implemented with immediate effect: "The order has come from the governor's office which mentions that it should be come into immediate effect."The GTA was formed in July 18 last year after four years of intense agitation for a separate state. However, the GTA members including the chief executive were sworn in by Bengal chief minister Mamata Benerjee in August this year in a ceremony in Darjeeling.
Presently, there are fifty members in the GTA of which forty-five are elected, while five have been nominated by the Governor. The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) which was formed in 1988 had 28 councilors headed by a chairman.
Source: TOI
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