Mangar community demands development board

With demands for community development boards mushrooming in the hills in the wake of the Lepcha Board’s formation, the All India Mangar Association too has joined the bandwagon.
The Association submitted a petition to chief minister Mamata Banerjee when she was in Mirik on January 21, requesting her to form a development board for the Mangar community.
A team led by AIMA secretary Bhanu Thapa met the chief minister that day to bring to her notice the cultural uniqueness and current problems of the Mangar community. AIMA Mirik youth wing president Pravat Thapa and secretary Preetam Rana said if the Mangar community gets its own development and cultural board similar to the other communities, it would contribute to the overall development of the Mangars.
On the other hand, the All India Newar Organisation also submitted a petition to the chief minister demanding scheduled tribe status for the Newar community. AINO Mirik youth president Bibek Newar and secretary Pranay Pradhan said the community will be able to move ahead if ST status is granted. They also indicated the organisation will press forward with the demand for a development board.(EOIC)