The GTA has decided to form development boards for 19 communities in
the hills and allotted Rs 5 crore for each of them in an apparent move
to neutralise Mamata Banerjee who set up similar bodies to the chagrin
of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
The Morcha has been alleging that Mamata has adopted "divide and
rule" policy in the hills by forming development boards for different
communities. Till date, the state government has created development
boards for the Lepcha, Tamang, Sherpa, Bhutia and Mangar communities and
also promised to look into the demands from the Rais and Limbus.
The Morcha-controlled GTA Sabha, however, passed a resolution on
February 12 to form development boards for 19 communities which have
significant population in the hills with an initial grant of Rs 5 crore
for each of them. The 19 communities are Gurung, Bhujel, Newar, Rai,
Sunuwar, Thami, Yakkha (Dewan), Khas, Mangar, Jogi, Limbu, Tamang,
Dukpa, Lepcha, Sherpa, Bhutia, Yolmo, Scheduled Caste and Adivasis.
"While the government formed boards selectively to divide hill
communities and weaken our Gorkhaland demand, we have created
development boards for all hill communities to strengthen our unity and
the Gorkhaland demand," said Bimal Gurung, the chief executive of the
GTA.
Observers believe Trinamul has been able get a toehold in the hills
largely because of its decision to form development boards. "The Morcha
definitely feels Mamata's development board politics needs to be
countered and that is why the GTA launched similar bodies for all
communities," said an observer.
The state government has so far sanctioned Rs 131 crore for the
development boards. The Lepcha board alone has been given about Rs 86
crore.
The GTA receives funds from the central and state governments, but
the actual amounts are not known. There was an agreement that the GTA
would be given a special annual grant of Rs 200 crore for three years
once the hill body was formed.
Asked about the activities to be taken up by the GTA's development
boards, Gurung said: "We will have to first chart out the composition of
the boards and their tasks. The boards will then decide what is best
suited for every community."
G.N. Lomjel, the general secretary of the All India Nepali Scheduled
Caste Association, today said: "We welcome the GTA's decision to form
development boards."(TT)
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