DARJEELING, 23 MAY: Demanding implementation of the state government’s announcement to constitute a Lepcha Development Council (LDC) for Lepchas based in the Darjeeling Hills, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association today took out rallies in Darjeeling.
Besides, the association also submitted a memorandum to the Darjeeling district magistrate, asking him to remind the state government about the assurance made in the state Assembly on the matter.
The association also asked the district administration to take initiatives in the direction of fulfillment of another long-standing demand of the community, who are considered the earliest inhabitants of the Hills, bringing an amendment in the Act to make Lepcha language the third language for primary level education curriculum in the Hills.
Mr Norbu Tshering Lepcha, the joint secretary of the association, said today’s rally had been staged to thank the state government for the LDC move. “However, at the same time, we think the district administration should remind the state government about the commitment made in the state Assembly. Besides, the administration should take initiative with the state government in making the Lepcha language a medium of instruction at the primary schools in the Lepcha-dominated areas spread across the Hills,” he said.
“We have conducted a survey and submitted a report to the state government last month,” he added.
The Lepcha population in the Hills presently stands at around 1.5 lakh. There are 79 primary schools across the Kalimpong sub-division where the Lepcha students are in a majority. The figure stands at 11 for Kurseong and seven for Darjeeling sub-divisions. Besides, there are around 40 night schools principally meant for the Lepchas across the Hills.
Asked whether LDC will be affiliated to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to be formed soon, Mr Norbu said the two institutions should not be muddled together. “The proposed LDC is an exclusive body meant for the Hill-based Lepcha community whereas the GTA will be an all-encompassing body involving the entire Hills and all the ethnic communities based here,” he said.
Besides, the association also submitted a memorandum to the Darjeeling district magistrate, asking him to remind the state government about the assurance made in the state Assembly on the matter.
The association also asked the district administration to take initiatives in the direction of fulfillment of another long-standing demand of the community, who are considered the earliest inhabitants of the Hills, bringing an amendment in the Act to make Lepcha language the third language for primary level education curriculum in the Hills.
Mr Norbu Tshering Lepcha, the joint secretary of the association, said today’s rally had been staged to thank the state government for the LDC move. “However, at the same time, we think the district administration should remind the state government about the commitment made in the state Assembly. Besides, the administration should take initiative with the state government in making the Lepcha language a medium of instruction at the primary schools in the Lepcha-dominated areas spread across the Hills,” he said.
“We have conducted a survey and submitted a report to the state government last month,” he added.
The Lepcha population in the Hills presently stands at around 1.5 lakh. There are 79 primary schools across the Kalimpong sub-division where the Lepcha students are in a majority. The figure stands at 11 for Kurseong and seven for Darjeeling sub-divisions. Besides, there are around 40 night schools principally meant for the Lepchas across the Hills.
Asked whether LDC will be affiliated to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to be formed soon, Mr Norbu said the two institutions should not be muddled together. “The proposed LDC is an exclusive body meant for the Hill-based Lepcha community whereas the GTA will be an all-encompassing body involving the entire Hills and all the ethnic communities based here,” he said.
statesman news service
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?