KOLKATA: A Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) delegation, led by general secretary Roshan Giri, met Mamata Banerjee at Writers' Buildings on Thursday and asked her to initiate steps for a constitutional amendment so that a three-tier panchayat system can be introduced in Darjeeling. thus removing an anomaly in the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. A GJM delegation led by general secretary Roshan Giri met chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Writers' Buildings on Thursday and asked her to take up the issue with the Centre.
Giri said the delegation was informed that the Centre has already asked the state government to prepare a draft on the proposed amendment. Earlier under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, there was a two-tier panchayat system and no separate zilla parishad. But the GTA agreement provides for a three-tier panchayat system.
The issue of rehabilitation of Gorkhaland Police personnel was also discussed in the meet. The GJM leaders pressed for the speedy transfer of government departments. "Out of 57 departments due to GTA, 27 have already been transferred. On Thursday, the CM took initiative to transfer four more, bringing the total number of transferred departments to 31," said GTA deputy chief Colonel Ramesh Allay (Retd). TNN
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has asked the West Bengal government to initiate steps for a constitutional amendment for the introduction of the three-tier panchayat system in the hills of Darjeeling, thus removing an anomaly in the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. A GJM delegation led by its general secretary Roshan Giri met chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Writers' Buildings in Kolkata on Thursday and asked her to take up the issue with the Centre.
Giri said after the meeting that the delegation was informed that the Centre had already asked the state government to prepare a draft of the proposed amendment. Under the previous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council a two-tier panchayat system functioned in the hills, there being no separate zilla parishad. But the GTA agreement provided for the three-tier panchayat system in the hills.
A legal expert said it was high time the constitution was amended for introduction of the three-tier panchayat system in the hills as the Constitution provided for a two-tier panchayat system in the DGHC area. There is also a court case pending on this issue, but Giri said the case would not stand in the way of amending the Constitution. With a full-fledged zilla parishad, the benefits of development would reach the common people.
The pending issue of rehabilitation of Gorkhaland Police personnel came up for discussion in the meeting with the chief minister. The GTA agreement had provided for their recruitment in police and other security forces. Over 2,000 "GLP boys" were living under trying circumstances in camps, Giri said. As the question of recruitment was worked out, Giri asked for some "concessions for the boys" in the mean time.
GJM leaders wanted the process of transfer of government departments to GTA to be expedited. Out of 57 departments due to GTA, 27 had already been transferred. The chief minister during the day took the initiative to transfer four more, bringing the total number of transferred departments to 31, GTA deputy chief Colonel Ramesh Allay(Retd) added. State home secretary Basudeb Banerjee accompanied by a few other departmental secretaries would go to Darjeeling on November 26 to oversee the process of smooth transfer and to ensure that the transferred departments functioned in a full-fledged manner.
Giri added that the chief minister might visit Darjeeling during the tea tourism festival to start on December 13.
Giri said the delegation was informed that the Centre has already asked the state government to prepare a draft on the proposed amendment. Earlier under the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, there was a two-tier panchayat system and no separate zilla parishad. But the GTA agreement provides for a three-tier panchayat system.
The issue of rehabilitation of Gorkhaland Police personnel was also discussed in the meet. The GJM leaders pressed for the speedy transfer of government departments. "Out of 57 departments due to GTA, 27 have already been transferred. On Thursday, the CM took initiative to transfer four more, bringing the total number of transferred departments to 31," said GTA deputy chief Colonel Ramesh Allay (Retd). TNN
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has asked the West Bengal government to initiate steps for a constitutional amendment for the introduction of the three-tier panchayat system in the hills of Darjeeling, thus removing an anomaly in the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. A GJM delegation led by its general secretary Roshan Giri met chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Writers' Buildings in Kolkata on Thursday and asked her to take up the issue with the Centre.
Giri said after the meeting that the delegation was informed that the Centre had already asked the state government to prepare a draft of the proposed amendment. Under the previous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council a two-tier panchayat system functioned in the hills, there being no separate zilla parishad. But the GTA agreement provided for the three-tier panchayat system in the hills.
A legal expert said it was high time the constitution was amended for introduction of the three-tier panchayat system in the hills as the Constitution provided for a two-tier panchayat system in the DGHC area. There is also a court case pending on this issue, but Giri said the case would not stand in the way of amending the Constitution. With a full-fledged zilla parishad, the benefits of development would reach the common people.
The pending issue of rehabilitation of Gorkhaland Police personnel came up for discussion in the meeting with the chief minister. The GTA agreement had provided for their recruitment in police and other security forces. Over 2,000 "GLP boys" were living under trying circumstances in camps, Giri said. As the question of recruitment was worked out, Giri asked for some "concessions for the boys" in the mean time.
GJM leaders wanted the process of transfer of government departments to GTA to be expedited. Out of 57 departments due to GTA, 27 had already been transferred. The chief minister during the day took the initiative to transfer four more, bringing the total number of transferred departments to 31, GTA deputy chief Colonel Ramesh Allay(Retd) added. State home secretary Basudeb Banerjee accompanied by a few other departmental secretaries would go to Darjeeling on November 26 to oversee the process of smooth transfer and to ensure that the transferred departments functioned in a full-fledged manner.
Giri added that the chief minister might visit Darjeeling during the tea tourism festival to start on December 13.
TOI
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