West Bengal govt gives nod to Lepcha board, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha eyes its control
KOLKATA: While Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders are fighting to bring the Lepcha Development Board under the ambit of the Gorkhaland Territorial Council, the formation of the board got the nod of the state cabinet on Tuesday.
Observers are already debating how but it will be difficult it would be for the GJM to oppose the formation of such a council.
Observers point out that GJM leaders had gone on record that they were aware of their responsibility to the minorities, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, whose interests the GTA accord too had promised to protect. Last December the GTA sabha had adopted a resolution for the setting up of a Lepcha Development Board under it.
The resolution had also proposed that similar development boards should be set up for other tribal groups living in the Hills. In Darjeeling, among the scheduled tribes are, Lepchas, Bhutias, Drukpas, Sherpas, Yelmos, Tamangs and Limbus.
In an immediate reaction to the formation of the board, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told a TV channel that the state had not done the right thing by forming the board as it would encroach upon the jurisdiction of GTA. "There is already an elected council in Darjeeling. If anything, the development board for Lepchas should be brought under GTA."
Lepchas of Darjeeling, one of the most marginalized communities, are desperate for some development and protection of their identity.
"An initiative is necessary for protection of the identity of the Lepchas," secretary of Darjeeling chapter of All India Lepcha Association Karma Lepcha said. "We have no objection if the proposed Lepcha Development Board comes under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. After all, we will have to live together."
But, he suggested that a suitable "small amendment" in the GTA Act could be made to ensure the step. Its president Dugay Lepcha said the issue should be "settled amicably and peacefully."
By announcing the formation of a Lepcha Development Board without consultation with GTA, chief minister Mamata Banerjee may have raised the issue of jurisdiction. But, another crunch issue is thought to be how funds would flow to the proposed LDC.
A development board for Lepchas under GTA would help the latter keep control of it, but Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association had favoured funds directly from the Centre and state, while the Darjeeling-based Lepcha Association had suggested a special fund under the tribal welfare department, to be managed by a district-level panel.
Marginalization of indigenous Bhutias and Lepchas has become an issue in Sikkim too.
Though Lepchas are regarded as the original inhabitants of Sikkim and Darjeeling, in the 2001 census their population in Darjeeling district was only about 31,000 as against a total population of the district of 1.6 million. In Sikkim, the Lepcha population in the 2001 census was about 40,000.
Observers are already debating how but it will be difficult it would be for the GJM to oppose the formation of such a council.
Observers point out that GJM leaders had gone on record that they were aware of their responsibility to the minorities, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, whose interests the GTA accord too had promised to protect. Last December the GTA sabha had adopted a resolution for the setting up of a Lepcha Development Board under it.
The resolution had also proposed that similar development boards should be set up for other tribal groups living in the Hills. In Darjeeling, among the scheduled tribes are, Lepchas, Bhutias, Drukpas, Sherpas, Yelmos, Tamangs and Limbus.
In an immediate reaction to the formation of the board, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told a TV channel that the state had not done the right thing by forming the board as it would encroach upon the jurisdiction of GTA. "There is already an elected council in Darjeeling. If anything, the development board for Lepchas should be brought under GTA."
Lepchas of Darjeeling, one of the most marginalized communities, are desperate for some development and protection of their identity.
"An initiative is necessary for protection of the identity of the Lepchas," secretary of Darjeeling chapter of All India Lepcha Association Karma Lepcha said. "We have no objection if the proposed Lepcha Development Board comes under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. After all, we will have to live together."
But, he suggested that a suitable "small amendment" in the GTA Act could be made to ensure the step. Its president Dugay Lepcha said the issue should be "settled amicably and peacefully."
By announcing the formation of a Lepcha Development Board without consultation with GTA, chief minister Mamata Banerjee may have raised the issue of jurisdiction. But, another crunch issue is thought to be how funds would flow to the proposed LDC.
A development board for Lepchas under GTA would help the latter keep control of it, but Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association had favoured funds directly from the Centre and state, while the Darjeeling-based Lepcha Association had suggested a special fund under the tribal welfare department, to be managed by a district-level panel.
Marginalization of indigenous Bhutias and Lepchas has become an issue in Sikkim too.
Though Lepchas are regarded as the original inhabitants of Sikkim and Darjeeling, in the 2001 census their population in Darjeeling district was only about 31,000 as against a total population of the district of 1.6 million. In Sikkim, the Lepcha population in the 2001 census was about 40,000.
Source: TOI
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