Darjeeling: The tribal issues is now taking centre stage in
hill politics with all major parties throwing their weight behind
granting of tribal status to 11 communities.
The immediate trigger seems to be the state government's
decision to write to the Union tribal affairs ministry recommending the
inclusion of the 11 communities in the Schedule Tribe list.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had on February 16 written to Union tribal minister Jual Oram pushing for the tribal status.
"The Cultural Research Institute conducted Ethnographic
Studies of all the eleven communities and stated that that these
communities possess distinctive characters found among the Tribal
communities and suggested that the said communities may be considered as
Schedule Tribes of West Bengal," the chief minister's letter states.
The chief minister has also reminded the Centre that state
cabinet had recommended inclusion in the ST list of West Bengal on
February 24, 2016.
The eleven communities include Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami, Yakha (Dewan) and Dhimal.
At the moment, the tribal population in the hill constitutes around 34 percent.
On Thursday, Binay Tamang, chairman of board of administrators,
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration also wrote to Union tribal
minister, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Sikkim chief minister
Pawan Chamling.
"We would like to thank the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee
for taking steps for inclusion of 11 communities in the ST list. I also
wrote a letter to the Union home minister and Union tribal minister
pursing the case," said Tamang who added that he would also be visiting
Delhi soon to take up this matter.
"I will put my best foot forward to ensure that 11 communities
are included in the ST list. I will be visiting Delhi soon," said
Tamang.
Tamang also wrote to Chamling requesting him to follow the
issue. "During our meeting with Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling on
March 27, the tribal issue had been discussed at length. This is why I
have written to the chief minister of Sikkim," said Tamang.
Chamling and Tamang had agreed to pursue the tribal issue.
The GNLF said on Thursday that they would be sending a delegation to Delhi soon to pursue the tribal issue.
"A delegation of the GNLF will be going to Delhi soon to
pursue the matter with the Registrar General of India (RGI), National
Commission on Schedule Tribe and Union tribal affairs minister," said
Neeraj Zimba, spokesman, GNLF.
On March 29, the state government also issued a gazette
notification notifying the inclusion of Khas community in the OBC list
of the state. The community has welcomed the move and believe that it is
a step forward toward inclusion of the community in the ST list.
The Telegraph