The Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist has decided to participate in the panchayat elections in the Darjeeling hills as and when they are held. The decision was taken recently by the party at one of its regional committee meetings.
But as a precondition, the CPRM wants a three-tier panchayat system in place in the Darjeeling hills. At present, only Gram Panchayats are functioning as elections have not been held since 2005. Block development officers are running the gram panchayats in the region.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha took up the issue of a three-tier panchayat system before the state and central governments in the November 20 and 21 bipartite and tripartite meetings in Kolkata.
cp said his party will contest the panchayat elections whenever they are held.
“We must participate in the process in a democratic system as it is part of our fundamental right. We have decided to contest the panchayat election when the state government holds it in the Darjeeling hills. But we first want a three-tier panchayat system in place here for the benefit of the people,” he said.
It may be noted that Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghisingh had refused to allow panchayat samitis in the hills in 1988 while accepting the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) after a bloody agitation for separate statehood. Once again, when Ghisingh started demanding Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling hills, he did not allow gram panchayat elections to take place.
Meanwhile, along with the panchayat system, the CPRM wants bifurcation of the existing eight blocks comprising the hills.
“We want the existing blocks to be increased along with the number of gram panchayats. This is needed because the population of the region has increased manifold, while doing so will also greatly benefit the people,” said Chhetri.
There are 112 gram panchayats in the three sub-divisions under the eight blocks.
“This year, we want to work with fresh impetus and energy. We will float new people-friendly programmes and expect our units to implement them at the ground level. We will also start organisational and political awareness camps,” said Chhetri, adding that from January 15, the party will start a “jan samparka” campaign in the hills in a bid to reach out to the people.
Source:EOI
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| CPRM regional committee general secretary Sekhar Chhetri. |
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha took up the issue of a three-tier panchayat system before the state and central governments in the November 20 and 21 bipartite and tripartite meetings in Kolkata.
cp said his party will contest the panchayat elections whenever they are held.
“We must participate in the process in a democratic system as it is part of our fundamental right. We have decided to contest the panchayat election when the state government holds it in the Darjeeling hills. But we first want a three-tier panchayat system in place here for the benefit of the people,” he said.
It may be noted that Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghisingh had refused to allow panchayat samitis in the hills in 1988 while accepting the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) after a bloody agitation for separate statehood. Once again, when Ghisingh started demanding Sixth Schedule status for the Darjeeling hills, he did not allow gram panchayat elections to take place.
Meanwhile, along with the panchayat system, the CPRM wants bifurcation of the existing eight blocks comprising the hills.
“We want the existing blocks to be increased along with the number of gram panchayats. This is needed because the population of the region has increased manifold, while doing so will also greatly benefit the people,” said Chhetri.
There are 112 gram panchayats in the three sub-divisions under the eight blocks.
“This year, we want to work with fresh impetus and energy. We will float new people-friendly programmes and expect our units to implement them at the ground level. We will also start organisational and political awareness camps,” said Chhetri, adding that from January 15, the party will start a “jan samparka” campaign in the hills in a bid to reach out to the people.
Source:EOI
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