HC asks for affidavit on Lepcha teachers appointment in Darjeeling

2:11 PM

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West Bengal

Kolkata, 21 April, 2015: The Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit on the steps regarding appointment of Lepcha teachers in Darjeeling district and asked it why it was having frequent conflicts with GTA.

Lepcha parateachers of 46 schools in hunger 

strike in Kalimpong - darpan pic

After hearing of the matter, Justice Tapabrata Chakroborti asked the state government to submit why it was having frequent confrontations with the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) over various issues.

The court asked the state to file an affidavit within three weeks and fixed the matter for hearing after five weeks.

Last June, the state issued a notification and asked the Darjeeling district magistrate to start the selection process of appointing Lepcha parateachers in 46 schools.

Subsequently GTA spokesperson Roshan Giri told the district magistrate not to proceed with the notification as according to the GTA Act 2011, appointment of teachers in Darjeeling district remained within its ambit.

However, the process continued and in August 2014 the appointment process was completed.
Subsequently GTA counsel Ayanabho Raha filed a case in the high court and sought an interim stay which the court refused to grant. PTI

Via : DC

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Supreme Court threat for Lepcha language implementation in schools

10:40 AM

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West Bengal

"Will go to Supreme Court if Lepcha language not implemented" - Yusuf Simick

A political wit had once quipped that, 'Politics has so many twist and turns that it if someone has motion sickness, it is advisable for them to stay out of politics.' One need not look too far away, a look at political scenario in Darjeeling hills, and one would totally agree with the wit.

Lepchas Threaten Litigation if Lepcha Language is Not Implemented in Schools

Unsurprisingly after about a year of bonhomie, the Lepcha leaders are now threatening to knock the doors of Hon'ble Supreme Court, as they are claiming that despite the assurances from Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - on whom they had conferred the title of "Kinchum Darmit - Bhagyabidhata" a year ago -
Bengal has not done anything to practically implement the teaching of Lepcha/Rong language in the schools.

Celebrating the 283rd birth anniversary of the last Lepcha King Panu Gyaboo Achuk lepcha leaders like Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development board President Laysang Tamsang, Tamang Development Board President Sanjay Moktan, MLDB VP Yusuf Simick among others.

Speaking at the occassion Yusuf Simick said, "even we want unity in the hills, but unity cannot be imposed on us, we want to retain our identity when we join are tied in the unity."

Blaming the government for not fulfilling its promise, Mr. Simick said, "even though the government order has been issued for the past 6 months it is yet to be implemented, the local administrative disposition (GTA) should allow for the order to be implemented... if the Lepcha language is not started teaching, then we will knock on the doors of Supreme Court"

He further said that, "to be able to study in ones own mother tongue is a constitutional right... and that is why we not only support such rights for the Lepchas, but also for the Rai, Limbu, Tamang, Gurung, Bhujel, Newar and all other linguistic groups... even their languages need to be protected and all the festivals of all the communities must be celebrated with equal frevor" he said.

Source: DC

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Bhaichung blessed by Lepcha support

9:58 PM

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TMC

Kalimpong April 10: Expected and speculated in the political circles of the hills, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA) Thursday extended its support to TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia that could put things for the GJM-BJP alliance in jeopardy.

Bhaichung and Mamata Bannerjee

Attended by Lepchas from across the hills, the association today held a public rally to announce its support in presence of North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb and Bhaichung himself. Though the meeting was organized by the ILTA, with Lepchas wearing TMC cap predicted that the meet was of the TMC itself. The member from the Tamang youth association also attended the meet. 

“We will support the TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia as a return gift to the state government for forming the Myang Lyang Lepcha Development Council earlier in September last year,” announced Dorjee T. Lepcha, the president of the association. “It was only after TMC took charge of the state we saw justice coming our way,” he added appealing other communities too to vote for Bhutia. 

The ILTA has been fighting for its rights and wants introduction of Lepcha language in the schools of the hills. The association claims to have 30 percent of the hills population. Interestingly after the formation of the council in September 2013, other communities like the Tamangs has also demanded a similar board to which the state government has given a nod. The Tamangs claim to have over 3 lakh population in the hills. 

Addressing the gathering Dev however said that Bhutia will win by a margin of 5 lakhs. Bhutia who thanked the Lepcha for their support however said that he is up in politics to promote honest politics and vowed to be honest. “The GJM is using public money meant for development during election campaign. There is a lot of work to be done in the hills. The road condition is pathetic, there is perennial shortage of water, education has taken a hit and unemployment is on the rise,” he alleged, promising that he would want to address these issues if elected. 

Vivek Ghatani - Editor Indian Gorkhas

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Lepcha delegation tables demands before BJP SS Ahluwalia

1:48 AM

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tribal news

Darjeeling : Lepchas have been demanding primitive tribal status since 1997: Ahluwalia

A delegation of Lepchas living in the Darjeeling Hills today called on BJP Lok Sabha election candidate for the Hills SS Ahluwalia and put forth a four-point charter of demands.

Darjeeling Lepcha delegation tables demands before BJP SS Ahluwalia

The delegation of the All India Lepcha Association (AILA) said the first demand it has is primitive tribal status for the Lepcha community. Responding to the demands, Mr Ahluwalia said the Lepchas have been demanding primitive tribal status since 1997.

"The Trinamul Congress state government formed a board for the Lepcha community, but that has been registered under the Societies Act," he said.

He was referring to the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board that the TMC government formed last year. The board’s reigns were, however, given to another Lepcha association in the Hills, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association.

"The TMC formed the board in view of the Lok Sabha elections," Mr Ahluwalia said. "The BJP will work for the betterment of all the communities in the Hills," he added.

The AILA has also demanded introduction of the Lepcha language in the primary level in schools, a tribal project for the overall development of the community and up-gradation of the Lepcha villages to modern ones. 

Source:SNS

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