Showing posts with label Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan. Show all posts

Hill Development boards meeting on Assembly election in Darjeeling

7:57 PM
Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, April 6: The heads of seven development boards formed for different communities in the Darjeeling hills have decided to hold a meeting here on Friday to discuss the stand they will take on the coming Assembly election.

Although the chairman of West Bengal Sherpa Cultural Board said the meeting would discuss "issues related to the upcoming election", sources said the purpose of the talks was to decide whether the heads of the boards should support any party in the polls and if so, how they should send the message to the members of the communities.

The development boards' formation by the Mamata Banerjee government has given a toehold to the Trinamul Congress in the hills, where the writ of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha largely runs.

The meeting is considered significant as this is the first time that the chairmen of the boards are formally sitting together to discuss an election strategy.
Hill Development boards meeting on Assembly election in Darjeeling
Lyangsong Tamsang, the chairman of the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board,
after receiving a cheque for Rs 10 crore from Mamata Banerjee at
Ronaldshay Park in Kalimpong
Nima Wangdi Sherpa, the chairman of the Sherpa cultural board today told The Telegraph: "It is true that a meeting of the chairpersons of seven boards will be held at the Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan Hall in Darjeeling on April 8. The agenda is basically to discuss issues related to the upcoming election."

He, however, refused to get into the details of the meeting's agenda.

Sources said the chairmen of the development boards would be discussing the stand they would take in the polls. "If they decide to support any party, then, they will have to find a way to present it before the members of their respective communities. Those things will also be decided at the meeting," said an aide to the chairman of one of the boards.

The state government has so far formed boards for Lepcha, Tamang, Sherpa, Bhutia, Mangar, Rai and Limbu communities which make up 35 per cent of the hill population.

"Apart from the chairpersons, leaders of other communities like Scheduled Caste, Bhujel and probably Newars, which are also demanding development boards, are likely to attend the meeting," said Sherpa.

Asked about the likely outcome of the talks, Sherpa said: "We cannot say anything at the moment."

Observers believe the board chairmen will most probably decide on supporting the Trinamul candidates in the hills. "It is obvious that they will decide to support the Trinamul candidates because they were given positions by the state government. Most of the board chairmen were present at Mamata Banerjee's election rally in Kurseong on March 15," said an observer.

"However, the most interesting thing would be how they appeal to community members to support Trinamul. Will it be a direct appeal or will they send across a subtle message to voters," said the observer.

The observers believe the chairmen of the boards are under pressure. "Mamata Banerjee has nominated them to the posts with a belief that they wield a lot of clout among their respective communities. So, these leaders are obviously under pressure to deliver," said an observer.

Morcha president and GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung has always said the boards were created to divide the hill population. Realising the importance of the development boards in the upcoming election, he had met leaders of different communities over the past few weeks.

"Gurung has held meetings with leaders of Sherpa, Limbu, Rai and Christian communities throughout March at Gorkha Rangamanch Bhavan in Darjeeling. Gurung is confident that development board leaders cannot influence a lot of voters ," said a close aide to Gurung.

The GTA had announced in February that development boards for 19 hill communities would be established with an allocation of Rs 5 crore each.


Telegraph

GDNS holds meeting to resolve the issue of outstanding electricity bills

10:00 AM
Kalimpong’s Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS) on Tuesday held a meeting at its office in Bagdhara Road with electricity department representatives to resolve the issue of outstanding bills. Electricity department divisional manager Somnath Roy, GDNS president Uday Kumai, association members and consumers were present at the meeting.
Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS)
Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS) 
Kumai alleged the department has been sending excess bills to consumers, adding that according to the GTA agreement, all dues have been waived off. Speaking to the press later, he said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has already announced this and the state government has also issued a circular in this regard. Kumai further said the department has been urged not to add outstanding bills with new ones.

 In response, Roy confirmed about the waiver of outstanding bills. He said consumers can always visit the electricity office if they have issues regarding bill payment, and stressed outstanding amounts have not been added to current bills. Roy also noted that spot billing facility has been started for the benefit of consumers.

(EOIC)

BGP and NGOs submitted a deputation on the Teesta rape case

1:27 AM
NGO
Kalimpong 21st April: The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang (BGP) today convened a meeting with various NGOs and noted public figures on the Teesta rape case and have submitted a deputation regarding the same to the Sub-Divisional office in Kalimpong. Representatives from NGOs including Kalimpong Farmer’s Welfare Association, Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan, Kalimpong Conservation Committee and Hill Social Welfare Society among others participated in the meeting.

All India Women’s conference members submitting deputation to Deputy Magistrate Pritan Limbu in Kalimpong on Monday.
All India Women’s conference members submitting deputation
to Deputy Magistrate Pritan Limbu in Kalimpong on Monday.
Condemning the incident, BGP’s president Dr. Anos Das Pradhan demanded for strict investigation into the matter and to give the most stringent punishment for the culprit. He informed the organisation will also seek the condition of the victim from the hospital. He also demanded justice for the murder of Gina Pradhan a few years back and warned the case should not be closed until the investigation reached a conclusion.

Meanwhile, the Hill TMC’s women wing have strongly condemned the incident and said it has disgraced the entire hill community. Similarly, the GJM’s women wing has also condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the culprit.

Further, Child Protection Mission’s sister Suvashna Thapa has also condemned the incident by calling it inhumane and unfortunate. She said the people who have come out on the street to protest against the incident proves the magnitude of the incident.

All India Women’s conference members also met the deputy magistrate in Kalimpong today and submitted a deputation demanding quick and stringent punishment for the accused.

Notably, on April 17 a 3-year old minor girl was brutally raped by a youth Sunil Rai at Gaphur Village in Teesta. Rai has been arrested by the police and is in their custody. The incident immediately created uproar among the locals of Teesta, who came out to the street and held rallies and dharnas to protest. As the news spread, the people across the hills started participating in protest rallies condemning the rape of a minor.

Source:EOI

 
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