Showing posts with label Limbu Tribal Development Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Limbu Tribal Development Council. Show all posts

Limbus community to boycott the Lok Sabha election

10:17 AM
The Limbus, who are demanding a development board for their community on the lines of the Lepcha Development Board, has announced their decision of boycotting the Lok Sabha election this time.

Limbu Tribal Development Council
Limbus community to  boycott the Lok Sabha election

Speaking over phone from Kalimpong, Yakthung Shong Chumlung president ND Limbu confirmed the decision. He said, "Our association held a meeting on Sunday and it was attended by members from the hills and also from the plains of the Terai and Dooars. Prioritising our demand for a separate development board that has gone unheard so far, we have decided to boycott the LS election this time.”

The Limbu community was granted Scheduled Tribe status in 2003 and has a population of more than 1.5 lakh in the hills alone, while another 10,000 are estimated to be living in the Dooars, Siliguri and Salua.

The YSC chief lamented the fact that in spite of repeated requests and submissions to the state government, nothing concrete had materialized yet.

"We have submitted memorandums to the state government and even personally to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on several occasions. But we have not got any assurance or response till now. With no alternative before us, we have been forced to take the decision to boycott the elections," said Limbu.

The association president maintained that the association had submitted a memorandum with a demand for forming a development board to the chief minister during her visit to Kurseong on October 23 last year.

It is to be noted that the state government issued a notice to the Tamang Youth Association (TYA) on March 1 apprising the association of its approval for setting up a Tamang Development and Cultural Board.

However, confusion has cropped up among other seekers of similar development boards on the state government's letter in para-3, which reads: "…this board will also carry out the above activities in respect of other communities as may be notified from time to time".

Apart from demanding a development council, the Limbu community also wants the Limbu language to be taught across primary school in the hills. The YSC contends a development board would help in preserving and promoting the language, culture, tradition and economic progress of Limbus settled in the country.


Source:EOIC

Limbus demand development council

11:07 AM
Siliguri, Jan. 6: Around 1,500 Limbus held a demonstration here today to demand a development council for the community, on the lines of the one for the Lepchas, under the state government.


The demonstration by the Limbus in Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo
The demonstration by the Limbus in Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

The community members also submitted a memorandum, addressed to the chief minister, to Siliguri additional district magistrate P.T. Sherpa to press for the council.

“We Limbus are the most backward tribal community in the hills and the plains. Much like the Lepchas, we also want a separate Limbu Tribal Development Council so that development of our community can be expedited,” said Dinesh Subba, the spokesperson for the Yakthung Shong Choomvo or Limbu Tribal Association of West Bengal.

According to him, around 1.5 lakh Limbus live in the Darjeeling hills, Dooars and Terai, while the total population of the community across India is five lakh.

The Limbus have their own language (Limbu), culture and customs. The community wants the council to protect their unique identity also.

“We want the state government to form the development council like the one for the Lepchas. During the chief minister’s visit to the hills on October 23 last year, we had met her and submitted a memorandum to her seeking the council. She had assured us that the demand would be considered. But almost three months have passed and there has been no initiative from the state’s side. So, we submitted another memorandum addressed to the chief minister today,” said Subba.

The Limbus, he said, wanted the council to be formed under the state government and not the GTA Sabha.

“As thousands of Limbus also live in areas outside the GTA’s jurisdiction, we want the council to be formed under the state government. If it is formed under the GTA, it can help only the Limbus living in the GTA area,” said Subba.

Other hill communities, Tamangs, Bhutias and Sherpas had also sought development bodies under the state government. GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung had said on December 15 that he was not averse to development bodies being formed under the state government for the hill tribes. Before that, he had insisted that such councils must be created only under the GTA.

Source:Telegraph

 
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