Assam Gorkhas demand (ST) status and a development council

9:59 AM

•

Schedule Caste

Kokrajhar, Jan. 31: The Gorkhas living in Assam today decided to intensify their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and creation of a development council for the community.

The decision was taken during the 4th triennial conference of the Assam Gorkha Sammelan, which concluded at Santipur in Chirang district today.

Other resolutions that were adopted include the creation of a community hall in each district, solving D-voter problems and land pattas to Gorkhas living in forest areas. A new 31-member committee with Lakshmi Sedain as president, Dhamodhar Dahal as working president and Bikash Dahal as secretary was formed.

A cultural rally was taken out on the occasion. An open session was also held, attended by Tezpur MP R.P. Sarma and MLA Chandan Brahma, among others.

The 4th triennial conference of Assam Gorkha Sammelan, BTC Regional committee concluded today at Santipur in Chirang after three days colourful programme.

Assam Gorkha Sammelan rally - a file photo

On the concluding day today, a colourful cultural rally was held where cultural team from various communities like Gorkha, Bodo, Adivasi participated.

Later in the day, an Open Session was held where Tezpur MP RP Sarma, local MLA Chandan Brahma attended as guests.

A 31 member new committee with Lakshmi Sedain as president, Dhamodhar Dahal as working president and Bikash Dahal as secretary was formed.

Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community and creation of an autonomous council comprising Gorkha inhabited areas.

Talking to Reporters, RP Sarma slammed the AIUDF leader Abdur Rahim’s statement on the BJP-BPF coalition.

Sidli MLA Chandan Brahma said they are taking up legal action against Rahim for his statement. ‘If he does not apologies and withdraw  his statement, we are talking legal action against him, he said.

The Sammelan adopted some important resolutions which includes to press the demand of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community  living in Assam , creation of Gorkha development council, Gorkha community hall in every districts, solve D-voters problems involving the Gorkha people and land pattas to the community people living in forest areas.



Via Assamtimes and Telegraph

READ MORE

Hill rival body of Schedule Caste community demands development board

8:37 AM

•

Schedule Caste

Rival bodies demand SC board

Writes Vivek Chhetri

Darjeeling, Dec. 22: Two rival organisations of the Schedule Caste community in the hills have demanded a development board for the members from the state government.

The Darjeeling Indigenous Schedule Caste Welfare Association, which was registered as a society in 2014, today said it had got a positive response from the state government on the formation of a board for the SC community.

Bibek Sewa, president of the association, said: "On November 27, we visited the office of the backward classes welfare department in Calcutta. We also met minister Aroop Biswas, who is also the Trinamul observer for the hills. During our visit, we came to know that our demand is under consideration."

Sewa said the organisation had held a rally in Kureong on December 19 with the demand and Siliguri MLA Rudranath Bhattacharya and Trinamul (Hills) president, Rajen Mukhia, had attended it.

Darjeeling Indigenous Schedule Caste Welfare Association rally

"We grew up under the aegis of the All India Nepali Schedule Caste Association. But its leaders now seem to have a political colour...," Sewa said.

The All India Nepali Schedule Caste Association has also demanded a development board.

It had also organised a rally here on November 8.

R. Thatal, the president of the association, said: "We have already told the state government that they (the indigenous welfare association) do not represent the Nepali Schedule Caste community in the hills."

Asked who would lead the board if the state government granted it, Sewa said: "We will leave it to the chief minister."

SourceTelegraph

READ MORE