Didi attains Tamang Development and Cultural Board Annual Convention

10:28 PM

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Tamang Development Council

The Tamang Development and Cultural Board celebrated its first Annual Convention today in Darjeeling. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was horned  as the chief guest of the event. The banner of the event read "TD&CB and the entire Tamang community of the hills Welcome our hon'bel chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee" 

 Tamang Development and Cultural Board Annual Convention

Later Mamata Banerjee on a social media wrote:

"The lovely Tamang people of the hills had invited me to be present in the Annual Convention today in Darjeeling.

The convention celebrated the first anniversary of Tamang Development and Cultural Board, which our Government had set up in January last year. The New Year celebration ‘Lochaar’ was also held.
I was very happy to watch the brightly attired little children and young brothers and sisters performing an excellent colourful cultural programme including the famous traditional Tamang dance, "Dumphoo".
We are assisting the Tamang Board with various development and cultural activities including housing for their people.
It is our earnest endeavour that all the people of the hills prosper and be happy.
My best wishes to all of them. I really love my Darjeeling brothers and sisters.
We are always with them and will be with them."

The Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed over a cheque worth Rs 5 crores to Tamang Development and Cultural Board (TDCB) Chairman Sanjay Moktan in a program organized at Lebong stadium.

Ms. Banerjee was attending the Foundation Day celebrations of TDCB, which was announced in January last year, an started functioning from June 2014.

Speaking at the occasion Ms. Banerjee said, "Last year we had given 5 crores, we are giving another 5 crores, use it for developing the community... in a transparent manner.. help the poor people in your community."

The proverbial 'Development Board' chickens have come home to roost and can open up a Pandora's box full of political quicksands that can gobble up TMC whole.

Now the Sara Bharat Matua Mahasangha - one of the most well organized minority community organizations in Bengal is now demanding the formation of a 'Development Board' for the socioeconomic development of the community in Bengal.

Will Bengal be able to afford "Development Boards" for all of them?

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Lack of transparency in Tamang Development and Cultural Board

10:45 AM

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Tamang Youth Association

Darjeeling, Oct. 16: A member of the Tamang Development and Cultural Board’s general council has alleged lack of transparency in the functioning of chairperson Sanjay Moktan, whose appointment was announced by Mamata Banerjee at a public meeting here.

Today, general council member Sanyog Tamang, called a news conference at his house here and said they did not know that a fixed deposit account had been opened in a bank in the name of the board. He alleged that some members of Tamang community were collecting subscriptions in the name of the board.

“Since the formation of the board, the chairperson, Sanjay Moktan is working in a non-transparent manner. Not a single meeting of the general council of the TDCB has been called till date. The general council members do not know who proposed and decided to open a bank account for the board,” said Sanyog , the son of ABGL leader Madan Tamang who was murdered here in 2010. “I have heard from reliable sources that the board has made a fixed deposit of Rs 5 crore for a period of three months. The general council has not been informed about the decision,” Sanyog said.

Mamata Banerjee had announced the Tamang Development and Cultural Board earlier this year at a public meeting and she had said Moktan would be its chairperson.

The board was formed on July 16, 2014 and it has been granted Rs 5 crore to build houses for community members.

“We have heard that the board has already started distributing houses but the general council is not aware of the development. We have also heard that the board has employed 10 staff members but we are not aware where the office is located,” Sanyog said.

He also alleged that Rs 200 was being collected by a section of people from the community from each person to avail himself of the facilities. “The board is for all the members of the Tamang community. Why should anyone pay subscription for its facilities?”

Sanyog added that Moktan was using a car with a nameplate of the Tamang board for personal use. “He is moving around in a vehicle carrying a nameplate of the board. It is being used for school duty (for family members) and shopping,” said the member.

The general council of the board has 14 members (apart from three ex-officio members) and Sanyog said at least seven of them were not happy with chairperson Moktan. “In the coming days, we will decide our course of action.”

The board also has a 10-member executive committee of which Sanyog is not a member.

Moktan refuted all allegations. “The decision to open a bank account and start the process of identifying houses to be built were taken by the executive council which held a meeting on September 26.”

Asked about the Rs 5 crore fixed deposit in the name of the board, Moktan said: “We cannot disclose certain decisions taken by the executive council. The onus to prove the allegations lies with the person who raised the allegation.”

Moktan said the government had not yet given him an official vehicle. “We do not have an office at the moment and we have written to the government for staff members. We are operating from an office of the Tamang Youth Association (a community-based social organisation). The board was registered a month ago and we are in the initial stage.”

Moktan also denied the allegation of people collecting subscription and said the board has decided to call a meeting on October 22. Sanyog said the meeting was being called as Moktan had got to know that others were dissatisfied.

Source: Telegraph

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Tamang Development and Cultural Board announced by Mamata Banerjee

2:17 PM

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Tamang Development Council

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the formation of Tamang Development and Cultural Board at a public meeting in Darjeeling’s Chowrasta

Lauding the developmental work done by Lepcha Development Board, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the setting up of Tamang Welfare and Cultural Board in Darjeeling on Thursday. Addressing a public gathering in Darjeeling, she announced an additional Rs. 20-crore grant to Lepcha Development Board and Rs. 10-crore grant to Tamang Development and Cultural Board.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced the formation of Tamang Development
 and Cultural Board

The announcement at the first public meeting of the Chief Minister after her party lost the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) alliance is significant. Her attempt to set up Lepcha Development Board was met with criticism by the GJM who had described the development as an attempt to create division among the people of the hills.

She also announced that the son of slain Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang, as one of the member of Tamag Welfare and Cultural Board. The family members of Mr. Tamang have alleged that senior GJM leaders were involved in his murder in broad daylight.

“I want your trust, I want your faith…. I am not doing development for your votes,” the Chief Minister said. Ms. Banerjee also said that she has approached the Centre for conferring tribal status on the 11 communities from the region. “We have written to the new Central government to confer tribal status on 11 communities of the hills,” she said.

During her address delivered in Hindi, she made references to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, the regional autonomous council, which is run by the GJM, and said both the GTA and the State government will help in the development of hills.

“There will be politics but one should not bring politics into development,” the Chief Minister said, adding that she will meet the representatives of the GTA and local MLAs on Friday.

Referring to the Rs. 250-crore safari park-cum-zoo in Sukna near Siliguri, Ms. Banerjee said the upcoming project will play a big role in boosting tourism in the region. She said the 261-acre safari park will house several animals, including tigers, leopards, rhinos, and a variety of reptiles and birds.

On the issue of the closed tea gardens, the Chief Minister said that the Centre should come up with a package. She claimed that her government has decided to pay Rs. 1,500 to the workers of the closed tea gardens and assured that the workers will be provided jobs under the 100-day-work guarantee scheme.

Reacting to the formation of Tamang Board, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said: “The state government is indulging in divisive politics here. They want to divide the Gorkhas and rule. But they will not be successful.” Incidentally, one of the board members is Sanjog Tamang, son of slain Gorkha League leader Madan Tamang. Madan’s murder case is being investigated by the CBI while several senior Morcha leaders, including Giri, had figured in the FIR as “conspirators”.

The meeting, or the “administrative programme”, was organised by Darjeeling district administration, and both the GJM and its wing GTA had claimed that they “did not receive any official invitation” to attend the programme.

Mamata, however, informed that her officers did go to invite GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung but were told that he was “busy with his birthday celebration programmes”. “(Upon learning) I wished him on his 50th birthday,” the CM said.


Later in the day, a Morcha delegation, led by Giri and MLAs Trilok Dewan and Rohit Sharma, held a meeting with chief secretary Sanjay Mitra where it was decided that a GTA delegation led by chief executive Bimal Gurung will remain present at the administrative review meeting today. Mamata will hold the meeting at 2 pm.

Source: thehindu and mumbaitv

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After the Tamangs Mamata Refuses to Meet Lepcha Representatives

8:00 PM

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Tamang Development Council

After snubbing the representatives from the Tamang Youth faction which had declared allegiance to TMC before the elections, by not meeting them at all on Friday. It was the turn of the ILTA representatives to bear the burnt of Mamata's ire.

Lepchas with TMC candidate Bhaichung during LS election campaign

Yesterday a high level delegation of Lepchas had arrived in the morning to meet the West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee at Mongpong. However, they were kept waiting all day, and they eventually had to leave dejected in the evening without getting a chance to meet the Chief Minister.

Speaking to the press the ILTA Youth Wing Secretary Dorjee Lepcha tried to downplay the incidence and said, "we had come to give a courteous visit to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and after waiting for many hours, we were informed that since she had come to rest she would not be meeting anyone."

However earlier in the day Mamata Banerjee had in fact met local people regarding and discussed some problems and issues the locals were facing.

Political observers in Darjeeling see this as a reminder to everyone associated with TMC in the hills that they are replaceable. Speaking to TheDC a senior political observer from Kalimpong said, "It was bound to be, after all TMC gained much less votes in the hills than they had been told they would gain... and that impression to TMC that they would gain over 2 Lakh vote from the hills were given by the very same leaders from the Lepcha and Tamang communities, whom Mamata refused to meet..."

Clarifying further he said, "No one likes to be lied to, least of all Mamata Banerjee who has a reputation for being straight forward... she does not tolerate fools and liars and some community leaders from the hills were not honest with the CM about how much clout they actually had in their own community... This was bound to be.. I honestly don't blame the CM."

Another political insider said, "In refusing to meet the representatives from those factions of the Lepcha and Tamang youth associations, which had in fact openly supported TMC in the Lok Sabha elections, Mamata is sending a clear signal to everyone in Darjeeling - perform or perish... I will not be surprised if Gautam Deb loses favour with the CM in the coming days, after all he is the in-charge for the hills, and ultimately it will be seen as his failure and not TMCs."

Of the four community groups from the hills which had openly come out in support of TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia, representatives from All India Sherpa Buddhist Association section of Limbu community led by ND Subba and Mangar samaj did not seem to try to meet Mamata, else there is a good chance that they may also have been snubbed.

However, there is a distant possibility that perhaps the Chief Minister choose not to meet these two groups as she actually wanted to rest and not discuss politics, or may be she is sick and tired of sycophants and thus has no interest in entertaining them any more.

In a reverse snub of sorts, this time around the GJM leaders did not seek to meet Mamata or pay her a courtesy visit either, which otherwise they would normally do.

Seems like Darjeeling is waiting for interesting times ahead.

[During happier times: File pic of ILTA, TYA and Mangar Samaj representatives at a TMC rally in Kalimpong in support of Bhaichung]

Source: DC facebook

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Gurung Tamu Youth Association confused over govt nod for Tamang board

10:37 AM

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Tamang Development Council

The Gurung Tamu Youth Association today conducted a meeting to discuss several issues regarding the addition of the Gurung Tamu Community in the Scheduled Tribe category. Chief among the issues discussed was the confusion related to the letter sent by the state government on the formation of a Tamang Development Board.

Kishore Gurung

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, GTYA Press & Publicity secretary Santa Kishore Gurung (Tamu) thanked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for requesting the prime minister to include the Gurung Tamu community in the Scheduled Tribe list. He also congratulated the Tamang Youth Association for getting the approval for a Tamang Development Board. 

However, he said the association is confused with a paragraph in the letter sent by the state government on March 1 to the TYA. The letter carries varying guidelines for the new board, but paragraph number 3 reads, “This Board will also carry out the above activities with respect to other communities as may be notified from time to time.”

Gurung said the association has failed to understand who the “other communities” are being referred to are and has requested the state government for a clarification.

He said, “if the ‘other communities referred in the said letter are the 11 Gorkha communities demanding tribal status, we would request for some rectifications.” 

Gurung explained the inclusion of the 11 communities into the Tamang Development and Cultural Board is likely to create a rift amongst them and the GTYA does not support any move that could divide the Gorkha community.

He suggested that instead of including the 11 communities, the government should form a single 'Gorkha Tribal Development and Cultural Board' to represent all the concerned communities. Another option would be to provide each tribe with its respective board and not bring others under any particular tribe. Gurung also informed the association will soon hold a meeting with representatives of the 11 communities to discuss the issue.

Source:Eoi

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Akhil Bharatiya Tamang Bodh Sangh criticised Tamang Youth Association for supporting TMC

10:02 AM

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Tamang Development Council

The central committee of the Akhil Bharatiya Tamang Bodh Sangh has criticised the Tamang Youth Association’s decision to support the Trinamool Congress candidate from Darjeeling constituency for the Lok Sabha election.

Speaking to reporters today, ABTBA general secretary MK Tamang said the decision to support a particular party could affect the very organisational structure and unity among community members. Everyone should be aware of the political situation and individually decide on which party or candidate to support.

Rally for Tamang Development Council

“The decision to support TMC does not include the entire Tamang community’s views and is completely individualistic,” the ABT 

The approval by the state cabinet for the formation of a Tamang Development Board has elated members of the Tamang community. The Tamang Youth Association today called a press meet in town following the return of its representatives from Kolkata after meeing with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The TYC leaders expressed happiness and thanked the chief minister for fulfilling their wish.

TYA president Bishnu Golay said, “The matter will now be discussed by the SC/ST department and the board formed once the Lok Sabha elections are over.”

Golay added the TYA will support the TMC in the election. “We are very thankful to the TMC for its support and have decided to support the party in the upcoming election as a goodwill gesture,” he said.

Source- Eoi

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Caste politics over Darjeeling LS seat, Trinamul tilt by Tamangs

11:04 AM

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Trinamool Congress

An association of Tamangs, a community that is the largest in number in the hills, has said it will support a Trinamul candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

Since the years of Subash Ghisingh’s influence in the hills in the 1980s, no community outfit has been known to separately declare allegiance to any party other than the one dominant in Darjeeling or backed by it.

Trinamul tilt by Tamangs

Also, the Tamang Youth Association has sounded its support for a party that is not from the hills but is trying hard to get a toehold.

Trinamul has not announced any candidate for the Lok Sabha elections. Trinamul all-India general secretary Mukul Roy recently said that his party would contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The Tamang Youth Association, which had organised Mamata’s public meeting in Mirik on January 21, is not the only one or the most influential outfit of the community. So, it cannot be said with certainty that Tamangs, who make up approximately 15 per cent of the hill voter percentage, would vote en block for Trinamul.

The reason for the Tamang Youth Association’s support to Trinamul is chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s promise to create a Tamang Development and Cultural Board.

Nazoo Glan, the chief advisor of the association, said: “We had placed our demand for forming a development body for the Tamang community before the chief minister at Kalimpong in September last year. She has almost fulfilled her commitment by passing a resolution at the state cabinet to form a development board for our community.”

He said as the community was “extremely happy that she has kept her promise to our community and in order to express our gratitude, we will support the Trinamul candidate in Darjeeling Parliament seat in the upcoming elections”.

The Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven Assembly segments — Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong in the hills and Matigara-Naxalbari, Siliguri, Phansidewa and Chopra in the plains. The constituency has over 14 lakh voters.

The number of voters from the three hill subdivision adds to around 6 lakh. Traditionally, it has been seen that the candidate who got widespread support in the hills ultimately won the seat. Though the plains have more voters than the hills, the vote there is fragmented.

If the Tamang Youth Association is able to influence even a lakh people to vote Trinamul — it claims a membership of around 1.5 lakh — in the hills and some in the plains, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would have a contest to deal with.

The Tamang community has around 2.2 lakh people in the hills and another 2 lakh in the Dooars, which makes the community 30 per cent of the over 14 lakh voting population in the seven segments.

The Morcha has been guarded in its reaction to the Tamang association’s decision. Its general secretary Roshan Giri said the party “would wait and watch”.

That the Tamangs have found favour with the Trinamul-led dispensation became clear in one of the steps taken by the state government yesterday.

The government said that the proposed Tamang Development and Cultural board would be asked to look after the interests of nine other hill communities, some of which have sought welfare boards like that of the Tamangs’.

The move has upset the other communities, which perceive the state government’s indifference towards them.

Today, when Mukul Roy was asked about the Tamang association’s support he said he did not know about the matter.

Another senior Trinamul leader, asked about the Tamang board being given the responsibility of the other communities, said: “The Tamang community is leaning towards us. They are happy that a development board has been set up for them. So what is the harm in giving them some more responsibility so they can feel a part of this government?”

However, the Tamangs are not the only hill community that Mamata has wooed. The state government has agreed to recommend to the Centre to give tribal status to 10 hill communities.

A member of a hill community who was present at a Calcutta meeting on Saturday with Mamata, said the chief minister did not seek their support for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for having recommended their community for ST status.

“No politics was discussed. She only expressed her desire to visit Darjeeling after the Lok Sabha elections,” the representative said.

A source in the hills said: “This time, the hill votes are getting divided and this is definitely a cause of concern for the Morcha.”

Of the over 4.97 lakh votes polled by Morcha backed candidate, Jaswant Singh in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Singh had got 4,11,739 votes in the hills.

“If Trinamul can manage to get around 1 lakh votes from the three hill sub-divisions it can give a good fight to a hill (Morcha) candidate,” said the source.

Source: Telegraph

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Akhil Bharatiya Tamang Bodh election

12:19 PM

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Tamang Development Council

Mirik- Elections to the Akhil Bharatiya Tamang Bodh’s central committee was held at the Donang Tsholing monastery in Gurung Busty, Siliguri. Voting for the president and general secretary of the organisation was held in the presence of chief election officers such as BC Tamang, Huensang Titung, PK Gomden, Nima Lahmu Lopchen and Ram Moktan.

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee with a Tamang community
leader during the 1st Tamang Community National Convention at Mirik.

Votes were cast by 64 association members out of a total of 91. KM Titung was elected president with 36 votes, while Ram Tamang got 14 and YD Lama 13 votes. MK Yonjon from Kurseong was elected general secretary with 40 votes while Naresh Moktan, also from Kurseong, secured 23 votes.

They have been elected for a period of three years. Newly elected general secretary Yonjon stressed the committee will work towards strengthening the organisation. He said a uniform strategy will be applied in all the branches and sub-branches of the organisation.

Source:EOI

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Tamangs development and cultural board announced by CM

11:06 AM

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tribal news

Lepcha-like board for Tamangs :

Mirik, Jan. 21: Mamata Banerjee today announced a development and cultural board for Tamangs, one of the largest communities among Gorkhas in Darjeeling, while other groups submitted requests for similar bodies to the chief minister.

CM Mamta Banerjee on her arrival in Mirik on Tuesday.

“We have decided to set up a development and cultural board for the Tamang community, where they can take care of their needs. The way the Lepcha development council is working I am very happy,” Mamata told the public meeting beside the Mirik Lake that was attended by over 6,000 people, many of them Tamangs in their traditional attire.

Mamata also spoke about bringing development to the hills through education, which had been her focus during earlier visits.

The Sherpa community today requested Mamata for a similar body for the community. The All Sherpa Buddhist Council’s co-ordinator, Nima Wangdai Sherpa, met Mamata at Mirik and submitted a memorandum mentioning the demand. “We have submitted our memorandum to the chief minister, demanding a development board similar to the one she has formed for the Lepchas… We hope she will listen to us,” Sherpa said.

The community has around 1.45 lakh members spread across the hills and parts of the Dooars and Terai.

Tamang community members present at the convention in Mirik
 during CM's visit on Tuesday.

Mamata said the nitty-gritty like the name of the Tamang board and other formalities would be taken care of after she returns to Calcutta. The first such board under the state government was formed for the Lepchas.

The chief minister hinted that a similar body would be created for the Rais, another Gorkha community. She said there was “some thought being put into” the demand made by the Rais. Other than the Rais, the Limbus and Bhutias have also asked for a similar apolitical cultural board.

Members of all these communities were invited to attend the event organised by the Tamang Youth Association where they presented their memorandum of demands to the chief minister today.

Mamata today said the state would write to the Centre for Scheduled Tribe status to the indigenous tribes in the hills that make up for nearly 33.72 per cent of the population.

“There are indigenous tribal communities in the hills and we have decided to request the Centre to grant these communities Scheduled Tribe status. This is not under our purview but the Centre’s. Considering the gravity of the situation and the future of the brothers and sisters… we will do what we can,” she said.

Playing the development card, the chief minister announced plans to set up medical and engineering colleges in the hills.


“I want you all to live peacefully and move forward. I want you to join medical colleges, engineering colleges. I want industry and IT fairs to be held in the hills. We are together and we will fight together to move ahead,” Mamata said.

Source:Telegraph

CM attends Tamang National Convention

On the second day of the Tamang National Convention today, Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee assured the Tamang Development and Cultural Board will soon be formed, making the Tamang community wait a little longer for the much awaited set-up.  Notably, the Tamang Youth Association had been spearheading the movement for formation of an administrative body like Lepcha Development Board for the Tamangs and the convention had been organized for the formal declaration of the same. The association had persuaded the Chief Minister to attend its mass function on her last visit to Darjeeling in October. Citing the matter to be an administrative one, she did not give a complete commitment on the formation on the board, but assured it will soon be formed and made functional.

Mamata Banerjee plays a small drum as she
watches Tamang women dance:
 Pictures by Pradip Sanyal

Bannerjee also assured the government will look into the demands for similar community based development boards being raised by various other communities. It can be mentioned here Bhutias, Sherpas, Limboos, Khas and the Scheduled Caste communities are actively demanding for their respective development boards in the hills after a similar set-up was formed for the Lepcha community. Addressing the concerns about tribal status to Khambu-Rai community, the Chief Minister stated since the demand for ST status is connected with the centre she will request the centre to “consider” the demand. She added, “We want the people of the Darjeeling hills to live in peace, so that we can also focus on the development works.”

Bannerjee also announced the government will erect a “Pahari Bhawan” in Siliguri so that the hills folks can be benefited. She informed the building will be constructed by SJDA. “I want a new Darjeeling to be established” she observed. Mentioning that various places in the hills including Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik, Lamahatta, Kalimpong and others have immense potential for tourism the Chief Minister asserted the state government will take up initiatives to develop the tourism sector further. She further said the government will create employment opportunities here to eradicate the problem of unemployment. 

She said several places in the hills are troubled by scarcity of drinking water and the government will take strong measures to fight the problem. Bannerjee also sought to please the locals by promising “soon a polytechnic college will be established in the area”.

Stressing that the hills folk must come ahead in every field Bannerjee said, “If the people of Darjeeling hills become proficient in every field they will be able to lead the world.” However, the locals of Mirik apparently seemed displeased as not much was announced by the CM for the region. The CM remained focused on developmental issues but Mirik remained at the sidelines of the purview of her speech.


Following the meeting Banerjee is slated to visit Darjeeling, where she will attend various function on January 22 and 23 before returning back to Kolkata. she is scheduled to visit Sister Nivedita House and will inaugurate several training institutions under the Vedanta Missionary. She is also expected to attend a programme in Lebong where she will felicitate players from the winning team of the recently held football tournament. She will then visit Netaji House at Giddha Pahar in Kurseong on January 23 on the occasion of Netaji’s birthday.

GTA happy over assurance

Responding to the reports of assured formation of Tamang Development and Cultural Board, GTA deputy chief Ramesh Alley expressed contentment. He said, “We are happy to learn that the government will grant a separate development board for the Tamang community.” Alley stated the GJM is in favour of community based development boards and has been advocating for the same.

 “We had spoken on several occasions that like the Lepchas, all the communities residing in the Darjeeling Hills should be given such boards. We have even passed a resolution on this matter” Alley noted.

The GTA Deputy Chief congratulated the Tamang community and also thanked the Chief Minister for considering the community’s demand. He stated the board will be beneficial to the Tamangs and it will contribute to the overall development of the community. Notably, addressing a function held by Tamang Youth Association in Mirik today Mamata Bannerjee assured the formation of Tamang Development and Cultural Board.

Source:EOI

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Formation of Tamang Development Council

11:49 PM

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tribal news

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday proposed the formation of Tamang Development Council in North Bengal for development of the community. Addressing a programme of the Tamang community, Mamata said that efforts are being made to convince the Centre to offer tribal status to the hill communities. She also asked the communities of the region to stay united for its peace, growth and prosperity. 

Formation of Tamang Development Council
proposed by Mamata Banerjee

The chief minister said, "The Tamang community is also a large community. We have decided to set up a development and cultural board for the Tamangs so that the community can flourish. There are many other tribal communities here. We have received memorandums from the various indigenous communities like Limbu, Bhutia, Subba etc. for inclusion into the list of scheduled tribes. The matter is not within our jurisdiction, but we will request the central government to include the names of these communities into the scheduled tribe section." 

The chief minister said, "We are setting up an engineering college at Amtagda, two degree colleges at Pedong and Gorubathan, two polytechnic colleges at Mirik and Kalimpong, and three ITIs at Mungpoo, Gorubathan and Kalimpong. Yesterday, we had inaugurated the mini secretariat in North Bengal, at Fulbari; we took the initiative for the first time since independence." She added, "Darjeeling is now congested; we will look for other tourist spots in the Hills and build the infrastructure for tourism industry in this region. Mirik is one such spot. If tourists come, business will flourish. We are working on projects for drinking water supply. We are working hard to develop road infrastructure. New colleges and schools will be coming up. We want Darjeeling to remain peaceful so that we can carry out the developmental work. We will work together." 

The chief minister said, "We want every community to stay together and stay well. I want Darjeeling to move forward. After our government came to power, this is my 26th visit to North Bengal. Never think that nobody cares for you. I am always beside you like a guard. Tomorrow I will attend a prize distribution ceremony at Lebong Stadium. Tomorrow we will also be inaugurating the renovated Roy Villa, the house where Sister Nivedita breathed her last. On 23rd January the birth anniversary of the great son of the soil, Subhas Chandra Bose will be celebrated at Darjeeling Mall for the first time. This will be an official government programme. A number of artists from across the state will attend the ceremony along with the people of the Hills."

Source: timesofindia

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Mamata Banerjee’s three-days hill visit

8:21 PM

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Tamang Development Council

During her three-day stay, chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s itinerary includes attending a programme at Roy Villa here and handing out awards to youths in Lebong.

Chowrasta getting decked up ahead of Mamata's visit.

Banerjee is scheduled to attend the annual convention of the Tamang community in Mirik on Tuesday before arriving in Darjeeling.

Speaking about the programme at the Mirik ground, Tamang Youth Association (Darjeeling sub-division) president Anand Lama said, “One of the main issues at our programme in Mirik is the demand for a Tamang Development Council. The chief minister has accepted our invitation and will be present. We received tribal status in 2002, but are yet to get any benefits. Hence, we are demanding the TDC. We hope the chief minister gives us some assurance regarding this in tomorrow’s programme.”

When contacted, All Sherpa Buddhist Development Council Action Committee chief coordinator Nima Wangdi Sherpa said, “This demand of a development board is a very old one and we hope the chief minister makes some kind of announcement regarding our demand. We have been invited to the programme, but we think we will not be able to meet her there. However, for her Darjeeling visit, we have erected a welcome gate at Sukhaypokhari where we hope to greet her and also submit a memorandum comprising our demand.”

Speaking on the same lines, All India Bhutia Association president Mewang Dhendup said, “We have already apprised the chief minister about our demands by sending her letters through the sub-divisional officer and we hope that she will mention this in the Mirik event. Our representatives will be present as we have been invited to the programme by the Tamang community.”

The programme in Mirik is slated to begin from eleven in the morning where the TYA has made elaborate preparations to accommodate about 2 lakh people. Besides the Tamangs, communities such as the Bhutias, Rais and Sherpas are also hoping for some kind of announcement to be made regarding their demand for their respective development boards by the chief minister.

It may be added here that an association named the Darjeeling District Tribal Welfare Association, which has a number of communities living in the hills among its members, has been demanding for a single development board to cater to their interests.

Following program in Mirik, Banerjee will remain in Darjeeling for two days, on January 22 and 23. Official sources said she will be attending a programme at Roy Villa where Sister Nivedita had lived her last days. She will also inaugurate a school of languages, a computer centre and launch a medical camp, among other tasks.

The CM is also expected to hand out a cheque worth Rs1 crore to the Ramakrishna Mission through the North Bengal Development Department for the renovation of Roy Villa.

The sources further said the CM will attend a programme of the Darjeeling Police at the Lebong football ground around 1:30pm and give away awards to winners at the games organised recently by the Darjeeling Police as part of The Himal-Tarai-Dooars Sports Festival. Banerjee will also attend the birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on January 23 after which she is scheduled to leave for Siliguri.

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration chief executive Bimal Gurung will be present at the programmes in Lebong and Roy Villa. GJM assistant secretary Jyoti Kr. Rai, who is also a GTA member, said, “We have been invited to the programmes, but no meeting with the CM has been fixed yet.

Sporce:EOI

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Tamang Youth Association to host Tamang National Convention in Mirik

6:39 PM

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Tamang Development Council

Mirik - The Tamang Youth Association will host the Tamang National Convention in Mirik on 20th and 21st of January, where CM Mamata Banerjee is expected to announce the formation of Tamang Development Council. Informing about the matter Association’c chief advisor Raju Blon said, “On the first day, a resolution on Tamang Development Council will be adopted and on the following day the resolution will be presented to the Chief Minister.”

Tamangs demands for Tamang Development Council

Asserting that the presence of the CM on the second day of the convention has almost been fixed, Blon said the organization will press for the formation of TDC. It has been informed the two day function will be attended by over 5000 members of the Tamang community. 


(EOIC)

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