GTA portfolios for executive 14

Darjeeling, Aug. 10: Bimal Gurung today allocated departments to all 14 executive members of the GTA Sabha but even then all the subjects have not yet been covered.

Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha and an executive member, said: “All 14 executive members have been allocated departments. However, there are many subjects that have not been assigned to any GTA Sabha member. This will be done once the entire set-up is finalised.”

Roshan Giri, one of the prominent Morcha leaders, has got charge of school education (primary, secondary and higher secondary), Ram Bahadur Bhujel, the principal of Cluny Womens’ College in Kalimpong, will look after college education, adult education and library services.

Kalyan Dewan, the Morcha vice-president, is in charge of agriculture.

The charge of the cinchona and other medicinal plants plantation, which is the largest public sector undertaking in the hills and provides sustenance to about 40,000 people but is on the brink of a financial crisis, has been given to Samuel Gurung.

Asha Gurung, the Morcha chief’s wife, will handle health. She will also look after the department that deals with registration of birth and death records.

Binay Tamang will be in charge of information and cultural affairs, theatre, cinema halls, entertainment and amusement, apart from printing and stationary, publicity and public relation (regulation of media and cable channels) and GTA establishment section.

Morcha leader from Mirik Phoebe Rai has been given the charge of micro and small-scale industries, while Anit Thapa from Kurseong has been given the important portfolio of public health engineering.

Nari Morcha representatives, Urmila Rumba, a retired associate professor, and Prava Chhetri will take charge of social welfare and women and child development, respectively.

Ramesh Lama from Peskhok-Takling will be in charge of animal husbandry and veterinary facilities while transport has gone to Jyoti Kumar Rai.

“There has been a slight change in the portfolio of the chief executive. Even though he will be in charge of nine subjects, he will be in charge of rural electrification and the department looking after sharing of electricity between the GTA and the state government (also setting up of thermal and hydel projects) instead of weights and measurements and statistics,” Tamang said.