Tripartite talks positive

Darjeeling

21 Nov 2013

With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s relations with the state government back to warm terms, things ahead are looking bright more so as today’s tripartite meeting in Kolkata concluded on a cordial and positive note.

Further, during the bipartite talks on Wednesday, the state government assured to extend all support to the GTA and also not to interfere in its affairs. The process for the release of more than 2,000 GJM leaders and activists behind bars has also started.

After the meeting, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri informed over phone most of the demands placed before the state and central governments were met with positive responses.

“The meeting went off in a positive note where a number of issues related to the Darjeeling hills were placed and discussed in detail. Both the state and centre have given positive assurances on our demands,” he said.

According to the GJM general secretary, a team from the Union ministry of environment and forest and a fact finding committee will visit the hills shortly to review the demand for placing reserved forests under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and inclusion of mouzas of the Dooars.

“Central government representatives have said a team of the environment and forest ministry will be sent to the hills to look in to our demand for putting the reserved forest under the GTA. Further, a fact finding committee on the issue of inclusion of more mouzas in the GTA will conduct a field visit,” said Giri.

On the question of placing the Darjeeling hills in the North East Council (NEC), Giri said the government would explore the possibilities, while the process of according Gorkha communities tribal status, except the schedule caste, would be expedited.

“A lot of progress has been made in terms of giving tribal status to all Gorkha communities barring the SC. The central government has assured to explore the possibility of putting Darjeeling in the NEC, which indicates the positive attitude of both the state and central governments,” said the GJM general secretary.

The day’s meeting in Nabanna, the new state secretariat in Howrah, also saw a decision being taken on the Centre consulting the Attorney General for implementing the three-tier panchayat system in the hills, besides approving the backward region fund.

“The Union government has assured us of holding consultations with the AG and the rural development department on the issues of the three-tier panchayat system and backward region fund to Darjeeling. We have been promised the home minister will personally take up the issue,” accordint to Giri.

The GJM also placed its demands of creating an alternative national highway and establishing a central university and a National Institute of Technology (NIT) before the state and central government representatives.

“We have been asked to identify land for a CU and NIT, which we have already done, and will notify the authorities. As for the alternative national highway estimated at Rs193 crore, a detailed project report will be prepared,” said Giri.

Discussions were also held on issues such as allocation of Rs553 crore for a new GTA secretariat and housing and offices for sabhasads, jobs for Gorkha youths in the paramilitary forces, special waiver on taxes and incentives and subsidies, among others. The GTA has been asked to send a proposal seeking a raise in compensatory allowance allotted to the hills.