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.
