Kalimpong 2 Dec:

After the formation of the Lepcha Development Board, (LDB), recently by the state government, now, other communities in the hills have come forward, demanding their development boards as well.

Following the same trend, today, a team of All India Bhutia Association visited Kalimpong Sub Divisional Office, where they submitted a deputation to the SDO, K Radhika Aiyar demanding Bhutia Development Council.

President of the All India Bhutia association, Dr. M Dhondup said that the state CM Miss Mamata Banerjee recently formed the Lepcha Development Board for all round development of the Lepcha Community. He further added that like Lepcha Community we are also the oldest community of this region. The Lepcha Community and the Bhutia Community had jointly obtained schedule tribe status, hence when the Lepcha community have been given a development board, then why not the Bhutia Community. He said that their community is being deprived on different aspects even though they have been one of the oldest and original community of the hills, hence the government should consider our demand and form a development council for the preservation and up-liftment of the Bhutia Community in Darjeeling hills.

He also informed that the SDO assured them that their demand will be forwarded to the higher authorities.

Importantly, two days ago, the Tamang Community dressed in their traditional attire, under the banner of the Tamang Youth Association of the region had organized a huge rally in Kalimpong demanding the same kind of board for their community. They had also submitted a deputation to the Kalimpong SDO and staged a seminar on the same demand. Tamang Youth Association, leader, Mr. Bishnu Golay said that they are fighting for a development board which would help them economically as well as in the social upliftment and cultural preservation of the community.

Notably, recently, the state government had formed the LDB for all development of the Lepcha Community and on the occasion of the announcement of the LDB, the CM had indicated that Tamang community can also demand creation of a development board.

On the other hand, the GJMM  leadership including its chief, Mr. Bimal Gurung who had earlier opposed the formation of the LDB and other such boards under the authority of the state government are now saying that the state government can form several such development boards, as many as they can and for all the communities residing in the hills.