Mukesh Sharma, KalimNews, 13 January, Kalimpong : Regularisation of Adhoc teachers of DGHC will be solved within 3 months. During a meeting between the JSTO and officials of the education related bodies of the state, the officials resolved to solve the long pending problems at the earliest. Informing over the phone about the meeting Bijay Pradhan, General Secretary of Janmukti Secondary Teachers' Organisation told that the meeting was very positive and the main point of issue in the meeting was the regularisation of the services of the adhoc teachers.
He further said that the state government is keen to solve all the problems relating to the educational sphere.
The meeting held today at Calcutta to sort out the long unsettled education related problems in the hills was attended by the State Education Minister Bratya Basu, Chitranjan Dutta Chairman of SSC, Directorate of school education and the Deputy Secretary dept of education, Dr.Harka Bd Chettri MLA Kalimpong and Rohit Sharma MLA Kurseong, Bijay Pradhan General Secretary and Tshering Tamang coordinator of the Education Monitoring Cell of GJM.
He told that the process of the point of the CPF and GPF of hill teachers was also discussed in the meeting. The list of upgraded 6 Junior High Schools to High Schools in the new set up was also disclosed to JSTO. They are Gorubathan public, Putung, Netaji Jr, Mareybung Jr, Lodhoma Jr and Badamtam Junior high schools.
Tshering Tamang Coordinator of EMC told over phone that the successful candidates of PSC and SSC examination would also be adjusted as a teacher in the DGHC schools. Tamang has requested all such candidates to contact the organisation and the department immediately for their appointment. The follow up process will be taken up in the next meeting to be held in Calcutta on January 20.
Job regularisation of teachers on ‘fast track’
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Jan. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that the state government had put on “fast track” the regularisation of services of more than 300 schoolteachers in the Darjeeling hills.
The absorption of the temporary teachers was discussed at a meeting chaired by state education minister Bratya Basu in Calcutta today. Kalimpong MLA and Morcha spokesperson Harka Bahadur Chhetri was present at the meeting.
“The meeting was very positive and the matter concerning the regularisation of the services of ad hoc teachers has been put on fast tack. The process has been initiated. We expect to reach a logical conclusion shortly,” Chhetri told The Telegraph over the phone from Calcutta.
The the Janmukti Secondary Teachers’ Organisation has been demanding that all ad hoc teachers in 118 government-aided schools and the three fully government-owned schools in the hills be made permanent. There are 282 ad hoc teachers in the government-aided schools and 28 in the government institutes.
Apart from Chhetri, Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, secretary of the JSTO Bijay Pradhan and co-ordinator of the Morcha’s Education Monitoring Cell Tshering Tamang also attended the talks. The JSTO is a frontal organisation of the Morcha.
Chhetri said the progress in the regularisation process would be discussed at another round of meeting in Calcutta on January 20. Securing the jobs of the ad hoc teachers was foremost on the agenda of the Morcha, he said.
“They are the victims of the previous regime (read the GNLF). These teachers have worked for over 10 to 15 years. I believe their work experience is better than any degree. Had these teachers not been there, many schools would have been forced to close down. They must be given their due,” he said.
Chhetri said the Morcha was not averse to the idea of absorbing the ad hoc teachers by creating more vacancies in the schools according to a provision in the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The provision entails a student-teacher ratio of 35:1 in all secondary schools. “We discussed the issue (at the meeting),” he said.
At present, the hills are not covered by a massive drive embarked upon by the government to recruit about 40,000 teachers into the secondary schools in the state.
छत्र अनि बिमलको भेट पहाडमा नयाँ शक्ति गठन हुन नदिने चाल ?
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुंग, 13 जनवरी। गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनका क्रान्तिकारी नेता एव जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्रे सुब्बा अनि गोजमुमो प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंग रेली खोलाको बगरमा कृषी पर्यटन उत्सवको अवसरमा भेट भएको खबर प्रकाशमा आएपछि आज दिनभरी नै शहरमा मानिसहरु सोहि बिषयमा कुराकानी गरिरहेको सुनियो। चिया पसलदेखि लिएर मोटर स्ट्याण्डसम्म मनिसहरु सुब्बा अनि गुरुंग माझकै भेटवार्ता लिएर कुराहरु गरिरहेका थिए। यस बिषयलाई लिएर राजनैतिक खेमामा पनि निकै हलचल मच्चिएको छ। बिभिन्न रजनितिक दलका नेताहरुले समेत आज दुई नेताबिचको भेटघाटबारे चर्चा गरिरहेका थिए भने आज शहरमा मूल चर्चाको बिषयनै दुई नेताबिचको भेटघाट रहेको थियो।
उक्त भेटघाट बिषयलाई लिएर खुफिया बिभाग समेत चनाखो भएको छ। घिसिंग हमलाकाण्डको आरोपमा पक्रा परेर लगभग 11 वर्ष जेल जीवन भोगि आरोपमुक्त बनेका सुब्बा घर आए देखिनै कुनै राजनैतिक गतिबिधि नचलाई बसेका छन। यद्यपी राजनैतिक परिवेशको भने गहन अध्ययन गरिरहेको सुब्बाले केहि समय अघि पत्रकारहरुलाई बताएका थिए। आरोपमुक्त बनेर घरमा बसेका सुब्बाले आजसम्म कुनै सार्वजनिक् कार्यक्रममा भाग लिएका छैनन। केहि दिन अघि मात्र युवा क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दाहालको पुस्तक बिमोचन कार्यक्रममा मुख्य अतिथिका रुपमा सुब्बा उपस्थित हुने निश्चित भएको थियो तर अन्तमा तिनले उपस्थित हुन नसक्ने पत्र पठाएर कार्यक्रममा सबैलाई निराश बनाएका थिए। यसरी पुस्तक बिमोचन कार्यक्रममा समेत नाआउँने छत्र सुब्बा अचानक रेलीको बगरमा पर्यटन बिभागको सक्रियता र गोजमुमोको प्रयासमा भईरहेको कार्यक्रममा पुग्नु अनि त्यसै माथि मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंगसित भेटघाट गर्नु निकै गम्भिर बिषय बनेको छ।
दुई बिपरीत ध्रुवका नेताहरुको यस भेटघाटले पहाडका तमाम मानिसहरुलाई अनेकौ कौतुहलता खडा गरिदिएको छ। दुई नेताहरुको भेटघाटको खबर समचार पत्रमा छापिएको कुरा डड्लो जस्तै फैलिए पछि मानिसहरु समाचार पत्र समेत खोजि खोजि पडिरहेका थिए भने राजनैतिक नेताहरु समेत समाचार पत्र खोजन दौडिरहेको देखियो। दिनभरी सबैको मुखमा झुण्डिएको सुब्बा अनि गुरुंगको भेटघाट बिषय भंने कुन उद्देश्यको निम्ति थियो भन्ने थाह हुन सकेको छैन।
रेलीको बगरमा गुरुंग अनि सुब्बाले सुटुक्कै भेटे पनि मिडियाकर्मीहरुको क्यामेरामा भने कैद हुनबाट जोगिन सकेनन। तिनीहरुको भेट बिषयलाई लिएर समाचार प्रकाशमा आएको 12 घण्टा बित्न नपाई अनेकौ अडकलबाजी शुरु भएको छ। रेलीको बगरमा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा सुब्बा परिवारनै पुगेका थिए। यता मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंग पनि आफ्ना श्रीमतिकै साथ सम्पुर्ण कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित रहेका थिए। उक्त भेटघाट कार्यक्रममा घुम्दै गर्दा सयोगवस भएको मानिसहरुले बताईरहेको भएता पनि भेटघाट भने पुर्वनियोजित रहेको जस्तो देखिएको छ। जानकारी अनुसार पहिले त क़ृषी पर्यटन उत्सवमा छत्र सुब्बा घुमिरहेका थिए सोहि समयमा उत्सवको मनोरंजन लिन गुरुंग पनि यताउता निस्किए अनि घुम्ने क्रममानै दुई नेताहरुको भेट भएको थियो।
पहिलो भेटमा दुवै नेताहरुले हात् मिलाएर एकार्काको परिचय साटे अनि सम्झनाको निम्ति फोटो समेत खिचे। तर यतिमानै दुवै नेताहरुको भेटघाट समाप्त नभएको सुत्रले जानकारी दिएको छ। उक्त भेटघाट अवधिमा कालेबुंग नगरपालिका अध्यक्ष एल बी परियार, नगर पार्षद रबी प्रधान, जायन लेप्चा, नारीमोर्चा कालेबुंग महकुमा समिति अध्यक्ष काजीम छिरिंग भोटीया लगायत थुप्रै मोर्चा नेताहरु रहेका थिए। तर यसबारेमा कसैले पनि मुख भने खोल्न नचाहेको कारण भेटघाटको कुरा अझ गम्भिर बनेको छ। सुत्रले बताए अनुसार दुई नेताहरु लगभग आधा घण्टासम्म कफिहाउसमा बसेर कुराकानीमा मस्त रहे। उक्त कुराकनीको अवधी भने केवल दुई नेताहरुको मात्र उपस्थिति रहेको सुत्रले अझ बताएको छ। तर दुई नेतामाझ भएको कुराकानी बारे भने केहि थाहा पाउँन सकिएको छैन।
यता एक मोर्चा विरोधि नेताले आफ्ना नाम नलेखिदिने अनुरोध गर्दै दुई नेताहरुको भेटघाट पुर्वनियोजित रहेको बताए। तिनले हाल पहाडमा एउटा नयाँ राजनैतिक दल गठनहुने हल्ला चलिरहेको अनि त्यो दल गठन गर्नेहरुको सुचिमा छत्र सुब्बाको नाम अग्र पंक्तिमा रहेको कारण मोर्चालाई डर भएर छत्रलाई आफ्नो पक्षमा ल्याउँने प्रयास गरेको हुनसक्ने श्ंका ब्यक्त गरे। मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंग अनि जीएलओ प्रमुख छ्त्र सुब्बाको भेटघाट पछि यस बिषयले भने पहाडको राजनीतिमा नयाँ मोड ल्याउँन सक्ने अनुमान राजनैतिक सचेतकहरुले लगाउँन शुरु गरेका छन। कसै कसैले भने यो मोर्चाको पहाडमा नयाँ दल गठन हुन नदिनको नम्ति चालेको चाल हो भन्न शुरु गरेका छन भने कसैले आन्दोलनलाई सशक्त बनाउँन मोर्चामा सुब्बालाई सामेल गराउँने प्रयास हो भनिरहेका छन। जबसम्म दुवै नेताहरुले मुख खोल्दैनन ती सबै कुराहरु पुर्वानुमान मात्र हुनेछन अनि वास्तविकता भने अघि आउँने छैनन।
सरकारले पहाडका मानिसहरुलाई हरेक कुराबाट बंचित गरिरहेछ – तारा सुन्दास
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 जनवरी। सरकारले दार्जीलिङलाई बिभिन्न सहुलियतहरूबाट बञ्चित गरेको छ भन्नेकुराको अर्को खुलासा आज माकपाले गरेको छ। माकपा नेता तारा सुन्दासले राजीव गाँधी ग्रामीण परियोजनाबाट सरकारले गरिबहरुलाई बितरण गर्ने एलपीजी ग्यास बितरण नगरेर पहाडका मानिसहरुलाई भारतीय नागरिक जस्तो नठानेको आरोप लगाएका छ्न । तिनले पहाडका मानिसहरुलाई सरकारले हरेक पल्ट सरकारी सहुलियतहरुनबाट बंचित राख्ने कार्य गरिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै यस बिषयमा जन प्रतिनिधीहरु बोल्न पर्ने माग गरे।
कुन कुन ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा यो योजना लागू हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा सरकारले अधिसुचना निकालेको तर उक्त अधिसुचना समेत बंगला पत्रिकामा निकालेर अन्याय गरेको आरोप सुन्दासले लगाए। तिनले प्रत्येक मानिसहरुले सरकारबाट पाउँन पर्ने सहुलियतबारे जानकारी पाउँन पर्ने बताउँदै पहाडका मनिसहरुलाई सुचनाको अधिकारबाट समेत बंचित बनाएको आरोप लगाए।सन् 2010मा पेट्रोलियम अनि नेचरल ग्यास मन्त्री मुरलीधर देउराले गान्धी दिवसको दिन 2 अक्टोबरमा यसै योजनामाथि बोल्दै 2015 सम्ममा सबै जिल्लाको ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा यो योजना पुर्याइसक्ने घोषणा गरेका थिए। सुन्दासले त्यही घोषणाको स्मरण गराउँदै अझ भने, चुनाभट्टि र बाग्राकोटसम्मको नाम सूचीमा छ, किन दार्जीलिङको कुनै ग्रामीण क्षेत्रको नाम छैन? जनताका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई के यो कुरा थाहा छैन? सुन्दास अनुसार माकपाले खाना पकाइ खाने ग्यासको अभावबारेमा सिलगढीस्थित विभागीय अधिकारीसित पहाडमा ग्यास आपूर्तिबारे मागपत्र चढाएको थियो। यसको जवाबमा अधिकारीले होटलवालाहरूले कमर्सियल ग्यास नचलाइदिएकोले समस्या आएको जवाब माकपालाई दिएका थिए। पहाडसम्म ग्यास ल्याउनको निम्ति वाहन, बाटो र ठेकेदारहरूबीच रहेको समस्या देखाएर टार्न खोजेको बताउँदै सुन्दासले पहाडमा 45 दिनमा मात्र ग्यास वितरण गर्ने नियम बनिसकेको बताए। तिनले भने, सरकारले जङ्गल नमास्नु भन्छ तर मानिसहरूले खाना केमा पकाएर खानु? रहेको यजनाबाट पनि दार्जीलिङलाई बञ्चित गराएर सरकारले कुन दादागिरीको परिचय दिएको हो भनि थप प्रश्न गरे।
लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायत घट्नाकाण्ड:जकसद्वारा कार्यालय बन्द क्रामाकपाले ग-यो निन्दा
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुंग, 13 जनवरी: लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालयमा भुईँचालोले क्षति पुगेका घरहरुको निम्ति आएको पैसा बिषयमा झडप हुँदा घाईते भएका पंचायत सहकर्मीले न्याउँ पाउँनुपर्ने माग गर्दै जनमुक्ति कर्मचारीले डाकेको कालेबुंग महकुमा क्षेत्रको तीनवटा खण्डबिकाश कार्यालय अनि 42 वटा ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालय आज पुर्णरुपले सफल रहेको संगठनले दाबी गरेको छ। संगठनका अध्यक्ष खडक बिक्रम सुब्बाले पत्रकारहरु सित कुराकनी गर्दै सबै ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालयहरु अनि तीनैवटा खण्डबिकाश कार्यालय बन्द रहेको दाबी गरे।
तिनले ग्राम पंचायत सहकर्मी माथि भएको हमलाको निन्दा गर्दै जबसम्म दोषिहरु पुलिसले पक्राउ गर्दैन तबसम्म कार्यालयहरु बन्द गर्ने बताए। अहिले प्रथम चरणमा कालेबुंग महकुमा अन्तर्गत रहेको खण्ड बिकाश कार्यालय अनि ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालयहरु बन्द गरे पनि पुलिसले दोषिहरु चाँडो पक्रा नगरे आगामी दिनमा अझै कडा आन्दोलन गर्ने चेतावनी दिए। उक्त घटनाकाण्डमा बिनाकारण कर्मचारी माथि हातपाई गरेको आरोप लगाउँदै पंचायत कर्मीहरुले पैसा खायो भन्ने आरोप निराधार रहेको दाबी गरे। यस घटनाकाण्डले कर्मचारीहरु असुरक्षित रहेको स्पष्ट बनेको बताउँदै दोषिहरुलाई कडा सजाय दिनुपर्ने माग गरे। भुईँचालो पिडीतहरुको निम्ति सरकारबाट आएको पैसा कसैले हिनामिना गर्न नसक्ने दबी गर्दै पैसा पिडीतहरुको ब्यांक खातामा जमा भएको पैसा पंचायत कर्मचारीहरुले निकाल्न नस्क्ने तिनले जनाए। उक्त घटनाकाण्डको बिभागले न्यायिक जाँच गर्नुपर्ने माग गर्दै कर्मचारीहरुलाई निराधार आरोप लगाउँनु नपाउँने माग गरे।
यता क्रामाकपाले लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायतमा ब्यापक हिना मिना भएकै कारण जनता सचेत बनेर अघि आएको बताउँदै प्रत्येक जनता सचेत बनेर भ्र्ष्टचार बिरोधी अभियानमा निसक्नु पर्ने आह्वान गरेको छ। क्रामाकपा कालेबुंग खण्ड दुईका प्रभारी भीम गुरुंगले पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै अहिले पंचायतमा मात्र नभएर दागोपापमा नै ब्यापक भ्रष्टचार भईरहेको आरोप लगाए। तिनले दागोपापमा तीस प्रतिशत काम गरेर सत्तर प्रतिशत घोटाला भईरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै भ्रष्टचारी नोकारशाहहरु समाजबाट मास्न सबै जागरुक बन्नुपर्ने आह्वान गरे। यस्तो घोटाला भएकै कारण लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायतका मानिसहरु सडकमा ओर्लिन बाध्य बनेको बताउँदै यसलाई प्रशासन र बिभागले सामान्य लिन नहुने बताए।
लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायतमा हिनामिनाको बिरोधमा निस्केका जनताहरुलाई क्रामाकपाको सलाम छ भन्दै समाजबाट नोकरशाहहरु मास्न क्रामाकपा सधै साथ रहेको बताए। यता जकसले खण्ड बिकास कार्यलय बन्द गरेको सन्दर्भमा तिनले निन्दा गर्दै यो भ्रष्टचारीहरुलाई प्रश्रय दिने कार्य भएको आरोप लगाए। घोटालाको बिरोधमा निस्केका जनताहरुलाई साथ र सहयोग गर्नको साटो उल्टा कार्यालय बन्द गर्नु नितांत दुखपूर्णॅ कुरा रहेको गुरुंगले थप बताए।
Nepalese or Gorkha? Hope on Sunday run
SADAF MODAK, TT, Mumbai, Jan. 13: Namper Lemcha from Darjeeling is among the thousands who will participate in the Mumbai International Marathon here on Sunday.
The 35-year-old has not seen much of the city yet but Mumbai too — like most of the country — does not know enough about his community, one reason for him and 22 others to join the “identity run” for the Gorkhas.
The validation for the run was quick to come. As Lemcha who arrived here yesterday walked along Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus near the starting point of Sunday’s marathon, a passer-by asked him: “Which country (are you from)? Nepal?”
Not many are aware of the distinction between the Nepalese and the Gorkhas, who are Indian citizens. The run by the group of 23 with white Tees embossed with “We are Gorkhas and proud to be Indians” is meant to assert the nationality and identity of the community. They will participate in the 21-km half marathon as well as the 6km “dream run”.
“When we tell others that our mother tongue is Nepali, they assume we are from Nepal,” says Rosni Rai, the brain behind the run. Rosni, an amateur marathon runner who has made Mumbai her home since 2004, said she does want not to live with the mistaken identity of being considered Nepalese by her fellow citizens.
Rohit Pradhan, the secretary of the Bharatiya Gorkha Ekta Sangh, a group for Gorkhas registered in Mumbai explains: “Mumbai alone would have over 5,000 Gorkha families living in the city for over a decade. People confuse us, Gorkhas born and brought up in India, with people coming from Nepal. While we are part of the same community, we are citizens of different countries. We have no right to claim anything in Nepal and shouldn’t be shunned here in India as Nepalese.”
Pradhan said his group organised cultural programmes in the city and is lobbying for a Gorkha Bhavan in Navi Mumbai for community members to put up when they arrive here for medical help or to study. Pradhan says he also wants to organise events so that the community in the city does not forget its culture and language. “The younger generation does not want to speak the language as they are termed Nepalese by their peers. My son is smart enough to speak English, Hindi and Marathi which are not his native language but he does not converse in Nepali among outsiders for fear of being teased,” Pradhan said.
Once his organisation and cause get recognition, Pradhan also wants to approach film associations to request them to stop the “caricature” of the community as watchmen and other stereotypes.
“Just to make a bunch of people laugh, the entire community cannot be made fun of,” said Pradhan.
Twenty-two participants will run for charity under the group registered as Run for Rosni. “We donated Rs 5,000 per runner for the participation. Over Rs 1 lakh was given to me by my runner friends across the country. I hope there is more clarity on who we are after the run,” said Rosni, who has an individual registration.
The other members of the Gorkha community from Mumbai who will be supporting the runners from the sidelines also hope the stereotyping will stop. “My father is a former defence man who served the nation. It’s a pinching reality that people express shock when we tell them that we are Indians,” says Poonam Lama, who has been living in the city for over two decades.
Bimal chats up Ghisingh’s friend-turned-foe - Relli venue for meet
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 13: A “chance” meeting between Bimal Gurung and Chhatrey Subba has generated much interest in the hills as the 71-year-old Gorkha leader is known to be against an autonomous set-up for the region — one reason why he fell out with Subash Ghisingh. He was also accused of masterminding a murder attempt on the GNLF chief.
The meeting has been confirmed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders who accompanied their chief, Gurung, to the banks of the Relli in Kalimpong for an agriculture fair.
This is the first meeting between Gurung and Subba since his release from jail on September 9, 2011, after he was acquitted of all charges.
“It was not a pre-planned meeting but a chance meeting. We had gone to the Agri Horti-Techno Fair and Subba had happened to come there. There was no question of ignoring Subba, and Bimal Gurung met him over coffee for some time,” confirmed a Morcha central committee member who had accompanied Gurung.
The details of the conversation between the two are not known.
Although Subba has not expressed his desire to be active in politics, his presence is significant as he is well-known in the hills as someone who had never patched up with Ghisingh. “Many people in the hills consider Subba as someone who was committed to the statehood cause. He has also gained much sympathy for the fact that he had to spend 10 years in prison only to be acquitted in the end. Many also believe that Subba was somehow framed and thrown in jail so that he could not confront Ghisingh,” said an observer.
The meeting with Gurung came at a time there were indications that Subba was not happy with the Morcha for settling for an autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
In fact, a day after being released from a Jalpaiguri jail after more than a decade, Subba had told journalists that he had opposed the formation of the DGHC in 1988 and felt the same about the GTA.
“I was the lone voice against the tripartite agreement (to form the DGHC). I am still suffering because of that. They (the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) should not have settled for any autonomous set-up. It is wrong,” he had said in Kalimpong.
Subba had fallen out with Ghisingh on the DGHC issue in 1988 after having supported him throughout the 28-month Gorkhaland agitation.
Subba then formed the Gorkhaland Liberation Organisation that fought tooth and nail, sometimes leading to armed conflicts too, with Ghisingh’s Gorkha Volunteer Cell. But soon after, he was arrested for allegedly masterminding an attempt on the life of Ghisingh on February 10, 2001.
Recently there were indications of Subba aligning with the anti-Morcha camp. “There were talks of Subba being present at a book release function organised by Ajay Dahal, a leader of the United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (opposed to the Morcha) in Kalimpong recently. It is a different story that Subba dropped out because of health reasons,” said an observer.
Many in the hills believe that if the Morcha can urge Subba not to take sides, it could take a lot of steam out of Opposition camps.
“There is no doubt that the Opposition parties will receive much support in the hills if Subba aligns with them. But if he stays neutral, as he has been doing till date, the Morcha will definitely gain a lot,” said an observer.
Traffic bar to stay after crack cure
TT, Siliguri, Jan. 13: The Coronation Bridge over the Teesta will be out of bounds for heavy and medium vehicles even after the 2ft-long crack near the crown of the giant arch that supports the structure is repaired, public works department officials hinted today.
The officials said the entry would be limited to light vehicles as the bridge was 70 years old and it could no longer bear huge traffic load.
The restriction has been in force since December 31 when the crack was first spotted.
The crack has been examined by experts from Jadavpur University and they are likely to send their recommendation by the end of January.
“A five-member team from Jadavpur University had reached here on Wednesday. They examined the bridge and left yesterday,” said Ashish Ranjan Modak, the superintending engineer of NH Circle III of the PWD.
“The team was from the civil engineering department of the JU and is expected to send us their recommendations by the end of this month.”
The bridge at Sevoke, 25km from Siliguri, was commissioned in 1941 to commemorate the coronation of George VI. The bridge is along NH31, one of the two principal roads that links the Dooars and the Northeast to the rest of India.
Modak said the PWD would continue to keep medium and heavy vehicles away from the bridge.
“Apart from the crack, two other factors need to be taken into account as far as the conservation of the bridge is concerned. First is the age of the bridge and second is the consistent rise in traffic. Seventy years ago, the traffic was much lower than what the bridge bears today. These factors have prompted us to continue with the restriction,” he said.
Although Modak refused to divulge anything more, sources in the PWD said even if the crack was repaired, the restriction was likely to stay. “We have proposed that the bridge be conserved as a heritage structure and only light vehicles be allowed to pass through it even if there is no threat to safety after the repair of the crack,” said a source.
The PWD is now busy preparing a detailed project report for an alternative bridge over the Teesta at Sevoke Bazaar, 7km downhill from the Coronation Bridge.
“Since heavy vehicles will be denied permission to ply on the Coronation Bridge, it is imperative to build another bridge over the river to maintain the link between the Northeast and the rest of the country. Now, heavy vehicles to and from the Dooars are travelling via Jalpaiguri or Gajoldoba (the Teesta Barrage), resulting in loss of money and time,” said the source.
9 tea workers die of hunger
SNS, KOLKATA, 13 JAN: Nine workers of the closed Dheklapara Tea Garden have died of starvation during the past month, said RSP MLA Nirmal Das today.
According to Mr Das, since 2007, this is for the first time that such a huge number of starvation deaths have been witnessed in a single tea garden. The deceased workers are Mangal Tanti (40), Sushil Tanti (53), Bijoy Tanti (35), Parimal Tanti (25), Balo Orao (45), Jhalo Orao (55), Rongi Kharia (50), Ramsdas Munda (55) and Pradhan Tanti (50). They have died between 9 December 2011 to 11 January 2012.
Mr Das accused the state government for its apathy towards the workers of the closed tea gardens. He said government schemes, including providing 100 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, are not being run for these workers. Even the Rs 1,500 stipend, which was provided by the previous state government to families of the workers of closed tea garden, has also been delayed by the present government, said Mr Das.
The United Trades Union Congress (UTUC) has submitted a complaint to chief minister Mamata Banerjee urging the state government to make arrangements to re-open the closed tea gardens as well as provide benefits to the workers.
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, however, said that the state government has started disbursing the stipend to the workers. There are some legal problems in the closed Dheklapara Tea Garden and efforts are on to resolve the issue, he said.
GTA area expansion
SNS, KOLKATA, 13 JAN: The RSP Jalpaiguri district committee has urged that the selected areas of the Dooars and Jalpaiguri should not be included in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration as it will hamper development initiatives in the entire district. They have requested the chairman of the high-power committee, headed by retired chief justice Shyamal Sen to look into their demand. According to the RSP, the vast areas of Jalpaiguri district not only accommodates 42 ethnic communities, but is also house to a large number of Hindi and Bengali speaking people. Thus, including even a single mouza without proper consideration might lead to an ethnic problem. This apart, as many workers of closed tea gardens live in many areas of the district, it might create problem for them as well.
Piling petitions hint at GTA expansion
Debasis Konar, TNN , Jan 13, 2012, KOLKATA: Is the new Gorkha Territorial Administration poised for an expansion? So it seems if one goes by the number of petitions submitted to the nine-member committee led by former chief justice of the Calcutta high court Shyamal Kumar Sen.
There are around 700 petitions in favour of inclusion of the 396 mouzas of the Terai and Dooars, while 20 petitions are opposed to it. The status is crucial, given the Centre's assurance to the members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) members in Delhi on January 9 that elections to the GTA will be held soon.
The Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee has already called a Bangla bandh in protest on Monday.
Going by the volume of petitions, there are chances of an expansion, as four of the nine-member committee are from the GJM. However, there is a catch. The high-power committee has made amends to the procedural regulations under Section 20 (A) for delivery of justice. The new section says: "Parties which are also members of the committee and whose interests are likely to be involved in any dispute on the petitions or otherwise may make submission in that matter but shall not take part in deliberations and decision making." Another amendment vests the power in the chairman of the committee to recognize or dispose of the petition.
"The mouzas originally demanded by the GJM for inclusion at the initial stage, on the basis of which the tripartite agreement had been signed in July 2011 is unknown to us. I have asked for all the details from home secretary G D Gautama," Justice Sen said.
The Centre has already asked the state government to handle the sensitive issue properly because it feels that any delay on the part of the government can spark off fresh agitation in the Hills. The GTA agreement was signed by representatives of state, Centre and GJM on July 18. The GTA bill was passed in Bengal Assembly on September 2.
Justice Sen's committee will soon send a survey team to determine new areas for GTA by physical verification of each mouza to ascertain demands of the GJM. The delay in sending inspection teams was because of staff shortage, state officials said. Even committee secretary T K Bhaumick joined only in November.
"For the identification of additional areas the high power committee will take into consideration compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors to determine the land for transfer. The committee was asked to submit its suggestions within six months. But as its term will end in January, it is likely to be extended soon," an official said.
Left leaders Zia-Ul-Alam, Nirmal Das and Mahendra Ray said that adding parts of Terai and Dooars in GTA will create problem for the people of Jalpaiguri. They feared that the proposed addition of mouzas would incite sentiments in the plains. CPM's Jalpaiguri district secretary Manik Sanyal wanted the high-power committee to survey the gram panchayats, as even Bagrakot, Odlabari panchayats in Malbazar block adjoining Darjeeling do not have Nepali majority.
Mukunda Majumdar of Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee who submitted his objections to Justice Sen's committee said, "We are opposing inclusion of areas from Siliguri, Terai and Dooars. Many foreigners entered Bengal. We want that the Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950 should be considered while determining areas for GTA."
Larry Bose working president, Dooars Terrai Nagrik Mancha also opposed the transfer of land to GTA. "Interest of tribals will be affected," he said.
Dolen Ray of Amra Bangali said that they have already filed a writ petition in the high court against GTA and the high powered committee.
Job regularisation of teachers on ‘fast track’
RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Jan. 13: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today claimed that the state government had put on “fast track” the regularisation of services of more than 300 schoolteachers in the Darjeeling hills.
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| One of the three government high schools in Kalimpong. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha |
“The meeting was very positive and the matter concerning the regularisation of the services of ad hoc teachers has been put on fast tack. The process has been initiated. We expect to reach a logical conclusion shortly,” Chhetri told The Telegraph over the phone from Calcutta.
The the Janmukti Secondary Teachers’ Organisation has been demanding that all ad hoc teachers in 118 government-aided schools and the three fully government-owned schools in the hills be made permanent. There are 282 ad hoc teachers in the government-aided schools and 28 in the government institutes.
Apart from Chhetri, Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, secretary of the JSTO Bijay Pradhan and co-ordinator of the Morcha’s Education Monitoring Cell Tshering Tamang also attended the talks. The JSTO is a frontal organisation of the Morcha.
Chhetri said the progress in the regularisation process would be discussed at another round of meeting in Calcutta on January 20. Securing the jobs of the ad hoc teachers was foremost on the agenda of the Morcha, he said.
“They are the victims of the previous regime (read the GNLF). These teachers have worked for over 10 to 15 years. I believe their work experience is better than any degree. Had these teachers not been there, many schools would have been forced to close down. They must be given their due,” he said.
Chhetri said the Morcha was not averse to the idea of absorbing the ad hoc teachers by creating more vacancies in the schools according to a provision in the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The provision entails a student-teacher ratio of 35:1 in all secondary schools. “We discussed the issue (at the meeting),” he said.
At present, the hills are not covered by a massive drive embarked upon by the government to recruit about 40,000 teachers into the secondary schools in the state.
छत्र अनि बिमलको भेट पहाडमा नयाँ शक्ति गठन हुन नदिने चाल ?
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुंग, 13 जनवरी। गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनका क्रान्तिकारी नेता एव जीएलओ प्रमुख छत्रे सुब्बा अनि गोजमुमो प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंग रेली खोलाको बगरमा कृषी पर्यटन उत्सवको अवसरमा भेट भएको खबर प्रकाशमा आएपछि आज दिनभरी नै शहरमा मानिसहरु सोहि बिषयमा कुराकानी गरिरहेको सुनियो। चिया पसलदेखि लिएर मोटर स्ट्याण्डसम्म मनिसहरु सुब्बा अनि गुरुंग माझकै भेटवार्ता लिएर कुराहरु गरिरहेका थिए। यस बिषयलाई लिएर राजनैतिक खेमामा पनि निकै हलचल मच्चिएको छ। बिभिन्न रजनितिक दलका नेताहरुले समेत आज दुई नेताबिचको भेटघाटबारे चर्चा गरिरहेका थिए भने आज शहरमा मूल चर्चाको बिषयनै दुई नेताबिचको भेटघाट रहेको थियो।
उक्त भेटघाट बिषयलाई लिएर खुफिया बिभाग समेत चनाखो भएको छ। घिसिंग हमलाकाण्डको आरोपमा पक्रा परेर लगभग 11 वर्ष जेल जीवन भोगि आरोपमुक्त बनेका सुब्बा घर आए देखिनै कुनै राजनैतिक गतिबिधि नचलाई बसेका छन। यद्यपी राजनैतिक परिवेशको भने गहन अध्ययन गरिरहेको सुब्बाले केहि समय अघि पत्रकारहरुलाई बताएका थिए। आरोपमुक्त बनेर घरमा बसेका सुब्बाले आजसम्म कुनै सार्वजनिक् कार्यक्रममा भाग लिएका छैनन। केहि दिन अघि मात्र युवा क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दाहालको पुस्तक बिमोचन कार्यक्रममा मुख्य अतिथिका रुपमा सुब्बा उपस्थित हुने निश्चित भएको थियो तर अन्तमा तिनले उपस्थित हुन नसक्ने पत्र पठाएर कार्यक्रममा सबैलाई निराश बनाएका थिए। यसरी पुस्तक बिमोचन कार्यक्रममा समेत नाआउँने छत्र सुब्बा अचानक रेलीको बगरमा पर्यटन बिभागको सक्रियता र गोजमुमोको प्रयासमा भईरहेको कार्यक्रममा पुग्नु अनि त्यसै माथि मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंगसित भेटघाट गर्नु निकै गम्भिर बिषय बनेको छ।
दुई बिपरीत ध्रुवका नेताहरुको यस भेटघाटले पहाडका तमाम मानिसहरुलाई अनेकौ कौतुहलता खडा गरिदिएको छ। दुई नेताहरुको भेटघाटको खबर समचार पत्रमा छापिएको कुरा डड्लो जस्तै फैलिए पछि मानिसहरु समाचार पत्र समेत खोजि खोजि पडिरहेका थिए भने राजनैतिक नेताहरु समेत समाचार पत्र खोजन दौडिरहेको देखियो। दिनभरी सबैको मुखमा झुण्डिएको सुब्बा अनि गुरुंगको भेटघाट बिषय भंने कुन उद्देश्यको निम्ति थियो भन्ने थाह हुन सकेको छैन।
रेलीको बगरमा गुरुंग अनि सुब्बाले सुटुक्कै भेटे पनि मिडियाकर्मीहरुको क्यामेरामा भने कैद हुनबाट जोगिन सकेनन। तिनीहरुको भेट बिषयलाई लिएर समाचार प्रकाशमा आएको 12 घण्टा बित्न नपाई अनेकौ अडकलबाजी शुरु भएको छ। रेलीको बगरमा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा सुब्बा परिवारनै पुगेका थिए। यता मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंग पनि आफ्ना श्रीमतिकै साथ सम्पुर्ण कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित रहेका थिए। उक्त भेटघाट कार्यक्रममा घुम्दै गर्दा सयोगवस भएको मानिसहरुले बताईरहेको भएता पनि भेटघाट भने पुर्वनियोजित रहेको जस्तो देखिएको छ। जानकारी अनुसार पहिले त क़ृषी पर्यटन उत्सवमा छत्र सुब्बा घुमिरहेका थिए सोहि समयमा उत्सवको मनोरंजन लिन गुरुंग पनि यताउता निस्किए अनि घुम्ने क्रममानै दुई नेताहरुको भेट भएको थियो।
पहिलो भेटमा दुवै नेताहरुले हात् मिलाएर एकार्काको परिचय साटे अनि सम्झनाको निम्ति फोटो समेत खिचे। तर यतिमानै दुवै नेताहरुको भेटघाट समाप्त नभएको सुत्रले जानकारी दिएको छ। उक्त भेटघाट अवधिमा कालेबुंग नगरपालिका अध्यक्ष एल बी परियार, नगर पार्षद रबी प्रधान, जायन लेप्चा, नारीमोर्चा कालेबुंग महकुमा समिति अध्यक्ष काजीम छिरिंग भोटीया लगायत थुप्रै मोर्चा नेताहरु रहेका थिए। तर यसबारेमा कसैले पनि मुख भने खोल्न नचाहेको कारण भेटघाटको कुरा अझ गम्भिर बनेको छ। सुत्रले बताए अनुसार दुई नेताहरु लगभग आधा घण्टासम्म कफिहाउसमा बसेर कुराकानीमा मस्त रहे। उक्त कुराकनीको अवधी भने केवल दुई नेताहरुको मात्र उपस्थिति रहेको सुत्रले अझ बताएको छ। तर दुई नेतामाझ भएको कुराकानी बारे भने केहि थाहा पाउँन सकिएको छैन।
यता एक मोर्चा विरोधि नेताले आफ्ना नाम नलेखिदिने अनुरोध गर्दै दुई नेताहरुको भेटघाट पुर्वनियोजित रहेको बताए। तिनले हाल पहाडमा एउटा नयाँ राजनैतिक दल गठनहुने हल्ला चलिरहेको अनि त्यो दल गठन गर्नेहरुको सुचिमा छत्र सुब्बाको नाम अग्र पंक्तिमा रहेको कारण मोर्चालाई डर भएर छत्रलाई आफ्नो पक्षमा ल्याउँने प्रयास गरेको हुनसक्ने श्ंका ब्यक्त गरे। मोर्चा प्रमुख बिमल गुरुंग अनि जीएलओ प्रमुख छ्त्र सुब्बाको भेटघाट पछि यस बिषयले भने पहाडको राजनीतिमा नयाँ मोड ल्याउँन सक्ने अनुमान राजनैतिक सचेतकहरुले लगाउँन शुरु गरेका छन। कसै कसैले भने यो मोर्चाको पहाडमा नयाँ दल गठन हुन नदिनको नम्ति चालेको चाल हो भन्न शुरु गरेका छन भने कसैले आन्दोलनलाई सशक्त बनाउँन मोर्चामा सुब्बालाई सामेल गराउँने प्रयास हो भनिरहेका छन। जबसम्म दुवै नेताहरुले मुख खोल्दैनन ती सबै कुराहरु पुर्वानुमान मात्र हुनेछन अनि वास्तविकता भने अघि आउँने छैनन।
सरकारले पहाडका मानिसहरुलाई हरेक कुराबाट बंचित गरिरहेछ – तारा सुन्दास
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ,13 जनवरी। सरकारले दार्जीलिङलाई बिभिन्न सहुलियतहरूबाट बञ्चित गरेको छ भन्नेकुराको अर्को खुलासा आज माकपाले गरेको छ। माकपा नेता तारा सुन्दासले राजीव गाँधी ग्रामीण परियोजनाबाट सरकारले गरिबहरुलाई बितरण गर्ने एलपीजी ग्यास बितरण नगरेर पहाडका मानिसहरुलाई भारतीय नागरिक जस्तो नठानेको आरोप लगाएका छ्न । तिनले पहाडका मानिसहरुलाई सरकारले हरेक पल्ट सरकारी सहुलियतहरुनबाट बंचित राख्ने कार्य गरिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै यस बिषयमा जन प्रतिनिधीहरु बोल्न पर्ने माग गरे।
कुन कुन ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा यो योजना लागू हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा सरकारले अधिसुचना निकालेको तर उक्त अधिसुचना समेत बंगला पत्रिकामा निकालेर अन्याय गरेको आरोप सुन्दासले लगाए। तिनले प्रत्येक मानिसहरुले सरकारबाट पाउँन पर्ने सहुलियतबारे जानकारी पाउँन पर्ने बताउँदै पहाडका मनिसहरुलाई सुचनाको अधिकारबाट समेत बंचित बनाएको आरोप लगाए।सन् 2010मा पेट्रोलियम अनि नेचरल ग्यास मन्त्री मुरलीधर देउराले गान्धी दिवसको दिन 2 अक्टोबरमा यसै योजनामाथि बोल्दै 2015 सम्ममा सबै जिल्लाको ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा यो योजना पुर्याइसक्ने घोषणा गरेका थिए। सुन्दासले त्यही घोषणाको स्मरण गराउँदै अझ भने, चुनाभट्टि र बाग्राकोटसम्मको नाम सूचीमा छ, किन दार्जीलिङको कुनै ग्रामीण क्षेत्रको नाम छैन? जनताका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई के यो कुरा थाहा छैन? सुन्दास अनुसार माकपाले खाना पकाइ खाने ग्यासको अभावबारेमा सिलगढीस्थित विभागीय अधिकारीसित पहाडमा ग्यास आपूर्तिबारे मागपत्र चढाएको थियो। यसको जवाबमा अधिकारीले होटलवालाहरूले कमर्सियल ग्यास नचलाइदिएकोले समस्या आएको जवाब माकपालाई दिएका थिए। पहाडसम्म ग्यास ल्याउनको निम्ति वाहन, बाटो र ठेकेदारहरूबीच रहेको समस्या देखाएर टार्न खोजेको बताउँदै सुन्दासले पहाडमा 45 दिनमा मात्र ग्यास वितरण गर्ने नियम बनिसकेको बताए। तिनले भने, सरकारले जङ्गल नमास्नु भन्छ तर मानिसहरूले खाना केमा पकाएर खानु? रहेको यजनाबाट पनि दार्जीलिङलाई बञ्चित गराएर सरकारले कुन दादागिरीको परिचय दिएको हो भनि थप प्रश्न गरे।
लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायत घट्नाकाण्ड:जकसद्वारा कार्यालय बन्द क्रामाकपाले ग-यो निन्दा
डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुंग, 13 जनवरी: लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालयमा भुईँचालोले क्षति पुगेका घरहरुको निम्ति आएको पैसा बिषयमा झडप हुँदा घाईते भएका पंचायत सहकर्मीले न्याउँ पाउँनुपर्ने माग गर्दै जनमुक्ति कर्मचारीले डाकेको कालेबुंग महकुमा क्षेत्रको तीनवटा खण्डबिकाश कार्यालय अनि 42 वटा ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालय आज पुर्णरुपले सफल रहेको संगठनले दाबी गरेको छ। संगठनका अध्यक्ष खडक बिक्रम सुब्बाले पत्रकारहरु सित कुराकनी गर्दै सबै ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालयहरु अनि तीनैवटा खण्डबिकाश कार्यालय बन्द रहेको दाबी गरे।
तिनले ग्राम पंचायत सहकर्मी माथि भएको हमलाको निन्दा गर्दै जबसम्म दोषिहरु पुलिसले पक्राउ गर्दैन तबसम्म कार्यालयहरु बन्द गर्ने बताए। अहिले प्रथम चरणमा कालेबुंग महकुमा अन्तर्गत रहेको खण्ड बिकाश कार्यालय अनि ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालयहरु बन्द गरे पनि पुलिसले दोषिहरु चाँडो पक्रा नगरे आगामी दिनमा अझै कडा आन्दोलन गर्ने चेतावनी दिए। उक्त घटनाकाण्डमा बिनाकारण कर्मचारी माथि हातपाई गरेको आरोप लगाउँदै पंचायत कर्मीहरुले पैसा खायो भन्ने आरोप निराधार रहेको दाबी गरे। यस घटनाकाण्डले कर्मचारीहरु असुरक्षित रहेको स्पष्ट बनेको बताउँदै दोषिहरुलाई कडा सजाय दिनुपर्ने माग गरे। भुईँचालो पिडीतहरुको निम्ति सरकारबाट आएको पैसा कसैले हिनामिना गर्न नसक्ने दबी गर्दै पैसा पिडीतहरुको ब्यांक खातामा जमा भएको पैसा पंचायत कर्मचारीहरुले निकाल्न नस्क्ने तिनले जनाए। उक्त घटनाकाण्डको बिभागले न्यायिक जाँच गर्नुपर्ने माग गर्दै कर्मचारीहरुलाई निराधार आरोप लगाउँनु नपाउँने माग गरे।
यता क्रामाकपाले लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायतमा ब्यापक हिना मिना भएकै कारण जनता सचेत बनेर अघि आएको बताउँदै प्रत्येक जनता सचेत बनेर भ्र्ष्टचार बिरोधी अभियानमा निसक्नु पर्ने आह्वान गरेको छ। क्रामाकपा कालेबुंग खण्ड दुईका प्रभारी भीम गुरुंगले पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै अहिले पंचायतमा मात्र नभएर दागोपापमा नै ब्यापक भ्रष्टचार भईरहेको आरोप लगाए। तिनले दागोपापमा तीस प्रतिशत काम गरेर सत्तर प्रतिशत घोटाला भईरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै भ्रष्टचारी नोकारशाहहरु समाजबाट मास्न सबै जागरुक बन्नुपर्ने आह्वान गरे। यस्तो घोटाला भएकै कारण लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायतका मानिसहरु सडकमा ओर्लिन बाध्य बनेको बताउँदै यसलाई प्रशासन र बिभागले सामान्य लिन नहुने बताए।
लिंगसे ग्राम पंचायतमा हिनामिनाको बिरोधमा निस्केका जनताहरुलाई क्रामाकपाको सलाम छ भन्दै समाजबाट नोकरशाहहरु मास्न क्रामाकपा सधै साथ रहेको बताए। यता जकसले खण्ड बिकास कार्यलय बन्द गरेको सन्दर्भमा तिनले निन्दा गर्दै यो भ्रष्टचारीहरुलाई प्रश्रय दिने कार्य भएको आरोप लगाए। घोटालाको बिरोधमा निस्केका जनताहरुलाई साथ र सहयोग गर्नको साटो उल्टा कार्यालय बन्द गर्नु नितांत दुखपूर्णॅ कुरा रहेको गुरुंगले थप बताए।
Nepalese or Gorkha? Hope on Sunday run
SADAF MODAK, TT, Mumbai, Jan. 13: Namper Lemcha from Darjeeling is among the thousands who will participate in the Mumbai International Marathon here on Sunday.
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| Some of the Gorkha participants warm up during a practice session at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Friday |
The validation for the run was quick to come. As Lemcha who arrived here yesterday walked along Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus near the starting point of Sunday’s marathon, a passer-by asked him: “Which country (are you from)? Nepal?”
Not many are aware of the distinction between the Nepalese and the Gorkhas, who are Indian citizens. The run by the group of 23 with white Tees embossed with “We are Gorkhas and proud to be Indians” is meant to assert the nationality and identity of the community. They will participate in the 21-km half marathon as well as the 6km “dream run”.
“When we tell others that our mother tongue is Nepali, they assume we are from Nepal,” says Rosni Rai, the brain behind the run. Rosni, an amateur marathon runner who has made Mumbai her home since 2004, said she does want not to live with the mistaken identity of being considered Nepalese by her fellow citizens.
Rohit Pradhan, the secretary of the Bharatiya Gorkha Ekta Sangh, a group for Gorkhas registered in Mumbai explains: “Mumbai alone would have over 5,000 Gorkha families living in the city for over a decade. People confuse us, Gorkhas born and brought up in India, with people coming from Nepal. While we are part of the same community, we are citizens of different countries. We have no right to claim anything in Nepal and shouldn’t be shunned here in India as Nepalese.”
Pradhan said his group organised cultural programmes in the city and is lobbying for a Gorkha Bhavan in Navi Mumbai for community members to put up when they arrive here for medical help or to study. Pradhan says he also wants to organise events so that the community in the city does not forget its culture and language. “The younger generation does not want to speak the language as they are termed Nepalese by their peers. My son is smart enough to speak English, Hindi and Marathi which are not his native language but he does not converse in Nepali among outsiders for fear of being teased,” Pradhan said.
Once his organisation and cause get recognition, Pradhan also wants to approach film associations to request them to stop the “caricature” of the community as watchmen and other stereotypes.
“Just to make a bunch of people laugh, the entire community cannot be made fun of,” said Pradhan.
Twenty-two participants will run for charity under the group registered as Run for Rosni. “We donated Rs 5,000 per runner for the participation. Over Rs 1 lakh was given to me by my runner friends across the country. I hope there is more clarity on who we are after the run,” said Rosni, who has an individual registration.
The other members of the Gorkha community from Mumbai who will be supporting the runners from the sidelines also hope the stereotyping will stop. “My father is a former defence man who served the nation. It’s a pinching reality that people express shock when we tell them that we are Indians,” says Poonam Lama, who has been living in the city for over two decades.
Bimal chats up Ghisingh’s friend-turned-foe - Relli venue for meet
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 13: A “chance” meeting between Bimal Gurung and Chhatrey Subba has generated much interest in the hills as the 71-year-old Gorkha leader is known to be against an autonomous set-up for the region — one reason why he fell out with Subash Ghisingh. He was also accused of masterminding a murder attempt on the GNLF chief.
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| The venue for the three-day agriculture fair at Relli in Kalimpong that ended on Friday. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha) |
This is the first meeting between Gurung and Subba since his release from jail on September 9, 2011, after he was acquitted of all charges.
“It was not a pre-planned meeting but a chance meeting. We had gone to the Agri Horti-Techno Fair and Subba had happened to come there. There was no question of ignoring Subba, and Bimal Gurung met him over coffee for some time,” confirmed a Morcha central committee member who had accompanied Gurung.
The details of the conversation between the two are not known.
Although Subba has not expressed his desire to be active in politics, his presence is significant as he is well-known in the hills as someone who had never patched up with Ghisingh. “Many people in the hills consider Subba as someone who was committed to the statehood cause. He has also gained much sympathy for the fact that he had to spend 10 years in prison only to be acquitted in the end. Many also believe that Subba was somehow framed and thrown in jail so that he could not confront Ghisingh,” said an observer.
The meeting with Gurung came at a time there were indications that Subba was not happy with the Morcha for settling for an autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
In fact, a day after being released from a Jalpaiguri jail after more than a decade, Subba had told journalists that he had opposed the formation of the DGHC in 1988 and felt the same about the GTA.
“I was the lone voice against the tripartite agreement (to form the DGHC). I am still suffering because of that. They (the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha) should not have settled for any autonomous set-up. It is wrong,” he had said in Kalimpong.
Subba had fallen out with Ghisingh on the DGHC issue in 1988 after having supported him throughout the 28-month Gorkhaland agitation.
Subba then formed the Gorkhaland Liberation Organisation that fought tooth and nail, sometimes leading to armed conflicts too, with Ghisingh’s Gorkha Volunteer Cell. But soon after, he was arrested for allegedly masterminding an attempt on the life of Ghisingh on February 10, 2001.
Recently there were indications of Subba aligning with the anti-Morcha camp. “There were talks of Subba being present at a book release function organised by Ajay Dahal, a leader of the United Gorkha Revolutionary Front (opposed to the Morcha) in Kalimpong recently. It is a different story that Subba dropped out because of health reasons,” said an observer.
Many in the hills believe that if the Morcha can urge Subba not to take sides, it could take a lot of steam out of Opposition camps.
“There is no doubt that the Opposition parties will receive much support in the hills if Subba aligns with them. But if he stays neutral, as he has been doing till date, the Morcha will definitely gain a lot,” said an observer.
Traffic bar to stay after crack cure
TT, Siliguri, Jan. 13: The Coronation Bridge over the Teesta will be out of bounds for heavy and medium vehicles even after the 2ft-long crack near the crown of the giant arch that supports the structure is repaired, public works department officials hinted today.
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| The Coronation Bridge over the Teesta. File picture |
The restriction has been in force since December 31 when the crack was first spotted.
The crack has been examined by experts from Jadavpur University and they are likely to send their recommendation by the end of January.
“A five-member team from Jadavpur University had reached here on Wednesday. They examined the bridge and left yesterday,” said Ashish Ranjan Modak, the superintending engineer of NH Circle III of the PWD.
“The team was from the civil engineering department of the JU and is expected to send us their recommendations by the end of this month.”
The bridge at Sevoke, 25km from Siliguri, was commissioned in 1941 to commemorate the coronation of George VI. The bridge is along NH31, one of the two principal roads that links the Dooars and the Northeast to the rest of India.
Modak said the PWD would continue to keep medium and heavy vehicles away from the bridge.
“Apart from the crack, two other factors need to be taken into account as far as the conservation of the bridge is concerned. First is the age of the bridge and second is the consistent rise in traffic. Seventy years ago, the traffic was much lower than what the bridge bears today. These factors have prompted us to continue with the restriction,” he said.
Although Modak refused to divulge anything more, sources in the PWD said even if the crack was repaired, the restriction was likely to stay. “We have proposed that the bridge be conserved as a heritage structure and only light vehicles be allowed to pass through it even if there is no threat to safety after the repair of the crack,” said a source.
The PWD is now busy preparing a detailed project report for an alternative bridge over the Teesta at Sevoke Bazaar, 7km downhill from the Coronation Bridge.
“Since heavy vehicles will be denied permission to ply on the Coronation Bridge, it is imperative to build another bridge over the river to maintain the link between the Northeast and the rest of the country. Now, heavy vehicles to and from the Dooars are travelling via Jalpaiguri or Gajoldoba (the Teesta Barrage), resulting in loss of money and time,” said the source.
9 tea workers die of hunger
SNS, KOLKATA, 13 JAN: Nine workers of the closed Dheklapara Tea Garden have died of starvation during the past month, said RSP MLA Nirmal Das today.
According to Mr Das, since 2007, this is for the first time that such a huge number of starvation deaths have been witnessed in a single tea garden. The deceased workers are Mangal Tanti (40), Sushil Tanti (53), Bijoy Tanti (35), Parimal Tanti (25), Balo Orao (45), Jhalo Orao (55), Rongi Kharia (50), Ramsdas Munda (55) and Pradhan Tanti (50). They have died between 9 December 2011 to 11 January 2012.
Mr Das accused the state government for its apathy towards the workers of the closed tea gardens. He said government schemes, including providing 100 days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, are not being run for these workers. Even the Rs 1,500 stipend, which was provided by the previous state government to families of the workers of closed tea garden, has also been delayed by the present government, said Mr Das.
The United Trades Union Congress (UTUC) has submitted a complaint to chief minister Mamata Banerjee urging the state government to make arrangements to re-open the closed tea gardens as well as provide benefits to the workers.
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, however, said that the state government has started disbursing the stipend to the workers. There are some legal problems in the closed Dheklapara Tea Garden and efforts are on to resolve the issue, he said.
GTA area expansion
SNS, KOLKATA, 13 JAN: The RSP Jalpaiguri district committee has urged that the selected areas of the Dooars and Jalpaiguri should not be included in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration as it will hamper development initiatives in the entire district. They have requested the chairman of the high-power committee, headed by retired chief justice Shyamal Sen to look into their demand. According to the RSP, the vast areas of Jalpaiguri district not only accommodates 42 ethnic communities, but is also house to a large number of Hindi and Bengali speaking people. Thus, including even a single mouza without proper consideration might lead to an ethnic problem. This apart, as many workers of closed tea gardens live in many areas of the district, it might create problem for them as well.
Piling petitions hint at GTA expansion
Debasis Konar, TNN , Jan 13, 2012, KOLKATA: Is the new Gorkha Territorial Administration poised for an expansion? So it seems if one goes by the number of petitions submitted to the nine-member committee led by former chief justice of the Calcutta high court Shyamal Kumar Sen.
There are around 700 petitions in favour of inclusion of the 396 mouzas of the Terai and Dooars, while 20 petitions are opposed to it. The status is crucial, given the Centre's assurance to the members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) members in Delhi on January 9 that elections to the GTA will be held soon.
The Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee has already called a Bangla bandh in protest on Monday.
Going by the volume of petitions, there are chances of an expansion, as four of the nine-member committee are from the GJM. However, there is a catch. The high-power committee has made amends to the procedural regulations under Section 20 (A) for delivery of justice. The new section says: "Parties which are also members of the committee and whose interests are likely to be involved in any dispute on the petitions or otherwise may make submission in that matter but shall not take part in deliberations and decision making." Another amendment vests the power in the chairman of the committee to recognize or dispose of the petition.
"The mouzas originally demanded by the GJM for inclusion at the initial stage, on the basis of which the tripartite agreement had been signed in July 2011 is unknown to us. I have asked for all the details from home secretary G D Gautama," Justice Sen said.
The Centre has already asked the state government to handle the sensitive issue properly because it feels that any delay on the part of the government can spark off fresh agitation in the Hills. The GTA agreement was signed by representatives of state, Centre and GJM on July 18. The GTA bill was passed in Bengal Assembly on September 2.
Justice Sen's committee will soon send a survey team to determine new areas for GTA by physical verification of each mouza to ascertain demands of the GJM. The delay in sending inspection teams was because of staff shortage, state officials said. Even committee secretary T K Bhaumick joined only in November.
"For the identification of additional areas the high power committee will take into consideration compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors to determine the land for transfer. The committee was asked to submit its suggestions within six months. But as its term will end in January, it is likely to be extended soon," an official said.
Left leaders Zia-Ul-Alam, Nirmal Das and Mahendra Ray said that adding parts of Terai and Dooars in GTA will create problem for the people of Jalpaiguri. They feared that the proposed addition of mouzas would incite sentiments in the plains. CPM's Jalpaiguri district secretary Manik Sanyal wanted the high-power committee to survey the gram panchayats, as even Bagrakot, Odlabari panchayats in Malbazar block adjoining Darjeeling do not have Nepali majority.
Mukunda Majumdar of Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee who submitted his objections to Justice Sen's committee said, "We are opposing inclusion of areas from Siliguri, Terai and Dooars. Many foreigners entered Bengal. We want that the Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950 should be considered while determining areas for GTA."
Larry Bose working president, Dooars Terrai Nagrik Mancha also opposed the transfer of land to GTA. "Interest of tribals will be affected," he said.
Dolen Ray of Amra Bangali said that they have already filed a writ petition in the high court against GTA and the high powered committee.
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