Cabinet approval to Lepcha board
The state Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for the formation of a separate Lepcha Development Board for the welfare of the Lepcha community in the hills. Only last week, during her visit to the hills, the chief minister had, after a meeting with the representatives of Lepchas in Kalimpong, announced her decision to set up such a board. She had said that she would make another such body for the Buddhists of the hills.
The Lepchas, considered the original inhabitants of the hills, make up 20 per cent of its population. The formation of a Lepcha development body had been a long-standing demand. The Lepchas have no territorial demand and want the council to be formed to preserve the community’s culture and work for its general uplift.
When Ms Banerjee had announced her decision at Alagarh in Kalimpong sub-division, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung had strongly opposed it and described it as her attempt to drive a wedge between the Gorkhas and the Lepchas.
On Tuesday, reacting to the Cabinet decision, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said over the phone that it was an encroachment of the authority of the GTA. “When an elected autonomous body like GTA is present then how could the state government form a Lepcha Development Board?” he asked.
Mr Giri also pointed out that contrary to Ms Banerjee’s claim, there was no provision for a Lepcha body in GTA agreement. “She is clearly trying to divide and rule in the hills,” Mr Giri added.
Post new comment