Sister Declan passes away....Barla to depose before GTA committee today....Pep talk to curb truancy - Morcha: work for tea.....गोर्खाल्याण्डको बिरोध र बिधायकहरुको मौनतामा अभागोलिले उठायो प्रश्न .....गोर्खाल्याण्डको मागमा डा ईन्द्रबहादुर राईले बङ्ग भूषण फिर्ता गर्नु पर्छ – गोर्खालिग .....समाचार च्यानल बन्द प्रकरण: टास्क फोर्स अनि कृषक कल्याण संगठनद्वारा महकुमा अधिकारीलाई ज्ञापन ......शान्तिप्रिय र गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलन छ्त्र सुब्बाले गर्छ भने टास्क फोर्सले स्वागत गर्ने ..

Sister Declan passes away

A memorial service for Sister Declan held at Cluny Women’s College on Monday. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha)

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Kalimpong, Feb. 13: The founder of Cluny Women’s College, Sister M. Declan Fahy, passed away in a Siliguri hospital yesterday.

The funeral of the 75-year-old Irish missionary, who was ailing for sometime, will take place at St Joseph’s Convent here at 11am tomorrow. She was the last of the foreign missionaries in Kalimpong.

The body of Sister Declan, as she was popularly known, was brought here last night. Her cortege will be taken round the town from 9am-11am tomorrow to enable people to pay their last respect to a person who had devoted over 40 years in spreading education in town.

The funeral service will be held at the Kenny Hall of St Joseph’s Convent.

“Sister Declan was lovingly addressed as boju, which means granny. Words do not suffice in expressing how dear she was to all of us… With (the death of) boju, comes the end of an era of the last of the foreign missionaries. It is indeed a great loss for us. The void is irreplaceable,” said Sister Punam Rai, a nun of the Sisters of St Joseph’s of Cluny.

Sister Declan also founded the Cluny Community College for the underprivileged boys and girls of the town.

She came to Kalimpong in April 1971 and took charge of St Joseph’s Convent. Subsequently, she served as the Superior at St Anne’s Convent and St Philomena’s School, Kalimpong, before establishing Cluny Women’s College in 1998.

Born in Roo, Craughwell, Co. Galway in Ireland on July 24, 1936, Sister Declan joined the novitiate at Ferbane. She did her education in Ireland, India and England.

After graduating from St Joseph’s College (North Point), Darjeeling, in 1961, she joined St Joseph’s Convent, Chandannagore, Hooghly.

“She was especially attracted towards the weaker ones — the slow learners in her class, women, the poor and the village children. Yet she always stood for excellence, striving to bring the best out of them... She was such a resourceful person who could meticulously see to the needs of the kindergarten, making learning enjoyable and at the same time impart lessons on world history and English literature to the graduates,” said Sister Rai.

Sister Declan had also authored a number of books under Living English and Mastering Mathematics series.

“Her death is a huge loss to Kalimpong. Apart from being an educationist, she was also a social worker who worked tirelessly for the poor people,” said Hari Dahal, a teacher of St Philomena’s School.
Pep talk to curb truancy - Morcha: work for tea
VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling, Feb. 13: The labour wing of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today asked tea workers to put in their best for the industry, now that the garden managements has agreed to most of their demands.
Although the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union said it was displeased with certain measures that the owners were trying to implement, the overall message was that it was time to work for the betterment of the industry.
Milan Pradhan, media secretary of the trade union affiliated to the Morcha, said: “We want to make the labourers aware that the work culture has to be improved. The industry had in the past agreed to a Rs 23 hike in the daily wage and to pay bonus at the rate of 20 per cent (the highest percentage prescribed in the Plantation Labour Act 1951). The Act also maintains that workers have to work for eight hours and we ask the labourers to respect this provision.” He was addressing a meeting of trade wing leaders and garden workers at the Gymkhana Club here.
The Darjeeling tea industry, which has around 80-odd gardens, has been hit by absenteeism. “At times, absenteeism is more than 30 per cent. Productivity has to be improved as the industry which once produced around 13 million kg of tea annually, now makes only a little over 7.5 million kg,” said Sandeep Mukherjee, principal adviser to the Darjeeling Tea Association.
Many believe that one reason for the high absenteeism is the 100-days’ work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which covers the gardens too.
“The daily wage under the rural job scheme is Rs 130 while the gardens pay only Rs 90. Many workers prefer the 100-days job scheme as it fetches more money,” said an industry source.
The Darjeeling tea industry employs 55,000 permanent workers while another 16,000 are engaged on a temporary basis.
The Morcha union also objected to two specific management initiatives to improve work culture.
“A DTA circular says that workers need to put in 4 + 1+ 4 hours of work daily. This is not acceptable because the Labour Act specifies that a worker cannot be made to work for more than eight hours a day,” said Pradhan.
Mukherjee, however, said the management was following the Act. “The Act states that workers need to put in 48 hours during the six working days of a week. This means that they have to work for eight hours daily. We are offering a recess (duration could vary) after every four hours of work,” said Mukherjee. The unions want the one-hour recess to be counted as part of the work hour.
The Morcha was piqued by another DTA directive that said a labourer needs to work for at least 180 days a year to be entitled to fringe benefits like housing and firewood. “We want the DTA to take into consideration the earned leave, casual leave and sick leave while calculating 180 working days,” said Pradhan.
Mukherjee said holidays could not be counted as working days.
“Among the 365 days a year, the workers get 52 weekly holidays. Apart from this, they are entitled to one day of earned leave for every 20 days of work. Besides, national holidays are paid holidays. They also have 14 days of sick leave. All these holidays cannot be taken as working days or else little work will be done in the gardens,” said Mukherjee.
Barla to depose before GTA committee today
TNN | Feb 13, 2012: KOLKATA: John Barla, an Adivasi leader who was expelled from Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parshad (ABAVP) for being in favour of the formation of Gorkha Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA), will appear to depose before Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen on Monday. Justice Sen heads the high-power committee that has been set up to determine the areas that can be added to the GTA. The committee has asked Roshan Giri and other political parties to appear before it on February 24.
The committee was given six month's additional time in January 2012 and is likely to visit the Hills in March to discuss about the jurisdiction of GTA and how new areas with Nepali majority can be included in it.
On Saturday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had criticized the Centre for its inordinate delay in implementing the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Bill which is yet to receive the President's assent.
According to the tripartite agreement signed between the Centre, state government and GJM in July last year, it gave special powers to
GTA, which will replace Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), will be given special powers. There is also a provision for granting added area to the GTA and for that a high power committee has already been formed. It is headed by Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen.
However, GJM leaders are not in favour of holding election in the original jurisdiction of DGHC, till they get additional areas. GJM secretary Roshan Giri said that they will not go for polls till the additional 398 mouzas of Siliguri, Terai and Dooars are included in GTA. Giri, appearing before Justice Sen on January 27, said: "We want 199 mouzas in Terai, 196 in Dooars and three mouzas from Rajgunj area adjoining Siliguri."
But Birsa Tirkey, state secretary of ABAVP Adivasi Vikash Parshad (AVP), is not in favour of inclusion of Terrai and Dooars in GTA and he conveyed it to Justice Sen last week. Even Jalpaiguri CPM leader Zia Ul Alam stated to Justice Sen that though there is Gorkha population in Jalpaiguri, they are in disjointed pockets. "They are separated by reserve forests."
With GTA entangled in controversies and the GJM threatening to launch a fresh stir from March end, the CM is now trying hard to hasten the process and make GTA functional by March. She is likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after February 20.
John Barla, an Adivasi leader who was expelled from AVP for being in favour of formation of Gorkha Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA), will appear to depose before Justice Sen on Monday.
The Gorkha Terrirtorial Administration (GTA) Bill is yet to get the President's assent of the President Pratibha Patil and for this
It is this inordinate delay that led Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to criticize the Centre at a while meeting with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders on Saturday.
The state assembly had passed the bill in September 2011. But due to souring Centre-state relationship, the Bill is yet to get Pratibha Patil's assent. Officials said that the bill needs clearance from 18 central ministries as land will be transferred to GTA from the ministries. But the Centre is seeking clarifications from the state government now and for that
Thus, the GTA accord has been delayed. functioning of the GTA is delayed.
For this delay, GJM leaders have threatened to start fresh stir, are planning their agitation from March end, if the GTA is not formed within March 27.
Until GTA starts operating, it cannot get funds for development. Backed by this political compulsion, GJM wants to make it functional early.
So, the CM is now trying hard to hasten the process and make GTA functional by March. She is likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after February 20.
Mamata has promised the GJM leaders that she will visit the Hills on February 28.
According to the tripartite agreement signed between the Centre, state government and GJM in July last year, it gave special powers to
GTA, which will replace Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), will be given special powers. There is also a provision for granting added area to the GTA and for that a high power committee has already been formed. It is headed by Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen. The committee was given six month's additional time in January 2012 and is likely to visit the Hills in March to discuss about the jurisdiction of GTA and how new areas with Nepali majority can be included in it.
However, GJM leaders are not in favour of holding election in the original jurisdiction of DGHC, till they get additional areas. GJM secretary Roshan Giri said that they will not go for polls till the additional 398 mouzas of Siliguri, Terai and Dooars are included in GTA.
Giri, appearing before Justice Sen on January 27, said: "We want 199 mouzas in Terai, 196 in Dooars and three mouzas from Rajgunj area adjoining Siliguri."
But Birsa Tirkey, state secretary of Adivasi Vikash Parshad (AVP), is not in favour of inclusion of Terrai and Dooars in GTA and he conveyed it to Justice Sen last week.
Even Jalpaiguri CPM leader Zia Ul Alam stated to Justice Sen that though there is Gorkha population in Jalpaiguri, they are in disjointed pockets. "They are separated by reserve forests."
John Barla, an Adivasi leader who was expelled from AVP for being in favour of formation of Gorkha Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA), will appear to depose before Justice Sen on Monday
.

गोर्खाल्याण्डको बिरोध र बिधायकहरुको मौनतामा अभागोलिले उठायो प्रश्न - गोर्खाल्याण्डको मागमा डा ईन्द्रबहादुर राईले बङ्ग भूषण फिर्ता गर्नु पर्छ – गोर्खालिग

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुङ १३ फरवरी; नेपाली साहित्य जगतका महान साहित्याकार डा ईन्द्रबहादुर राईलाई बङ्ग भूषण पुरस्कार दिएर तिनकै अघि गोर्खाल्याण्ड राज्य गठन हुँदैन भनेर मुख्य मन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले भन्दा तत्काल तिनले उक्त पुरस्कार फिर्ता दिनु पर्ने भनि अखिल भारतीय गोर्खालिग(अभागोली) पार्टीका महासचिव प्रताप खातिले भनेका छन्। आज तिनले पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै बिगत भाषा मान्यताको आन्दोलनमा जसरी मोरारजी देसाईले नेपाली भाषा बिदेशी हो भन्दा साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार फिर्ता गरेर बिरोध गरेका थिए त्यसरी नै बङ्ग भूषण पुरस्कार पनि फिर्ता गरेर बिरोध गर्नु पर्ने खातिले बताएका छन्। 

गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दासित सम्पूर्ण गोर्खाहरुको भावना जोडेको बताउँदै यो गोर्खाहरुको अपमान हो भनि तिनले टिप्पणी गरेका छन्। नेपाली भाषालाई बिदेशी भाषाको लाञ्छना लगाउँदा राईले साहित्य अकादमी जस्तो गरिमामय पुरस्कार फिर्ता गरेर गोर्खा जातिको आत्म सम्मान बचाएको बताउँदै अहिले तृणमुल काङ्ग्रेसले मोर्चासित मिलेर सानो पुरस्कारमा ठूलो बदनाम गरेको आरोप लगाएका छन्। यो बदनाम केवल महान साहित्यकार डा ईन्द्रबहादुर राईको मात्र नभएर सम्पूर्ण गोर्खा जातिको नै बदनाम रहेको अभागोलि महासचिव प्रताप खातिले दाबी गरेका छन्। यस्तो कार्यले डा राईको महानतालाई समेत बदनाम गरेको बताउँदै गोर्खाहरुको राष्ट्रिय चिन्हारीको मुद्दा गोर्खाल्याण्ड्को दाबीमा उक्त पुरस्कार फिर्ता गरिदिने तिनले आह्वान गरे। 

अर्कोतिर खातिले मुख्यमन्त्री ममता ब्यानर्जीले ‘बङ्ग भङ्ग होबेना’ भनेको सन्दर्भमा पनि बिरोध जनाएको छ। मुख्य मन्त्रीले ‘बङ्ग भङ्ग होबेना’ भनेर छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको बिरोध गर्नु संवैधानिक मागको बिरोध गर्नु रहेको बताउँदै संबिधानले दिएको अधिकारलाई कसैले रोक्न नसक्ने दाबी गरे। 

गोर्खाल्याण्ड्को मुद्दा नितान्त संवैधानिक मुद्दा रहेको कारण यसको बिरोध गर्नु भनेको संविधान कै बिरोध गर्नु रहेको तिनले स्पष्ट पारे। हाल तिनी पहाडका राजनैतिक दल गोजमुमोसित मिलेर गोर्खाहरुको संवैधानिक मागलाई दबाऊने षडयन्त्र रचिरहेको आरोप लगाउँदै यसको परिणाम भयानक हुन सक्ने तिनले चेतावनी दिए। अहिले मुख्य मन्त्री गोजमुमोसित मिलेर आगोमा खेलिरहेको बताउँदै जनता सडकमा ओर्लिएको दिन कसैले रोक्न नसक्ने तिनले बताए। यसैक्रममा तिनले सिलगढीमा पहाडका बिधायकहरु कै अघि गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भन्दा जन प्रतिनिधीहरु किन मौन बसे ? भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दै जनताले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति भनेर भोटमा बिजयी बनाई जिताएका नेताहरु मौन बस्नाले ममता ब्यानर्जीकै पक्षमा लागेर जनताको ईच्छा दबाउँने कार्य गरेको आरोप लगाएका छन। 

गोर्खाल्याण्डको मुद्दा राज्यसभामा उठाउँछु भनेर बिजयी बनेका नेताहरुले मुख्य मन्त्रीले गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुँदैन भन्दा किन तत्काल बिरोध गरेन भन्दै यस कुराले जनप्रतिनिधीहरुले जनताको भावनालाई कदर नगरेको स्पष्ट बनेको तिनले बताए। एकातिर छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति आफुहरु ईमान्दार रहेको बताउँछन् भने अर्कोतिर गोर्खाल्याण्डकै बिरोध आफ्नै अघि हुँदा नेताहरुले किन केहि भन्न सक्तैनन भनि तिनले प्रश्न गरे। तिनले उक्त कुराको घोर बिरोध गर्दै जनताको भावनामा खेल्ने नेताहरुकै कारण आज दिनोदिन गोर्खाहरु माथि थिचो मिचो भईरहेको बताएका छन्।

समाचार च्यानल बन्द प्रकरण:टास्क फोर्स अनि कृषक कल्याण संगठनद्वारा महकुमा अधिकारीलाई ज्ञापन

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुङ १३ फरवरी; कालेबुङका स्थानीय समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारणमा रोक लागेको बिषयमा आज गोर्खाल्याण्ड टास्क फोर्सले महकुमा अधिकारी एल.एन शेर्पालाई भेट गरि ज्ञापन पत्र सुम्पियो। भगोपका राष्ट्रिय कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष रेभरेण्ड डा एनोसदास प्रधानले नेतृत्व गरेको टोलिमा अभागोलि महासचिव प्रताप खाति, गोरानिमो अध्यक्ष दावा पाख्रिन, क्रामाकपा कालेबुङ आञ्चलिक समितिका अध्यक्ष किशोर प्रधान, भागोप जोन दुईका अध्यक्ष प्रभाकर देवान आदिको उपस्थिति रहेको थियो। टोलिको पक्षबाट रेभरेण्ड् डा एनोसदास प्रधानले ज्ञापन बुझाएर कालेबुङमा जनहितमा कार्य गर्दै आईरहेको ५ वटा समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण कसैलाई जानकारी नदिई मालिक पक्षले किन बन्द गरे भन्ने प्रश्न ऊठाए। टास्क फोर्सले समाचार च्यानलहरुको बन्द गरेर क्याबल मालिक पक्षले श्रमजीवि पत्रकारहरु माथि अत्याचार गरिरहेको अनि साधारण जनताहरुलाई सूचनाको अधिकारबाट बञ्चित पार्ने कार्य भईरहेको महकुमा अधिकारीलाई अवगत गराए पछि यस सम्बन्धमा क्याबल मालिक पक्षलाई बोलाएर यथाशिघ्र कुराकानी गर्ने आश्वासन नहकुमा अधिकारी दिएका छन्।
टास्क फोर्सले महकुमा अधिकारीलाई च्यानलको वैद्यताबारे प्रशासनले कुरा नगरि कसरी कुनै राजनैतिक दलका नेताहरुले कुरा गर्न सक्छन् भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दै कुनै पनि कुराको वैद्यता र अवैद्यता माथि कुराकानी गर्ने जिम्मा प्रशासनको रहेको तर्क राखे। यतिमात्र होइन यदि कलालेबुङमा सञ्चालन हुँदै आएको समाचार च्यानलहरु अवैद्य नै थियो भने सरकारी सूचनाहरु कुन आधारमा प्रसारण गरिन्दैछ भन्ने प्रश्न राखे। चुनावको समयमा मतगणना हुँदा च्यानल कर्मीहरुलाई चुनाव आयोगबाट परिचय प्रमाण पत्र प्राप्त हुँने कुराले पनि समाचार च्यानलहरु अवैद्य होईनन् भन्ने कुरालाई पुष्टि गरेको तर्क राख्दै यदि समाचार च्यानलहरुको प्रसारण चाँडो नगर्दा आक्रोशित जनताले कुनै कदम उठए त्यसको पूर्ण जिम्मेवार प्रशासन हुने टास्क फोर्सले जनाएको छ।
यता ज्ञापन पत्र बुझाए पछि पत्रकारहरुसित कुराकानी गर्दै रेभरेण्ड् डा एनोसदास प्रधानले समाचार च्यानलको प्रसारण बन्द हुनु नितान्त दुखपुर्ण घटना रहेको बताए। बिगत दिनमा जब भारतमा आपतकालिन अवस्था सृजना भएको थियो त्यस समय सरकारले मिडीयामाथि आफ्नो कब्जा जमाएको थियो भन्दै अहिले पहाडमा समाचार च्यानल बन्द गरेर आपत्कालको पुरानो दिनहरुलाई सम्झना गराएको बताए। मिडीयामाथिको हस्तक्षेप प्रजातन्त्रको हत्या रहेको बताउँदै मिडीया बाँचेको खण्डमा मात्र प्रजातन्त्र बाँच्ने तिनले बताए। बहुसंख्यक देशमा बहुसंख्यक बिचारहरु अटाउँन सक्नु पर्छ भन्दै मेरो गोरुको बाह्रै टक्का भन्ने कार्य कसैले गर्न नहुने प्रधानले थप पत्रकारहरुलाई बताए।
तिनले हाल कालेबुङका समाचार च्यानालहरु बन्द भएको कारण जनताहरु दिनोदिन आक्रोशित बनिरहेको बताउँदै यदि आक्रोसित जनताले कुनै कार्य गरे त्यसको सबै उत्तरदयी प्रशासन हुने स्पष्ट रुपले बताए। समाचार च्यानल बन्द हुनु भनेको श्रमजीवि पत्रकारहरु माथि शोषण गर्नु रहेको बताउँदै यस्तो कार्यको टास्क फोर्सले सहन नगर्ने तिनले चेतावनी दिएका छन्। समाचार प्रसारण बन्द भएको कारण साधारण जनताहरु सूचनाको अधिकारबाट बञ्चित रहेको आरोप लगाउँदै सूचनाको अधिकारबाट कसैलाई बञ्चित राख्नु अगणतान्त्रिक कार्य रहेको रेभरेण्ड् डा एनोसदास प्रधानले थप बताए।
अर्कोतिर कालेबुङ कृषक कल्याण संगठनले पनि कालेबुङका समाचार च्यानलहरु बिना कारण अनि कसैलाई सूचना समेत नदिई बन्द गरेको सन्दर्भमा महकुमा अधिकारी एल.एन शेर्पालाई ज्ञापन चडायो। कृषक कल्याण संगठनका महासचिव बिष्णु छेत्रीले कालेबुङमा बन्द भएको समाचार च्यानलहरु यथाशिघ्र खोल्नु पर्ने माग गर्दै यो अगणतान्त्रिक काम भईरहेको अनि यसमा प्रशासनको हस्तक्षेप अनिवार्य रहेको महकुमा अधिकारीलाई बताए। कृषकहरुले स्थानीय समाचार च्यानलहरुकै माध्यमबाट सहि प्रकारका सूचना पाउने गरिरहेको बताउँदै हाल सूचना पाउँनु पर्ने अधिकारबाट बञ्चित रहेको महकुमा अधिकारीलाई अवगत गराउँदै यसको पुन: सञ्चालन गर्नु पर्ने माग गरे। समाचार च्यानलहरुको माध्यबाट सूचना पाईरहेका कृषकहरुले अचानक सूचना पाउँन छोडेपछि दिनो दिन आक्रोशित बनिरहको बताउँदै यदि यसको पुन: सञ्चालनमा ढिलाई भए कुनै पनि शान्ति सृङ्खला भङ्ग हुन सक्ने अनि यसको सम्पूर्ण जिम्मेवार प्रशासन हुने छेत्रीले स्पष्ट बताए।

शान्तिप्रिय र गणतान्त्रिक आन्दोलन छ्त्र सुब्बाले गर्छ भने टास्क फोर्सले स्वागत गर्ने

डी के वाइबा, कालिमन्यूज, कालेबुङ १३ फरवरी; छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनका जङ्गी नेता छत्र सुब्बाले यदि भविष्यमा शान्ति प्रिय एंव गणतान्त्रिक तरिकाले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन गरे त्यसलाई टास्क फोर्सले स्वागत गर्ने भएको छ। आज पत्रकारहरु सितको भेट घाटमा भगोपका राष्ट्रिय कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष रेभरेण्ड् डा एनोसदास प्रधानले उक्त कुरा भनेका हुन्। तिनले भने छत्र सुब्बाले अहिले पुन: छुट्टै राज्य गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलन अघि बडाउँने कुरा अघि आई रहेको छ तर तिनको आन्दोलन कस्तो प्रकारको हुन्छ भन्ने हामीलाई थाह छैन तर, यदि तिनले गणतान्त्रिक एंव शान्ति प्रिय तरिकाले आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाउँछन् भने त्यसलाई टास्क फोर्सले स्वागत गर्ने छ भनि बताए।
छत्र सुब्बाले यदि शान्ति एंव गणतान्त्रिक तरिकाले गोर्खाल्याण्डको आन्दोलनलाई अघि बडाउँन टास्क फोर्समा नै आउन चाहेको खण्डमा पनि टास्क फोर्सले स्वागत गर्ने थप तिनले बताए।