Gorkhaland agitation: Cry for statehood fades in distress

ET Bureau Aug 13, 2013: KOLKATA: It is a financial and economic blockade that Bimal Gurung and his teammates in the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) have brought about in the Darjeeling hills through their statehood agitation a reality that might prove to be the undoing of the party in the days to come. 

The Darjeeling bandh entered its 10th day on Monday. And, with every passing day, the locals are getting more and more worried over how they would be able to eke out a living if the bandh continued any longer. Business establishments have been forced to down shutters and worse, banks and ATMs ” which virtually make the lifeline for any common family ” are also lying mostly closed, leading to money getting choked.  
Naturally, many homemakers and bread-earners are in acute distress in this tiny Himalayan town, which basically thrives on tourism business that is now just not there. 

"I hardly have any cash at home. If some kind of an emergency happens in my family, I do not know how to manage the situation. We are in deep problem," said Yogendra Prasad Gupta , who runs Gupta Vegetable Store in Darjeeling's busy Chowk Bazar area. 

"Foodgrains are fast depleting and if the bandh continues for three more days, it will be difficult for me to feed my family of eight members. We are hoping that the GJM leadership will sort the issue out shortly with the Centre and the state so that normalcy returns," he added. 

"I can't afford to send my people to open the bank branches, risking their lives," said United Bank of India chairperson Archana Bhargava. UBI has three branches and one ATM in the hills and all remained shut over the last 10 days. 
There are no alternatives available to bank executives as contingency plans do not work in such situations. State Bank of India, which runs some 30 ATMs in the entire Darjeeling district, face a similar situation in the hills, which is the cradle of the statehood demand. 

However, withdrawals took place in some of the ATMs in the plains in the last eight hours, showing signs of extreme conditions. The owner of a well-known eating joint on Darjeeling's Mall Road, who didn't want to be named, said that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to supply vegetables and foodgrains to his 100-odd staff members on a daily basis. 
"I had created an inventory for 10 days. We were hoping that the bandh call will be withdrawn within a week. But that didn't happen. I cannot arrange funds now as banks and ATMs are closed now. I need cash desperately to refill the stock. I have to buy sugar, oil, fresh vegetables, rice and wheat for my staff members. But I am stuck and I do not know when this impasse will be over. I hope the state administration will take steps to normalise the situation in hills," he said. 

Giving hopes of some respite, the GJM has declared that it would lift the indefinite bandh for three days from August 15, instead of one day. (Source & courtesy: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08-13/news/41375039_1_darjeeling-bandh-indefinite-bandh-darjeeling-hills)