CM announces the formation of Tamang development council

Saibal Sen,TNN | Jan 21, 2014: KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday proposed the formation of Tamang Development Council in North Bengal for development of the community. Addressing a programme of the Tamang community, Mamata said that efforts are being made to convince the Centre to offer tribal status to the hill communities. She also asked the communities of the region to stay united for its peace, growth and prosperity.

The chief minister said, "The Tamang community is also a large community. We have decided to set up a development and cultural board for the Tamangs so that the community can flourish. There are many other tribal communities here. We have received memorandums from the various indigenous communities for inclusion into the list of scheduled tribes. The matter is not within our jurisdiction, but we will request the central government to include the names of these communities into the scheduled tribe section."

The chief minister said, "We are setting up an engineering college at Amtagda, two degree colleges at Pedong and Gorubathan, two polytechnic colleges at Mirik and Kalimpong, and three ITIs at Mungpoo, Gorubathan and Kalimpong. Yesterday, we had inaugurated the mini secretariat in North Bengal, at Fulbari; we took the initiative for the first time since independence." She added, "Darjeeling is now congested; we will look for other tourist spots in the Hills and build the infrastructure for tourism industry in this region. Mirik is one such spot. If tourists come, business will flourish. We are working on projects for drinking water supply. We are working hard to develop road infrastructure. New colleges and schools will be coming up. We want Darjeeling to remain peaceful so that we can carry out the developmental work. We will work together."

The chief minister said, "We want every community to stay together and stay well. I want Darjeeling to move forward. After our government came to power, this is my 26th visit to North Bengal. Never think that nobody cares for you. I am always beside you like a guard. Tomorrow I will attend a prize distribution ceremony at Lebong Stadium. Tomorrow we will also be inaugurating the renovated Roy Villa, the house where Sister Nivedita breathed her last. On 23rd January the birth anniversary of the great son of the soil, Subhas Chandra Bose will be celebrated at Darjeeling Mall for the first time. This will be an official government programme. A number of artists from across the state will attend the ceremony along with the people of the Hills."