GTYA confused with govt nod for Tamang board

EOI, Kurseong, 4 March 2014: The Gurung Tamu Youth Association today conducted a meeting to discuss several issues regarding the addition of the Gurung Tamu Community in the Scheduled Tribe category. Chief among the issues discussed was the confusion related to the letter sent by the state government on the formation of a Tamang Development Board.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, GTYA Press & Publicity secretary Santa Kishore Gurung (Tamu) thanked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for requesting the prime minister to include the Gurung Tamu community in the Scheduled Tribe list. He also congratulated the Tamang Youth Association for getting the approval for a Tamang Development Board.

However, he said the association is confused with a paragraph in the letter sent by the state government on March 1 to the TYA. The letter carries varying guidelines for the new board, but paragraph number 3 reads, “This Board will also carry out the above activities with respect to other communities as may be notified from time to time.”

Gurung said the association has failed to understand who the “other communities” are being referred to are and has requested the state government for a clarification.

He said, “if the ‘other communities referred in the said letter are the 11 Gorkha communities demanding tribal status, we would request for some rectifications.”

Gurung explained the inclusion of the 11 communities into the Tamang Development and Cultural Board is likely to create a rift amongst them and the GTYA does not support any move that could divide the Gorkha community.

He suggested that instead of including the 11 communities, the government should form a single 'Gorkha Tribal Development and Cultural Board' to represent all the concerned communities. Another option would be to provide each tribe with its respective board and not bring others under any particular tribe. Gurung also informed the association will soon hold a meeting with representatives of the 11 communities to discuss the issue.