TAMANG BOARD ON JULY 17

AMITAVA BANERJEE, HT, DARJEELING, 15 JULY 2014: DARJEELING : The Tamang Development and Cultural Board is all set to see the light of day. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to announce the formation of the board on July 17 from Darjeeling Chowrasta.

Talking to HT, Sanjay Moktan, general secretary, Tamang Youth Association, said, “The district administration informed us about the chief minister’s programme at the Darjeeling Chowrasta from where the board will be announced. Prior to this, the principal secretary of the backward class welfare department had informed us of the ongoing process for formation of the board.”

The 31-member board will undertake promotion, protection and development of the Tamang language and culture, promotion of the Tamang tribe in the fields of tourism, handicrafts, handloom and folklore, promotion of traditional games among youth, debates and cultural programmes for exposure, social welfare activities, preserve, protect and propagate folk art, music, dance and other cultural activities and distinctive features of the tribe, promote public relation, literature and magazines, promote artists and artisans along with developing new infrastructure.

On March 1, the state cabinet had given a nod to the formation of the Tamang Development and Cultural Board. Earlier, chief minister Mamata Banerjee, during her visit to the Hills on January 23, had announced that she would initiate the process of the formation of the board.

“There are around 5 lakh Tamangs residing in the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district. Development of our community has been a long-standing demand. However the earlier state governments had turned a deaf ear to our demands. 

Finally the TMC-led government has done justice to our demand. Through this board, we will be able to ensure economic development, including better infrastructure in far-flung Tamang villages. Projects undertaken by Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) hardly trickle down to the grassroots,” Moktan said.

The CM will be in Darjeeling from July 16 and will depart for Kolkata on July 19. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has preferred to remain tightlipped on her this visit and the formation of the Tamang Council.