CM all praise for lepchas... Lepchas call Mamata ‘goddess of good fortune’

Manas Bannerjee, SNS, Kalimpong , 3 September: Seemingly happy after the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board in Kalimpong hounour her as the ‘Kingchoom Daarmit,’ chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said she wants to make a “new Darjeeling which will be of the people, for the people, and by the people.”

Miss Banerjee also did not forget to mention an indirect comparative study between the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and the Lepcha Development Board, and said: “Where there is a will there is a way, but sometimes we cannot fulfill our desires. But the LDB is an example of how the objectives can be met.”

Addressing the third foundation day of the LDB at Romaldshay Park at Dr Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong, Miss Banerjee said: “We should learn a lesson from the small organisations. Big organisations should learn something from the smaller ones.”

She further disclosed that she has been facing difficulties in meeting the demand for development boards from many others under the tribal development department.

“Many associations of tribal communities have been demanding separate boards like the LDB. Is this possible? A lot of workforce is required to form and run such small boards. Let me think of the idea and an alternative way to meet the demands,” she said. “I will be coming here every year to mark the day. My heart forces me to come here. I love the people of Darjeeling and specially the Lepchas. I have a dream for Darjeeling and I want to make it a new type of Darjeeling of the people, for the people and by the people.”

The CM today granted Rs 5 crore to the Tamang Development Board too, after her felicitation programme.

“The LDB has utilized Rs 10 crore for housing schemes and the state has allotted Rs 10 crore more for implementing the project,” the CM said. Miss Banerjee asked LDB officials to look for a plot of land for a separate school for the Lepchas and allotted Rs 2.3 crore for setting up an office for the LDB. The CM also gave a go-ahead for recruitment of para-teachers for 46 schools run by the LDB. She suggested them to create tourist spots based on waterfalls and save properties of the tourism and forest departments across Kalimpong.

“The state has planned to make Sandakphu a destination for foreign tourists too,” she said, adding that a medical college will be set up in Kalimpong under the PPP model. She further said that she will extend full support in building a Cultural Heritage Centre for Lepchas in Kalimpong .

“The state has allotted Rs 3300 crore for four hydro power projects and has held talks with the NHPC,” she claimed.

The CM today inaugurated several projects, launched dozens of state-run buses and handed over government assistance to people, including offer letters for no-refusal taxis.

Lepchas call Mamata ‘goddess of good fortune’

Chairman of the Lepcha Development Board (LDB) Lyansong Tamsang Lepcha today praised chief minister Mamata Banerjee and addressed her as the Kingchoom Daarmit (goddess of good fortune) at a programme to mark the 3rd foundation day of the LDB.
“Mamata Banerjee is the only one chief minister in West Bengal, who listened to us by heart and has come to the heartland of the Lepchas several times within a year despite her busy schedule,” Mr Lepcha told the programme.
“No other chief minister has come forward like her in 64 years since 1947,” he said. Mr Lepcha said the LDB has published magazines and text books for Lepcha students for primary education.He thanked the chief minister for awarding eight Lepcha folk artistes with the Banga Vibhushan and for sanctioning a pension of 21 of them. “Her role for women empowerment is highly appreciable,” he added.
“Madam, may God bless you, because the dreams of the Lepchas have come true,” he added.He recalled a previous statement made by the chief minister regarding the Lepchas and said: “The CM had said that the LDB ‘dil se kam kiya hai. Bahut bariya namuna dikhaya hai,” (The LDB has worked with all its heart and has done a wonderful job). The LDB president’s speech left the CM speechless and delighted and failed to control her emotions. It seemed she got a relief from all the stress she had been going through, especially due to the ongoing CBI probe into the Saradha scam.
"In a very colourful programme organised by the Lepcha Board, thousands and thousands of my Lepcha, Tamang, Bhutia, Limboo, Mangar, Sherpa, Newar, Mukhia, Bhujel and my hill brothers and sisters took part. I express my sincere gratitude for conferring on me the Hon’ble title of `Kinchoom Darmit`," Miss Banerjee later said in her Facebook post.