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Lots of reasons behind Darjeeling CMO plan

Lots of reasons behind Darjeeling CMO plan

SNS, Siliguri/Kurseong, 4 September 2014: The proposed chief minister’s ‘mini’ office (CMO) in Darjeeling is set to be a multi-purpose one that will cater to the needs of all the three Hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpoing.
According to sources, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has political intentions in her CMO plan and she wants to tighten the noose on the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), while also keeping in touch with the Hill people.
Primarily, it was decided that the CM would appoint an officer and his assistant to receive applications for assistance on medical and educational grounds and other purposes, including employment and public grievances.
The mini CMO will start functioning at the office of the district information and cultural officer. On the basis of the people’s appeals, the CM will provide financial help from her relief funds.
Notably, the CM came to know that the CMO at Uttarkanya had received very few applications from the Hills due to alleged non-cooperation of MLAs and MP in the Hills.
A few Hill people had submitted their applications for medical assistance and stipend for higher studies. But many people from the plains received medical assistance and several students, especially from Malda, have received stipend for higher studies from CM through Uttarkanya.
A few people, who managed recommendation from north Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, submitted their applications to the CM through Uttarkanya.
Recommendation from an MLA or an MP is a must for medical assistance, apart from other conditions.
It may be noted that the district magistrate in each district is also entitled to receive such applications from the people and they send the pleas to the CM through Uttarkanya.
However, the CMO at the Darjeeling district headquarters will be exceptional and there would be a separate branch of Uttarkanya there, where officials will receive applications from the people directly and forward them through the proper channel.
In order to avoid language problems, a Nepali speaking senior WBCS officer will be posted there, sources said.The chief minister also came to know that the Hill people, who were interested to seek help from the CM directly, were not in a position to come down to Uttarkanya.According to sources, another objective of the CMO in the Hills is to “check” the GJMM and the GTA officer bearers and to keep in touch with the common people.
After setting up the Hill CMO, the CM wants to keep a close watch on the government officials, who have been maintaining a liasion with the GJMM leaders.
Yesterday in Kalimpong, Miss Banerjee said she wants to make a new Darjeeling which will be ‘of the people, for the people and by the people’. 
GNLF no to mini CMO:The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has objected to chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s plan to open a mini Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in Darjeeling.
GNLF leaders said that such plans are being made because of the presence of the “unconstitutional” autonomous body in Darjeeling Hills, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), and due to “lack of seriousness of the GJMM leadership on the aspirations of the Gorkha community.”
Talking to reporters here, the GNLF Kurseong branch committee spokesperson, Daya Dewan, said the state government has been extending its grip on and interference in Darjeeling due to the GTA and lack of seriousness on part of the GJMM leaders.
“The influence of the state government had been limited to the Darjeeling More area in Siliguri during the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) tenure, but these days, the government has crossed its limits it has now spread its wings and political grip across the Hills,” Mr Dewan said, adding, “Not only the living rooms, they (state government) are now inside kitchens (in the Hills) as well.”GJMM leaders could not be contacted for comment.

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