GTA eye on Gorkha certificates

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 6: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Sabha today passed a resolution to write to the Centre and the state to empower the chief executive of the GTA to issue Gorkha certificates not only to the residents of the

Darjeeling hills but also to Gorkhas residing in the rest of the country.

Gorkha certificate is an important document, especially for those wanting to join the police, paramilitary and the armed forces, as Gorkhas are granted relaxations in terms of physical measurements. At present these certificates are issued by the subdivisional officers of respective areas.

Pradeep Pradhan, the chairman of GTA Sabha, said today: “The GTA Sabha in its meeting has passed a resolution to write to both the state and Centre to empower the chief executive of the GTA to issue Gorkha certificates. The GTA is a body that represents Gorkhas across the country and such a provision should be given to the chief executive of the GTA.

Even for those not residing in the hills, the GTA should be given the power to issue the certificate.”

The GTA Sabha today held the meeting after inaugurating a new GTA Sabhagriha (house). During the meeting, the GTA Sabha also passed a resolution to “suspend” Sanjay Thulung, an elected GTA Sabha member whose name has figured in an Assam arms haul case. It was also decided that the GTA would form a GTA chief executive relief fund with a corpus of Rs 1 crore. The hill body also passed a resolution to come up with GTA Rules and Regulations. 

Pradhan said the hill body would write to the various hydropower companies operating in the hills to provide a share of the revenue to the GTA.