Rival bodies demand SC board

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Dec. 22: Two rival organisations of the Schedule Caste community in the hills have demanded a development board for the members from the state government.

The Darjeeling Indigenous Schedule Caste Welfare Association, which was registered as a society in 2014, today said it had got a positive response from the state government on the formation of a board for the SC community.

Bibek Sewa, president of the association, said: "On November 27, we visited the office of the backward classes welfare department in Calcutta. We also met minister Aroop Biswas, who is also the Trinamul observer for the hills. During our visit, we came to know that our demand is under consideration."

Sewa said the organisation had held a rally in Kureong on December 19 with the demand and Siliguri MLA Rudranath Bhattacharya and Trinamul (Hills) president, Rajen Mukhia, had attended it.

"We grew up under the aegis of the All India Nepali Schedule Caste Association. But its leaders now seem to have a political colour...," Sewa said.

The All India Nepali Schedule Caste Association has also demanded a development board.

It had also organised a rally here on November 8.

R. Thatal, the president of the association, said: "We have already told the state government that they (the indigenous welfare association) do not represent the Nepali Schedule Caste community in the hills."

Asked who would lead the board if the state government granted it, Sewa said: "We will leave it to the chief minister."