Ahluwalia push to panel on ST demand

RAJEEV RAVIDAS,TT, Kalimpong, Oct. 14: Darjeeling MP S.S. Ahluwalia has written to the Union tribal affairs department suggesting a correspondence with states that have "a significant Gorkha population" so that the committee set up to look into the demand of granting Scheduled Tribe status to 11 Gorkha communities can consider it before the winter session of Parliament.

The letter addressed to Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram and dated October 13 was released by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in Darjeeling today.

"I am of the opinion that Committee ... may be directed to correspond with to all respective State Governments, where a significant Gorkha population resides, to submit their suggestion/recommendations ... by 31.10.2016 so that the same may be considered/finalised in the meeting of the Committee before start of forthcoming Winter Session of the Parliament, 2016," reads the letter signed by Ahluwalia, the Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare and parliamentary affairs.

Granting ST status to Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakha (Dewan) and Dhimal communities has been a long-standing demand of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and all other hill political parties.

While 10 communities reside in the hills, the Dhimals are mostly found in the plains.

In April this year, a committee had been formed to look into the demand but it has not met even once till date.

Earlier, the panel was headed by Ashok Pai. Vishu Maini took over last month.

"That the Pai committee did not hold a single meeting was more than an embarrassment for us. This time, we will closely monitor every step of the committee's move to ensure that it gets the job done at the earliest. Ahluwalia's letter is a nudge to the tribal affairs department to get the work started," said a Morcha source. "Our president (Bimal Gurung) firmly believes that granting tribal status to the 11 communities must be pursued vigorously till it is achieved."