GTA declares holiday on Birsa Munda birthday

SNS, Kurseong: The chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Board of Administrators, Binoy Tamang, has announced that all government institutions that fall under the GTA will observe 15 November as holiday from the following year. The holiday will be a mark of honour to freedom fighter and tribal leader Birsa Munda, whose birthday falls on that day. The Aadivasi Janmukti Morcha Foothills Committee organised an event to celebrate the 143rd birth anniversary of Birsa Munda at Simulbarie ground near Siliguri on 15 November.

Mr Tamang also appealed to the central and state governments to notify this day as a state holiday.

"I will always stand by the people of the tribal community and will always extend all kinds of help and support that they will require," Mr Tamang said. 'The BJP-led central government has a minister who belongs to the adivasi community, but he has not taken account of the condition of the place and the people who live in the Dooars and the foothill regions," he added.

According to him, people who live here are still suffering and they lack basic rights.

"They don't have enough opportunity and are still suppressed.To uplift the people they need to know about the basic rights that they have so that they can fight for themselves," Mr Tamang said.

Gulshan Baraik, the President of the Adivasi Bikash Sangathan , has requested the GTA to set up a separate department that will look after the working and welfare of the people of the Adivasi community.