CM turns attention to better wage for tea workers and land rights

Amitava Banerjee | MP | Darjeeling: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Secretariat located at Lal Kothi on Thursday and held an administrative meeting with the Board of Administrators and officials of the GTA.

"On Thursday morning, the Chief Minister visited Lal Kothi. She then held an administrative meeting in my chamber," stated Binoy Tamang, chairman, Board of Administrators, GTA.

"Issues including granting of land documents to workers of tea gardens and cinchona plantations, minimum wage for tea garden workers, appointment of voluntary teachers, linguistic minority status for Nepalis, Darjeeling Hill University, residential sports complex, transfer of DI fund land to the GTA and other issues pertaining to the GTA were discussed in detail. Her response was very positive," he added.

The Chief Minister went around the chambers and offices inside the GTA also. "She feels that the Secretariat can be made more functional and has also suggested certain changes and asked us to beautify the premises, light up the pathways inside the premise. The work for the repair of the access road and beautification of the premises will start from Friday," added Tamang.

The Chief Minister left for Siliguri at around 2:45 pm on Thursday. After spending the night at Uttarkanya, the Mini Secretariat in Jalpaiguri, she is scheduled to return to Kolkata on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) hailed the Chief Minister's assurances of taking the issue of the political identity of the Gorkhas forward and ensuring their safety and security.

"Time has come to evaluate promises made by Mamata Banerjee and the false assurances by the BJP. The people of Terai, Dooars and Hills must openly support the third party alliance in the Centre and remove the party which has given nothing to the Gorkhas other than making fake promises," stated Anit Thapa, general secretary, GJM.

He further added that violence can never be a part of democracy and that the GJM under the present leadership denounces it in any form.

"The people who sacrificed their lives for the long pending demand of the Gorkhas were misguided by visionless leaders who knew nothing other than inciting violence for their own selfish motives to remain in power by blackmailing the government," stated a GJM release.

The GJM statement opined that it's time for a new government at the Centre that will take the issues of the Gorkhas seriously.

"Time has come to give a befitting reply to the BJP for their false promises in the last 10 years," retorted Thapa.