Binay vows tax-free quest ... Focus on hill investment & jobs in manifesto for bypoll

AVIJIT SINHA, TT,  06 May 2019, Siliguri: The Binay Tamang faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has promised to raise the demand to declare the hills a tax-free zone to encourage private industrial investment, playing the development card for the Darjeeling Assembly bypoll.

In a 10-page manifesto that the faction released on Sunday for the polls on May 19, the faction -- Tamang heads the GTA -- said it would redraw the administrative structure of the hills to provide better governance and facilities to people.

"To bring in commercial investments and encourage locals in setting up cottage industries, it is necessary that the entire hills is declared a tax-free zone. We will move this proposal in the Assembly and press for the demand before the central government," says the manifesto.

The assertion is significant as tea and tourism provide maximum employment in the Darjeeling hills. However, in neighbouring Sikkim, there have been several industrial investments, particular in the pharmaceutical and hydropower sectors during past one and a half decades. Such investments have led to fresh employment opportunities for hundreds of local youths.

The investments in Sikkim, where companies get waivers on different taxes and duties, have boosted the local economy.

"It is a longstanding demand of the residents of Darjeeling hills that their area should also be declared a taxfree zone. This would increase the competitiveness of Darjeeling and the surrounding areas as a destination for private investments. The Tamang lobby seems to have struck the right chord by referring to the issue in the manifesto as people want alternative options for employment in the hills," said a political observer.

In the hills, the Assembly bypoll is important for Tamang, who himself is contesting as a candidate. This is because after taking reins of the party and the GTA in his hands, he will be able to gauge his base.

At the same time, his rivals -- the Bimal Gurung faction of the Morcha, GNLF and the BJP -- will try to win the seat. "That is why the Tamang faction that has been consistently harping on the land rights issue, has played the development card and highlighted new options to boost hill employment," added the observer.

Some other promises Tamang and his party have made in the manifesto include: Increase the number of administrative blocks from eight to 12; New sub-divisions of Bijanbari in Darjeeling and Algara and Gorubathan in Kalimpong Civic bodies in Sukhiapokhri and Sonada Upgrade Darjeeling municipality into a municipal corporation; Introduce a two-tier panchayat system Solve drinking water problems by 2021 A selection board for GTA recruitments A regional school service commission Reservation for SCs in GTA Sabha; New fire stations "People have seen how some national parties have duped them for their own political interests. We, on the other hand, are from the hills and have been working for people in consonance with the state. In our manifesto, we have mentioned clearly what we intend to do for the hills. We hope people will think and vote," said Anit Thapa, general secretary of the Morcha's Tamang faction.