Corruption in Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board: BGPM MLA flags fiscal graft

We were divided because we were not sincere, not honest.... We have now decided that from tomorrow (Wednesday) we will file fresh FIRs against those who have indulged in corruption, said Ruden Sada Lepcha

Kalimpong MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha : File image

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 13.12.23 : Kalimpong MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha on Tuesday said members of the community would start filing FIRs against "corruption", implying alleged wrongdoings in the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board.

“We were divided because we were not sincere, not honest.... We have now decided that from tomorrow (Wednesday) we will file fresh FIRs against those who have indulged in corruption. We want the culprits to be punished and the punishment will go a long way in bringing unity among the Lepcha community,” Ruden told the media in Kalimpong, hinting at the alleged corruption in the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board.

“The banks are also to be held responsible as funds have moved away from beneficiary account to other accounts without the consent of the beneficiaries,” said Ruden, an MLA of the Anit Thapa-led Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha.

An observer said though Ruden did not spell out the Lepcha development board, his meaning was amply clear.

The state government started forming development boards for various communities in the hills, which many believe was an attempt to counter Bimal Gurung, the hill leader, when relations between him and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee soured in 2013.

The first development board was formed for the Lepcha community on February 6, 2012 and since then 15 other boards were formed.

It is estimated that around Rs 300 crore was pumped into these boards.

The development boards have undertaken projects like building houses, homestays, community centers, pony roads, etc. However, the major project of the boards has been to construct beneficiary houses at a cost of Rs 2 lakh for each.

“Charges of financial impropriety against some boards were levelled when they took up housing construction projects,” said an observer.

Ruden’s move comes soon after L. Tamsang, who was the chairman of the Lepcha board, died last month.

Following Tamsang’s death, Ruden was appointed the president of the Mayel Lyang Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association.

Ruden stated that this express objective was now to unite the Lepchas. The Kalimpong MLA hinted that the state government was supporting his latest move.

The state government had come down heavily on the heads of the development board last year over financial impropriety, sources said. During a meeting with chairpersons of the various boards, a senior Bengal official had placed before them all the complaints received against them, a source said.

“Officials had at the meeting even pointed out that the government had received complaints about a board member buying a shop at a shopping complex in Siliguri and building luxurious houses,” said the source.

While 14 boards are under the backward class welfare department, the Khas board falls under the north Bengal development department and the minority board falls under the minority affairs department.

Of late, the state government has not sanctioned much funding to these boards.

Courtesy & source: The Telegraph