IGJF wants land rights to indigenouspeople of Darjeeling, Terai, Dooars

EOI, DARJEELING, JANUARY 4, 2025 : The newly formed Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her government to grant land rights to the indigenous Gorkha, Adivasi, Rajbanshi, and other communities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, the Terai, and the Dooars regions as per the physical land they have in their possession.

"Not five decimal rights of ownership but to all the land in possession of the people; this is a matter that remains unresolved and continues to affect the rightful claims of the people of the hills and the Terai and the Dooars areas," Ajoy Edwards, chief convener of the IGJF, said on Saturday.

The IGJF was launched on December 22, 2024, after Edwards dissolved the Hamro Party a day before. Edwards was nominated as the convener of the new party until the formation of a full-fledged committee after 45 days.

In his letter to the West Bengal Chief Minister, Edwards has highlighted that the Gorkha, Adivasi, Rajbanshi, and other communities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong districts, and the Terai and the Dooars areas who have been living on the land for ages are demanding that they should get their rights to their land.

"Today, I have written to the Chief Minister demanding that the Gorkha, Adivasi, Rajbanshi, and other communities of the Terai and Dooars should be given their land ownership rights by the government without delay. The people of Darjeeling, Kalimpong districts, and the Terai Dooars area have been demanding their land rights for the past several years. The people here are demanding that their land rights be provided immediately, including the relevant documents," the IGJF convenor said.

Edwards reiterated that the communities had been submitting letters and memorandums to the government but had failed to get their land rights.

"People who have been living in tea plantations, cinchona plantations, DI land, and forest areas have been living in slums since the country became independent. They are the original inhabitants and tribals of these regions. There is a deep historical connection with the land and their culture," Edwards said.

The West Bengal government has been providing five decimals of land to landless families living in many areas of Bengal through the Neej Griha Neejo Bhoomi Project Scheme.

The State Government had earlier issued a notice to survey and grant five decimal land rights. But, facing opposition from various political parties of the hills, the government revoked its earlier notice and issued a fresh notice without mentioning five decimals.

"I want to say with confidence that the five decimal land lease issued by this scheme is not suitable and is unjustified. They have been living in poverty for much longer than India became independent. I have demanded that the landless and houseless families should not be looked down upon; they should be given all the rights to the land acquired by their forefathers," Edwards said.

The IGJF convener appealed to the West Bengal Chief Minister to bring amendments if the current law of the State did not have provisions.

"I request the West Bengal government to grant land rights to the tribal peoples of this region, keeping in view the historical and cultural issues of their region. If the current law of the State does not provide for the right to grant land, then amend the West Bengal Land Reform laws. I believe that the Chief Minister of the State will surely grant the land rights to the people of the hills, the Terai, and the Dooars regions," Edwards said in his letter.

The IGJF has started planting party flags across the hills to make its presence felt to the people, with the intent to take on the ruling Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, the ruling dispensation.