Dilip Ghose in Kurseong: GTA Dysfunction, Rural Governance Gaps and Housing Policy Challenges Shape Development Debate in North Bengal

KalimNews, June 13, 2026, Kurseong : West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh has stated that the alleged inability of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to function effectively, combined with weaknesses in the panchayat system, has resulted in residents of the Darjeeling hills being deprived of several welfare schemes of the Central Government.

The Minister made these remarks during his visit to Kurseong on Saturday, where he arrived with his wife at the invitation of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to attend the DHR Universal Motion Arts Film Festival.

He argued that the governance structure in the hill region lacks both proper systems and essential infrastructure, which has significantly affected the delivery and reach of welfare services.

According to him, “The panchayat system does not have the required structure or infrastructure, and the GTA is also not functioning properly. As a result, people are unable to access welfare schemes provided by the Central Government.”

This visit marked his first tour of the Darjeeling hills following recent political changes in West Bengal and his assumption of charge of the Panchayat and Rural Development portfolio. He acknowledged that several other pressing issues in the region also require immediate attention.

“We are working to resolve these problems at the earliest. I will visit the hills again whenever required,” he said.

The Minister also made strong remarks on corruption, asserting that strict action would be taken against individuals involved in financial irregularities and misuse of public resources. He alleged that governance systems had previously been exploited for personal gain.

“People have misused the system for personal benefit. Illegal money has been collected, scams have taken place, and the public has been looted. Investigating agencies will not spare anyone, and those found guilty will face consequences,” he stated.

Earlier in the day, representatives of the West Bengal Karmachari Kalyan Sangh, Darjeeling District Committee, submitted a memorandum to the Minister. Their demands included, among others, the permanent recognition of Skilled Technical Person (STP) and Technical Assistant (TA) posts through their upgradation into Nirman Sahayak positions.

On Friday, Ghosh had chaired a review meeting in Siliguri with officials from five North Bengal districts. During the meeting, he observed that the absence and disappearance of elected rural representatives was severely affecting governance and disrupting the effective delivery of public services in panchayat areas.

Before returning to Siliguri, the Minister travelled on the iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway toy train along with his wife. Reflecting on his visit, he noted that the atmosphere in the hills appeared noticeably different compared to his earlier visits.

“I have come to the hills after a long time. The atmosphere now feels different and changed,” he remarked.

His remarks also carry historical significance, as during a visit to Darjeeling in October 2017 following the failed statehood agitation, he was reportedly heckled and chased by a mob allegedly supporting the Binoy Tamang faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, forcing him to take shelter at the Darjeeling Sadar Police Station.

The BJP-led West Bengal government is also exploring ways to extend benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to tea garden workers in North Bengal, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh said during a separate engagement on Friday.

Speaking after a review meeting with administrative officials on panchayat affairs in Siliguri, he explained that the key eligibility condition under PMAY is land ownership. However, most tea garden workers reside on tea estate land without individual land titles, making them ineligible under the current framework.

“The issue of land rights is central to extending housing benefits to tea garden workers. We have seen that Assam and Tripura have adopted modified approaches to address similar challenges. After studying those models, we will decide how best to implement the scheme in the tea gardens of North Bengal,” he said.

The issue of land rights for tea garden workers remains a long-standing and sensitive concern across the hills, Terai, and Dooars regions. Workers from Adivasi, Nepali, and other communities have consistently demanded legal ownership of the land on which they have lived for generations.

Although the previous state government introduced the “Chaa Sundari” housing scheme for tea garden workers, offering constructed houses in several estates, many workers were reluctant to relocate, insisting instead on ownership rights over the land they already occupy.

Earlier efforts to distribute land pattas also saw limited acceptance, as workers demanded full ownership of their homestead plots rather than partial allocations. In several areas of the Darjeeling hills, survey attempts for patta distribution triggered protests among tea garden workers, leading to temporary suspension of the process after intervention by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

With the issue still unresolved, attention is now focused on how the government plans to balance land rights concerns with the implementation of flagship rural housing schemes.

Highlighting the importance of innovation-driven rural development, Minister Dilip Ghosh emphasized that North Bengal’s rich natural resources—including tea, tourism, and agriculture—must be effectively leveraged to generate sustainable livelihoods.

He made these remarks at the Kanchenjunga Agripreneurs’ Meet 2026, held at the North Bengal Science Centre in Siliguri, themed “Agri-Innovation for Rural Development of North Bengal.”

The event, organised by the Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT) in collaboration with the innovation hub of the North Bengal Science Centre, brought together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and development practitioners from India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

Ghosh highlighted that North Bengal holds immense potential for growth through the integration of agriculture, tourism, and entrepreneurship. He stressed that innovation-led initiatives are essential for job creation and improving income levels in rural communities, calling for stronger participation from local stakeholders and institutions.

He reiterated that sustainable rural transformation depends on combining modern agricultural practices with entrepreneurial development and community participation, ensuring long-term economic stability for the region.