Assam move to protect land rights of Gorkhas

The government's decision will make it easier for the community to buy, sell and transfer land in the four districts

[Ranoj Pegu.File photo]

Writes :Umanand Jaiswl

The Assam government on Thursday declared Gorkhas living in the tribal belts and blocks in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) a protected class.

The move will, among other benefits, make it easier for the Gorkha community to buy, sell and transfer land in the four districts — Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri — that make up the BTR.

Education and welfare of plain tribes and backward classes (non-BTC) minister Ranoj Pegu announced the decision, adding that over 1.65 lakh Gorkha community members will benefit from the move.

“Under the provisions of chapter X of Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, the cabinet has approved to include Gorkhas as a protected class in the tribal belts and blocks in the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri who are residing there before 2003, that is, when the districts came under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” Pegu said.

The Bodoland Territorial Council was established as an autonomous council on February 10, 2003, under the Sixth Schedule, which provides for the administration of tribal areas and safeguarding the rights of tribals.

Pegu also said: “Similarly, the cabinet has decided to notify the indigenous Tai Ahom, Moran, Muttock, Chutia and Gorkha people residing in the Sadiya tribal belt (Upper Assam) as a protected class. The government has also decided to create more tribal belts and blocks.”

There are 17 tribal belts and 30 blocks spread across Tinsukia, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Morigaon, Lakhimpur, Kamrup, Kamrup (metro), Goalpara, Dhemaji, Darrang, Bongaigaon and the four BTR districts in Assam.

The move was welcomed by the Gorkha community, the fulfilment of a long-pending demand.

There are around 25 lakh Gorkhas in Assam, of whom about 3.5 lakh reside in the BTR, most of whom migrated to Assam during the British rule.

Nanda Kirati Dewan, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang, state unit said the 2003 cut-off year would ensure no “newcomers” could avail the benefit extended to the permanent residents of Assam by claiming to belong to the Gorkha community.

“It is a historic development. We have always demanded that we be treated as an indigenous community. It is a step in that direction. The setting up of the Gorkha Development Council in 2003 was the first baby step towards recognising Nepali/Gorkha language speakers as indigenous Gorkhas in Assam. We also request the Assam government to extend the same rule in the new belts and blocks to be created in the state,”Dewan said.

Some other cabinet decisions announced by Pegu and cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika in separate media interactions included:

n The cabinet has approved the placing of The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, before the Assembly and repealing the existing The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950.

n Renaming the post of gaonburha (village headman) as gaon pradhan and restricting the upper age limit of gaonburahs to 65 years. The minimum age required to become a gaonburah is 30.

n Unemployed youth can register themselves online through the employment portal instead of going to the employment exchange. The applicants who have already registered and their cards are still valid, will be given an option of entering their previous registration number to retain the date of their initial registration.

n The government will bear the complete cost of litigation faced by its personnel while protecting the state’s borders since most of the cases filed by the people of neighbouring states are “frivolous and instituted in a vindictive manner with a view to demoralising the government servant from taking a bold stand on border protection”.

News Source Via : The Telegraph

Over 500 people from Rajbanshi community protest statehood call

Under the banner of 'Punyabhumi Khalisamari Janapad Basi' (residents of the pious land of Khalisamari), the daylong demonstration was held at a local school ground

Over 500 people from the Rajbanshi community, including academics, intellectuals and Trinamul supporters, met at Khalisamari in Mathabhanga subdivision of Cooch Behar on Sunday to protest the separate statehood demand recently raised by a few BJP leaders like John Barla.

Khalisamari, a hamlet 55km off Cooch Behar town, is the birthplace of Panchanan Barma, the most revered statesman of the Rajbanshis.

Under the banner of “Punyabhumi Khalisamari Janapad Basi” (residents of the holy Khalisamari land)”, the protest was held at a school ground. “In 1905, Panchanan Barma fought the partition of Bengal decided by the British. We are his followers and we protest against any further division of the state,” Girindranath Barman, who lost as a Trinamul nominee this time, said. 

“Some BJP leaders are trying to foment tension in the region by raising the demand. We will fight together against it,” said Girindranath, the Trinamul candidate of Mathabhanga Assembly seat, who lost to BJP’s Sushil Barman.For the past few weeks, the demand for separate state or Union territory of north Bengal is being raised by BJP’s Alipurduar MP John Barla and others.

Though the state BJP leadership asserted that it is not the party’s stand, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, during his recent visit to the region, remarked that elected representatives had voiced “peoples’ aspirations.”

To counter this narrative, Trinamul has taken the strategy to engage prominent figures of the Rajbanshi community against the demand. Sunday’s event was the first of its kind. “The protest at Khalisamari appear to be a strategy to stoke the sentiments of the Rajbanshis, who revere Panchanan Barma. There were a number of Trinamul leaders at the event. It is evident that Trinamul is trying to drive home the point that the saffron camp wants to divide the state, which can help erode the support base of the BJP,” said a political observer.

Protesters said that in Khalisamari, the Mamata Banerjee government was developing a second campus of the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University and a museum of his memorabilia.

“The BJP is trying to halt such development work. Our movement against the demand to divide the state will continue,” said Girindranath.

[Rajbanshi community members protest at Khalisamari, Cooch Behar, on Sunday. pic

Main Uddin Chisti]

Via : The Telegraph

North Bengal University issues notice announcing enrolment fee waiver for poverty-stricken

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The North Bengal University on Monday issued a notice announcing waiver on the enrolment fees of various semester exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students who are either from BPL families or have been financially affected because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the applicant will have to submit proper documents to validate their claim.

Sources said that for the past few days NBU Students’ Unity had been raising demand for such a waiver. They also submitted three memorandums to the varsity authorities.

“It is good that the NBU authorities have come up with a notice. But we believe the process of getting the waiver should be simplified,” said Anindita Pandit, a student of Kalipada Ghosh Tarai Mahavidyalaya in Bagdogra.

Pranab Ghosh, the registrar of the NBU, said: “The decision has been taken in view of the pandemic situation. We want the students to get the benefit before appearing in forthcoming semesters exams. Students who are financially affected due to the pandemic or are from poor families can get the waiver. They will, however, have to provide us a certificate issued by the district magistrate, the sub-divisional officer or the block development officer in support of their application.”

According to varsity sources, around one lakh students study in undergraduate courses in 49 colleges affiliated to the varsity while there are around 4,000 students who are pursuing post-graduation in different subjects at the NBU.

For UG courses, students studying in courses which involve use of laboratories need to pay Rs 700 as enrolment fees while for other courses, the fee is Rs 500. For PG courses, the fees is Rs and Rs 450, respectively.

By : Binita Paul For The Telegraph

Assembly polls 2021: Violence erupts in 5 north Bengal districts

Two persons died and some others, mostly BJP supporters, suffered injuries and loss of property in Cooch Behar

The home of a BJP supporter in flames, at Jharbari in Chopra of North Dinajpur, on Sunday night

Telegraph picture

• Two persons died in Cooch Behar on Monday as violence erupted in at least five districts of north Bengal, with Trinamul and BJP supporters clashing in a number of places, after results of Assembly polls were declared on Sunday.
  

Some others, mostly BJP supporters, suffered injuries and loss of property in Cooch Behar and elsewhere.

Haradhan Roy, 30, a BJP worker in Jamadarbos village under Sitai Assembly seat of Cooch Behar, was suspected to have been lynched on Monday afternoon.

Bharatibala, his mother, accused Trinamul supporters.

“He went out in the morning. I spoke to him a couple times later but in the afternoon I was told he was lying dead nearby. Trinamul supporters have beaten him to death,” she said.

A Dinhata police team has started a probe.

Earlier in the day, Manik Maitra, 20, of Naotabas village under the Sitalkuchi seat, was hit by a bullet when he came in between raging groups of Trinamul and the BJP. Rushed to Dinhata subdivisional hospital, doctors pronounced him dead. 

In Chopra block of North Dinajpur, suspected Trinamul supporters attacked the houses of BJP supporters and indiscriminately ransacked shops in Sonapur, Daspara, Majhiali and Chopra on Sunday evening. In their frenzy, they did not even spare shops of Trinamul supporters, residents alleged.

“We are Trinamul supporters for years but goons ransacked our shops too. We want to know from Hamidul Rehman (the local MLA who has won this time too) why such incidents are happening,” said Mina Saha, a shop owner.

Violence spread in some other areas of Chopra block. A BJP office was ransacked and the house of a BJP supporter was torched in Jharbari area. Police brought the situation under control.

“Since Sunday evening, Trinamul supporters are roaming around in groups and organising attacks on our people across North Dinajpur. We want the police to take steps,” said Basudeb Sarkar, the district BJP president.

Priti Ranjan Ghosh, the block Trinamul president of Chopra, denied the charges.

In South Dinajpur, Gopal Ghosh, a BJP leader in Dhalpara under Hilli police station, was attacked by goons on Sunday evening. He ended up with a skull fracture. The district BJP leadership blamed a couple of local Trinamul leaders.

In Gangarampur block, BJP offices and houses of BJP supporters were ransacked in three villages of the block. On Monday, a BJP delegation met district police chief Debarshi Dutta for his intervention.

Similar attacks and arson have been reported in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar where the BJP has won most seats.

On Sunday evening, violence broke out in Dasarathpally, in ward 44 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, one of the added wards under the Dabgram-Fulbari seat the BJP wrested from the region’s Trinamul stalwart Gautam Deb.

BJP workers alleged that Trinamul supporters raided the area, damaged a couple of vehicles and attacked the houses of BJP supporters and beat up BJP worker Chinmoy Sharma. District Trinamul leaders denied the party’s hand and asked the police to find out facts.

source : Telegraph 

दोहोरो नागरिकता प्रकरण - एक भिन्न सोंच

Writes: देव खम्बु राई।

आज बिहानै देखि सोसियल मिडिया, न्युज पोर्टलहरुमा छाएको खबर हो - वर्तमान जि. टि. ए चियरमेन श्री अनित थापाको दोहोरो नागरिकता प्रकरण। श्री अनित थापाको नेपाली नागरिकताको प्रतिलिपि सँगै नेपालबाट सञ्चालन हुने नेपाली न्युज पोर्टल काठमाण्डुखबरडटकम मा आएको यो खबर दार्जीलिङ पहाड़, तराई, डुवर्समा डढेलो सल्केको झैं सल्कियो। 

त्यो  काठमाण्डुखबरडटकम मा छापिएको खबरलाई स्रोत मानेर यता सबै फेसबुक पेजहरुले कपि पेस्ट गरे - श्री अनित थापाको विरोधीहरूले आ आफ्नो स्टाटस यहि विषयमा लेखे। विभिन्न स्थानहरुमा यस बारे पोष्टरिङ भयाे। धेरैले श्री अनित थापालाई ट्रोलका विषय बनाए। कसैले उनलाई "दाई" भनेर सम्बोधन गरे त कसैले उनलाई "जय नेपाल" भन्दै जिस्काए।

अहिलेसम्म सार्वजनिक नभएको श्री अनित थापाको नागरिकताको प्रतिलिपि आज अचानक सार्वजनिक कसरी भयाे? यो घटनाक्रमको पछि कसको हात छ? के यसमा जि.टि.ए क्षेत्रमा भएका विपक्षी पार्टीहरुको हात छ? कि यो विषय बिनय - अनित समुहको गहन सोंच र रणनीतिको एक हिस्सा भएर मैदानमा आएको हो? एक भिन्न सोंच मार्फत चिन्तन मनन गर्नु मैंले यहाँ आवश्यक ठानेको छु।

यो खबर नेपालबाट नै किन?

हाम्राे विस्थापित साथीहरु नेपालमा विस्थापित जीवन व्यतित गरिरहँदा श्री अनित थापाको दोहोरो नागरिकता विषयमा मैंले पनि सुनेको हो। विस्थापितकालमा धेरै साथीहरू नेपालमा आश्रय लिएर बसेका थिए - त्यसबेला यो कुरा सार्वजनिक भएको भए - यो कुरा ती विस्थापित साथीहरुले उजागर गरेका हुन् भनेर किटान गर्न सकिन्थ्यो तर यो विषय अहिले उजागर हुँदा शंका गर्ने ठाउँ प्रशस्त देखिएको छ।

अहिलेको राजनैतिक परिपेक्ष्यमा नेपालमा कसको शाखा सम्बन्धहरू धेरै छन्? भनेर खोज तलास गर्दा श्री अनित थापाको शाखा सम्बन्धहरू नै धेरै भएकाे पाउँछौं। कुनै गुप्त राजनैतिक रणनीतिको परिणाम स्वरुप यो कुरा आज श्री अनित थापाको परिजन बाट नै सार्वजनिक गरिएको त होइन? के हामी यस्तो सोंच्न सक्छौं?

शंका गर्ने ठाउँ!

आज उठेको दोहोरो नागरिकता प्रकरण बिनय - अनित पक्षले सोंच बिचार गरेर खेलेको चाल हो भनेर शंका गर्ने ठाउँ प्रशस्त देखिएको छ। हिजसम्म गोर्खाल्याण्ड म ल्याउन पनि सक्तिन - यो मेरो विषय पनि होइन भन्दै वक्तव्य राख्ने श्री अनित थापा आज यो दोहोरो नागरिकता प्रकरण प्रकाशमा आएपछि विज्ञप्ति दिँदै लेख्छन् - "भारतीय गोर्खा हितको मुद्दा जब जब दार्जीलिङ पहाड़ले आवाज उठाउँछ तब तब गोर्खाको आवाज बन्द गर्न ठुलो राजनैतिक षड्यन्त्रको खेल शुरु हुन्छ।" 

केवल विकासको मुद्दालाई आत्मसात गरेर बंगाल सरकारसँग साठ गाठ गरेका श्री अनित थापा आज अचानक भारतीय गोर्खा हितको कुरा गर्दै विज्ञप्ति मार्फत अघि आएका छन्। के यो दोहोरो नागरिकता आफै सार्वजनिक गरेर श्री अनित थापाले सहानुभूति प्राप्त गर्ने रणनीति बुनेका हुन्? प्रश्न टड्कारो छ।

दोहोरो नागरिकता र विगतको राजनीति!

विगतमा श्री पवन कुमार चाम्लिङ अनि श्री मणि कुमार सुब्बाको दोहोरो नागरिकता विषय पनि धेरै विवाद उत्पन्न भएको हो। जुन समय उनीहरूको दोहोरो नागरिकता विषय चर्चा चुलिएको थियो त्यो समय उक्त विवादबाट उनीहरूले राजनैतिक फाइदा पाए। सत्य यो हो कि हामी भारतीय नेपालीहरू सबैको कोही न कोही आफन्त नेपालमा बसोबास गर्दछन। हामी सबैको पैतृक थलो नेपाल नै हो भन्दा कुनै आपत्ति नहोला यसर्थ यसरी बेला बेला उठ्ने दोहोरो नागरिकता प्रकरणले हामीमा सुसुप्त अवस्थामा रहेको पैतृक थलो प्रतिको माया अगाडि ल्याइदिन्छ र जसको विषयमा विवाद उत्पन्न भएको छ त्यो व्यक्तिलाई सहानुभूति प्राप्त हुँदछ। आज श्री अनित थापाले त्यो सहानुभूति बटुल्ने राजनीति पाे गरेका हुन् कि?

आज श्री अनित थापाको जि.टि.ए चियरमेन चौकी आफै धरापमा छ। बङ्गालको मुख्यमंत्री उनीहरु देखि दिन दिनै पर पर भएकाे अवस्था छ - यदि यो विषयलाई लिएर बंगाल सरकारले उनलाई पदच्युत गरे सहानुभूति कसले पाउँछ? हामीले सोंच्नु पर्दैन र? २०२१ को चुनावमा यस विषयमा कतिको प्रोपागान्डा हुनसक्छ? घोरिनु उचित होइन र? अहिले आएर श्री अनित थापाको दोहोरो नागरिकता सार्वजनिक हुनु श्री बिमल गुरुङलाई फाइदा हुनु हो? अन्य राजनैतिक दललाई फाइदा हुनु हो? 

एक भिन्न सोंच मार्फत यति त चिन्तन मनन गर्न सक्छौं नि होइन र पाठकवृन्द?

11 Gorkha Riffles veterans rally was organised at Bengdubi, Siliguri on 20 Jan 2021

11 Gorkha Riffles veterans rally was organised at Bengdubi, Siliguri on 20 Jan 2021 at 11:00 am at the auditorium of 111 Sub Area (Bengdubi Cantonment). 

All the Ex servicemen officers, JCOs and other ranks of whole of North Bengal attended the rally. Various stands/ stalls were erected under the arrangement of Station HQ, Bengdubi to attend to the various problems of veterans. Lt. Gen. A.K. Singh, YSM, SM, VSM, GOC-IN-C 33 Corps graciously attended the rally as Chief guest along with other high officials of the cantonment. Secretary of 11 Gorkha Riffles Ex servicemen association during his address dwelt upon the difficulties of Ex servicemen and their families in the matter of pension, medical treatment and their resettlement. Difficulties in contacting them and movements due to Covid 19 also was brought in by the secretary on behalf of all veterans of this region. Necessary precautions for Covid epidemic was observed by all the veterans and service officers during the rally. 

The Chief guest also stressed upon precautions for the Covid epidemic and advised all veterans and their families to not to neglect and ignore the precautions against Covid epidemic. The Chief Guest stated that it is his bonafide duty to take care of the veterans and their families which he would perform with sincere heart and soul. He further promised to look after the welfare of all veterans and their families of this region. 

On the request of veterans who served with the Chief guest in the past for photographs few snaps were taken. President and Chairman of the 11 Gorkha Riffles Ex servicemen association delivered their welcome address and thanked the Chief Guest and units of the 111 Sub Area who helped and supported the veterans rally.

 

    

Private hospitals reject Swasthya Sathi card holders despite Mamata Banerjee’s warning

Despite Mamata Banerjee’s warning, private hospitals and nursing homes in West Bengal are refusing to admit patients with Swasthya Sathi cards.

At least two incidents have come to the fore on Thursday and Friday where patients with the card were denied treatment by the hospital authorities, leading to a death at Siliguri in North Bengal.

70-year-old Mohammad Gaffar, who was a resident of Matigara in Siliguri, died on Thursday after several hospitals in the city refused to admit him. His family members allege that the nursing homes asked for payment in cash, which they were unable to pay.

It has led to a tense situation in the region with minister and senior TMC leader calling an immediate meeting with the hospital authorities, reported Bengali portal The Wall.

A similar incident has been reported from Kolkata. A nursing home in Baghajotin has been accused of denying treatment to a Swasthya Sathi card holder.

The patient, named Sikha Rani Sen, went to the Red Plus Nursing Homes with abdominal pain. The doctors had ordered an immediate operation for her.

Son Kanu Sen wanted to use her mother’s Swasthya Sathi card to bear the treatment cost. However, the hospital rejected his plea forcing him make a cash payment, claimed Kanu.

Swasthya Sathi is a flagship scheme launched by the TMC government, providing health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per annum to a family for secondary and tertiary care.

The scheme was launched in 2016. But it has made headlines as a part of the state’s ‘Duare Sarkar’ initiative — a mass outreach programme for doorstep delivery of several welfare schemes’ benefits under the West Bengal government.

Earlier this week, Mamata Banerjee had warned private hospitals and nursing homes of license cancellation if they refuse to acknowledge her government’s Swasthya Sathi health card from patients.

“If anyone (private hospitals and nursing homes) refuses to provide healthcare facilities under the ‘Swasthya Sathi’ scheme, the government has the power to cancel its license. This health scheme is for the poor. No one should harass the poor,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said.

“There are many top-notch hospitals which have refused to accept the government’s ‘Swasthya Sathi’ health card on occasions. We want to tell them that they do not have an option. Even small nursing homes in the districts, too, have to accept the cards.

“We are also enlisting smaller nursing homes in the districts under this health scheme so that citizens can avail facilities close to their residence. We would also speak to them, and the state’s chief secretary will meet them so that no person is harassed,” she added.

SNS