Darjeeling MLA raises Permanent Political Solution demand in Assembly

REZA PRADHAN

Darjeeling,: Darjeeling MLA Noman Rai on Wednesday raised thedemand of the Permanent Political Solution (PPS) for this area, in theWest Bengal Legislative Assembly alongside other regional concerns. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, in response, assured that the BJPgovernment would address all raised issues.

“I raised the issue of the PPS, the decades-old aspiration of thepeople of the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars today in theAssembly. I firmly believe that the future of this region will besecured only through a constitutional, respectful and sustainablesolution,” said Rai in a press release.

The Darjeeling MLA maintained that he also demanded the strengtheningof infrastructure of government schools in the hills along with asolution to the problems of 313 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA) teachers.

“The basis of our economy is the tea gardens and the workers workingthere. I strongly raised the need for the State government to takeprompt and effective steps on the issues of the workers of LongviewTea Gardens, especially the problems being faced by them, theoutstanding bonuses, daily wages and workers' welfare. I alsoexpressed confidence that the decisions taken in the discussions heldin Uttarkanya will be implemented in practice,” he said.

Rai urged the concerned bodies to be sensitive to the difficultiesbeing faced by many citizens during the Special Intensive Revision(SIR) of the electoral rolls, the problem of deletion of names and thechallenges seen in the verification process.

Stating that the current form of the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme(PMAY) is not adequate for the Himalayan region, he requested the State government to take the initiative with the central government toarrange special criteria and additional financial support as per thegeographical conditions of the hills.

“When the GTA was formed, the people expected development,transparency and effective good governance. Keeping in mind thereality that those expectations have not been fully met, I pointed outthe need for a people-oriented, accountable and transparentadministration in the House,” he added.

On the other hand, speaking in the Assembly, Adhikari said, “Thegovernment has started working for the Hills and the BJP governmentwill takes steps for whatever issues raised by the Darjeeling MLA. Werespect the Nepali language and the Gorkha people and work for thedevelopment of the Hills.”

“In Bengal it was the people of the Hills that gave the first BJP MP inthe year 2009 and we will provide all the help needed by them,” saidAdhikari, asking that a list of work for the Hills should be prepared and they are committed towards fulfilling it.