Union Home minister to visit Hills, PPS will happen soon: Bista

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Monday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit the Hills between late August and the first week of October. He also stressed that a political solution for the Hills, Terai and Dooars should be forged locally rather than in Delhi.

Bista made the remarks while addressing a gathering at Mungpoo, where he, along with Labour and Transport Minister Arjun Singh, visited to review various initiatives being undertaken by the Cinchona Directorate.

Claiming that work on the Permanent Political Solution (PPS) for the region was progressing, Bista said, "The Union Home Minister will himself come here to the Hills. I feel that a decision for the Hills, Terai and Dooars should be taken by him here instead of in Delhi. We are not begging for the PPS, as it is our right, and the government should implement it for the people here. It will happen soon, with the interlocutor already appointed for the process having met the Bengal Chief Minister. We have also met the Home Minister recently."

The Darjeeling MP said the Union Home Minister is likely to visit the Hills around the end of August or during the first week of October. He also maintained that the alliance they had formed with other political outfits was not only for electoral purposes but also for the benefit of the people of the region.

Later in the evening, an administrative review meeting of the Cinchona Directorate was held, attended by the minister, the Darjeeling MP and departmental officials.

"We discussed various issues concerning the workers at the Cinchona gardens, including the need to improve healthcare facilities, drinking water supply, housing, and parjapatta, timely revision of wages and other emoluments, non-payment of Dearness Allowance, lack of diversification and modernization of cinchona plantations, and timely appointments to vacant posts," Bista said in a press release.

"The minister has given appropriate directions to the Principal Secretary of the Labour Department and the District Magistrates to prioritise issues concerning labour welfare, including revision of wages, DA and related matters," he added.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said, "We got to see many things, some of which we had only heard about earlier. We feel that if this can be developed, it will prove to be a goldmine for the country. As for other issues, such as implementation of minimum wages, meetings need to be held so that a solution can be worked out."