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Gorkhaland Territorial Administration A Milestone Reached
On July 18, 2011 a tripartite pact was signed between the Union Government, the top leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal leading to the creation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). It is a new chapter in the political history of the Darjeeling hills. The new administration will be vested with powers to regulate 54 subjects, unlike the 1988 creation of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council which was given control over only 19 subjects. The Centre was appraised of all developments and had agreed to the Bengal government’s concessions to the new Gorkhaland administration. This is expected to end the agitations for a separate state for Gorkhas.
The agreement envisages more powers for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, or DGHC. Essential services like in health, education and water supply sectors 
could improve as per the new pact. Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will have territorial jurisdiction over the three subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has demanded certain mouzas from Siliguri Subdivision and Jalpaiguri District and as per the draft Memorandum of Agreement signed on 8th July 2011, a committee will be formed which will look into the matter. Among all subjects, the power to control tea plantation is the most important one. Almost all the revenue in the Darjeeling hills flows from this sector. Anyone having control over tea plantation will have control over the financial purse of the area. The erstwhile Subhash Ghishing-led Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council did not have powers to regulate tea plantation and higher education among others. Police and law and order will remain a state subject.
Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council
| The people and administrators involved in the present council must bear in mind the enormous load of opportunity that is in their hands. |
Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council was the result of the signing of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Agreement between the Central Government of India, the West Bengal Government and the Gorkha National Liberation Front in Kolkata in August 22nd, 1988. The ceremony took place at the Banquet Hall, Raj Bhavan at 10 a.m. The signatories to this tripartite agreement were: C. G. Somaih, Union Home Secretary, R. N. Sengupta, the State Chief Secretary and Subash Ghishing. The Union Home Minister, Buta Singh and the West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, also put their signatures on the agreement. Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), previously known as Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (DGAHC) is an autonomous body that looks after the administration of the District of Darjeeling in the state of West Bengal, India. GHC has three subdivisions under its authority: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong. On the 7th of June 2011, it was revealed that a ‘bilateral agreement had been reached between the representatives of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the representatives of the State Government wherein the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had accepted the State Government’s proposal for the formation of an ‘autonomous administrative setup’ replacing Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, a party formed by former GNLF councilor Bimal Gurung had after ousting GNLF supremo Subash Ghisingh from the post of the Caretaker Chairman of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 2008 re-initiated the Gorkhaland Movement in 2010, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha showed its willingness to negotiate with the State Government and accept an ‘alternative’ to Gorkhaland. In June 2011, after the formation of the new Trinamul Congress Government at Kolkata, the party signed a bilateral agreement with the State Government agreeing to the formation of an ‘autonomous administrative setup’. On the 8th of June 2011, an agreement on the draft of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State Government of West Bengal and the representatives of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was further reached naming the ‘autonomous administrative setup’ to replace Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council as Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
Chronology of Major Events
|
1907 |
2008 In 2008, a new party called the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha raised the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland once again. |
| 2011 The movement for a separate state gained serious momentum during the 1980s, when a violent agitation was carried out by Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) led by Subash Ghising |
2010 The demand for Gorkhaland has taken a new turn with the assassination of Madan Tamang, leader of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League. He was stabbed to death allegedly by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters on May 21, 2010, in Darjeeling, which led to a spontaneous shutdown in the three Darjeeling hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. |
| 1988 The agitation ultimately led to the establishment of a semi autonomous body in 1988 called the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) to govern certain areas of Darjeeling district |
2011 After the murder, the West Bengal government threatened action against Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, whose senior leaders are named in the FIR. On 8 February 2011, three GJM activists were shot dead (one of whom succumbed to her injuries later) by the police as they tried to enter Jalpaiguri district on a padyatra led by Bimal Gurung from Gorubathan to Jaigaon. This led to violence in the Darjeeling hills and an indefinite strike was called by GJM that lasted 9 days. |
Salient features the agreement
The main features of the tripartite agreement inked between the Centre, West Bengal Government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha:
1) The autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration to be formed through direct elections as per an agreement between the three parties by keeping on record the GJM’s demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
2) The area of GTA shall comprise the areas of entire subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong with extended areas of Kurseong.
3) In regard to the transfer of additional areas of Siliguri, Terai and Dooars to the new body, a high-power committee will be formed comprising four representatives of GJM, three representatives of state government, the director of the census operation representing the Government of India, apart from the Chairman of the committee to be appointed by the state government. The Chairperson of the board of administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council will be the convenor of the committee.
4) The committee will look into the question of identification of additional areas of Siliguri, Terai and Dooars that may be transferred to the new body having regard to their compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors.
5) The committee will be expected to give its recommendation within a short period.
6) The Central Government to give a financial package of `.600 crore-Rs.200 crore per annum for three years in the GTA in addition to the normal plan assistance to West Bengal.
7) Elected House of the Territorial Administration to be called ‘Sabha’ which will have a five-year term with its proceedings to be conducted by a Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
8)Composition of the Sabha: Total elected members 45. Five more to be nominated by the Governor to give representation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minority Communities. The MPs, MLAs and Chairpersons of municipalities shall be ex-officio GTA Sabha members.
9) All state departments excluding finance and home will be under the purview of the GTA.
10) GTA can recruit people in grade B, C and D G posts. Only recruitment in grade A posts through Public Service Commission.
11) Three-tier panchayat to be constituted in the GTA region.
12) The GJM agrees to ensure maintenance of peace and normalcy.
13) A review by the state government of all the cases against persons involved in the GJM agitation. In the light of the review steps to be taken not to prosecute except those charged with murder. Release of persons in custody after withdrawal of the cases.
14) Depending on suitability, youth in the GTA region to be considered for recruitment in the Police, Army and the Para-Military forces.
15)Quantum jurisdiction on tea plantation sector among other features.
Sandeep Barua
