Tag: Gorkhaland Territorial Administration

The Hills are very close to my heart: Mamata Banerjee

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today laid the foundation stone of ‘Darjeeling Hill University’ at a function in Darjeeling, to commemorate Teachers’ Day. This university will come up at Mungpoo.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

Today is the birth anniversary of Dr Radhakrishnan, which is observed as Teachers’ Day. My tribute to all Siksha Gurus on this occasion. They are the pillars of our society, assets of the country.

Today we have honoured 60 teachers with ‘Siksha Ratna’ award and 13 schools have been awarded the ‘Best School’ award. We are also honouring Swapna Barman (who won Gold in Heptathlon at Asian Games). We are a poor government. We have to pay Rs 48,000 crore as instalment for the debt incurred by the previous Left Front Government. Yet, we try our best to help. We have given a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to Swapna’s mother and promised a government job to her brother. If she wants, we will give a government job to her also.

We are formulating a new Sports Policy so that our players can participate in international competitions. We are here to provide all help and cooperation.

Today is a day of pride for Darjeeling. We have laid the foundation of ‘Darjeeling Hill University’ today. We will name this campus after Tenzing Norgay. Another campus will come up which will be named after Kanchenjunga. One more campus will be named after Bhanu Bhakta ji.

The engineering college here will be connected to this university. We are setting up an education hub at Kurseong. Presidency University is also setting up a campus here. An education hub is coming up at Kalimpong also.

We have allocated 25 acres of land for ‘Darjeeling Hill University’. The subjects that will be taught here include, humanities, social sciences, media science, information technology, vocational training, tourism, travel management, tea management, horticulture, Himalayan Studies etc. The university will award diploma certificates also.

We have set up 23 universities in the last seven years, nine more are coming up. Foundation stone for a university named after Gandhiji will be laid on his birth anniversary. We are setting up a Greenfield university at Hooghly. Bishwa Bangla University is coming up at Bolpur. New universities are coming up Alipurduar and Jhargram also.

These new universities will help us spread the light of education. Students will no longer need to go outside to study. Darjeeling is known for its education infrastructure. Even the Prime Minister of Bhutan once told me he studied at Graham’s Home.

The police here is conducting a community development programme called ‘Rising Star’ – it is a commendable effort. Darjeeling is known for its talented music and dance performers. We have decided to organise a cultural festival in Darjeeling in 2019 with all the Asian countries.

We have distributed cycles to 1 crore students of classes IX to XII. Since it is difficult to ride a cycle in the hilly areas, we have decided to distribute school bags and raincoats to 28,000 students in the Hills. No one will be deprived.

Many new roads have been created in Darjeeling. The Hills are very close to my heart. We have formed a committee for the development of this region. They will prepare a report within six months with short term, mid-term and long term plans for development. We will explore ways of increasing employment opportunities, home tourism, industry, software, IT. I am confident this committee will be successful.

We started home tourism in Lamahatta for the first time. Thrust needs to be given to this sector. I would request the boards to construct 500 houses every year (instead of 1000) and spend rest of the funds for boosting home tourism.

Today we have given forest rights to 431 people for the first time. Land conversion will happen soon. This will solve a lot of problems.
I also had a talk with the chairman of Darjeeling municipality. I urged him to renovate the public clocks in the town. Lal Kothi will also be beautified. The Gandhi road in Darjeeling will be paved with paver blocks. Pedestrians will benefit because of that. Take small initiatives, make big impact.

I want Darjeeling Hills to prosper. I want you to stay happy. I want to see Darjeeling smiling, Kurseong smiling, Mirik smiling, Kalimpong smiling and Kunchenjunga smiling.

Nature is your biggest asset. You do not have to beg before others. Take a resolve to utilise your own resources and march ahead with pride. My best wishes to all.

Jai Hind. Bande Mataram.

Committed to the development of Hills: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is currently visiting the Hills. She reached Darjeeling yesterday. She attended a high level review meeting with Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) officials today.

Addressing the press after the meeting, the CM said that short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans will be taken up for the development of the Hills. A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, which will present a detailed report in six months.

The other members of the committee would be the MLAs of the Hills, chairmen of municipalities, members of CII and FICCI, DMs and Police Super. The Chief Advisory Council will comprise Binay Tamang, Anil Thapa, Principal Secretary Mr Thade.

Thrust will be given on tourism. The CM informed that the new university in Mungpoo will be named ‘Darjeeling Hill University’. She said, “this university will fulfill the long-standing demand of the people. The people had requested the Centre to set up a university, but they did not do anything. So, we have decided to set up a university.”

“We are setting up a education hub in Kurseong. Presidency University is setting up a campus in the Hills. From cinchona plantation, agriculture, sericulture, tourism, entertainment, IT, software – everything was discussed in today’s meeting. A lot of development will happen in Darjeeling.”

Tribute to Tagore: Mongpu to be developed as global tourist spot & education hub

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Walking in the footsteps of the bard, Mongpu, the picturesque hamlet in Darjeeling, is all set to usher in development. The State Government and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will be working together to promote Tagore’s favourite destination in the Hills as a global tourist spot and an education hub.

“Mongpu is like a pilgrimage for many, owing to its connection with Tagore and his multiple visits there. The State Government working together with the GTA and the West Bengal Heritage Commission will promote Mongpu as a heritage destination. We will also seek help of experts, working in the heritage sector for this,” said Tourism. The State Government has already started a project of renovation and construction of Rabindra Bhawan, Mongpu at a cost of Rs 3.54 crore.

The existing Rabindra Smriti Sramik Kalyan Kendra, where the Rabindra Bhawan is being constructed, was built in 1963. A guest house is also being constructed by the State government at a stone throws distance from Rabindra Museum. Mongpu, 32 km from Darjeeling, was the Bard’s favourite haunt. Tagore had visited Mongpu in 1938 on May 21 and stayed till June 9. In 1939, he stayed there from May 14 till June 17 to return again on the September 12 till the first week of November.

In 1940, he arrived at Mongpu again on April 21 and his birthday was also celebrated there that year. This was his last visit as he fell ill and had to return to Kolkata. He had completed many memorable works during his stay at Mongpu, including Chelebela, Nobojatok, Sesh Kotha, Bangla Bhashar Porichoy, Mongpu, Giribas, Sanai, Akash Prodip and Jonmodin.

At Mongpu, Tagore used to stay in the house of Manmohan Sen (Husband of Maitreyi Devi), who was the chief chemist of the Cinchona plantation. In 1944, this house was converted into “Rabindra Smrity-Bhavan.” Later in 2009, the building was renovated and converted into “Rabindra Museum.”

The museum was under renovation by the West Bengal State Heritage Commission. The tourism department had allotted Rs 3 crore for the renovation. It opened for the public on May 7, 2018. The museum is open throughout the week from 8 am to 4 pm (with an hour recess from 12 noon) except on Thursdays.

The Cinchona Directorate has already approached the West Bengal Heritage Commission to declare the Surel Kothi as a heritage site following renovations. The Surel bungalow was the guest house of the cinchona plantation. Tagore on his first visit had stayed there from May 21 to June 4, 1938. It is located in one of the oldest cinchona bungalows in the Labdah division of Mongpu.