A delegation of Lepchas living in the Darjeeling Hills today called on BJP Lok Sabha election candidate for the Hills SS Ahluwalia and put forth a four-point charter of demands.
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| Darjeeling Lepcha delegation tables demands before BJP SS Ahluwalia |
The delegation of the All India Lepcha Association (AILA) said the first demand it has is primitive tribal status for the Lepcha community. Responding to the demands, Mr Ahluwalia said the Lepchas have been demanding primitive tribal status since 1997.
“The Trinamul Congress state government formed a board for the Lepcha community, but that has been registered under the Societies Act,” he said.
He was referring to the Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board that the TMC government formed last year. The board’s reigns were, however, given to another Lepcha association in the Hills, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association.
“The TMC formed the board in view of the Lok Sabha elections,” Mr Ahluwalia said. “The BJP will work for the betterment of all the communities in the Hills,” he added.
The AILA has also demanded introduction of the Lepcha language in the primary level in schools, a tribal project for the overall development of the community and up-gradation of the Lepcha villages to modern ones.
Source:SNS
