GUWAHATI, Nov 5: A Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) delegation on Wednesday handed over a cheque for Rs 2,34,567 to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to assist flood-affected families in the Bihubar area of Sivasagar district.
The delegation, led by BGP Assam State Committee chief adviser and immediate past president Amar Adhikari, met Sarma at Lokseva Bhawan. BGP national president Nityananda Upadhyay and national general secretary (administration) Nanda Kirati Dewan were also present.
The delegation discussed its memorandum seeking recognition of Assam's Gorkha community as Other Traditional Forest Dwellers under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Sarma said the Assam government had taken the necessary steps within its jurisdiction after receiving the memorandum last year. He said the matter now rested with the Government of India, particularly on the nomenclature and consideration of Gorkhas as Other Traditional Forest Dwellers or forest-dependent communities. He said the state government could consider the matter further on the basis of directions and legal provisions from the Centre, and advised the BGP to pursue it with the Central government.
Dewan said the Gorkha community's historical association with forests in Assam formed the basis of its demand. He said eligible Gorkhas living in reserve forests and forest villages should be considered for Forest Rights Certificates under the Act.
He said the BGP would approach MP Raju Bista to seek an appropriate office memorandum from the concerned Union ministry on recognising Gorkhas as Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.
The delegation also presented Sarma with traditional items, including a Gorkhali Yakthung Ningkhuk ceremonial scarf, a Silam Sakma badge, a Gorkha Khukuri, a floral-patterned Gorkha cap, a BGP Silver Jubilee Scarf and a silver jubilee special issue of Raithaney.
