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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Kanu Sanyal, who along with Charu Majumdar started the Naxal movement from Naxalbari. A file Photo: Sushanta Patronobish.Kanu Sanyal, one of the founders of the Naxal movement in India, committed suicide at his residence at Seftullajote village in north Bengal on Tuesday.
We take a look at the life and time of the veteran leader, who changed the course of Communist politics in India.
Who was Kanu Sanyal?
Kanu Sanyal was one of the founder members of the Naxal movement. Sanyal, along with fellow Communist revolutionary Charu Majumdar, started the Naxalbari movement in West Bengal on May 25, 1967. Though the movement was brutally crushed by the police within a few months, Naxalism as an ideology managed to survive and has evolved into the Maoist insurgency, considered to be the biggest threat to internal security in India today.
Sanyal was born in 1932 at Kurseong in Darjeeling. While working as a revenue clerk at the Siliguri court, Sanyal was arrested for waving a black flag at then West Bengal chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy, to protest the Centre's ban on the Communist Party of India.
He was lodged at the Jalpaiguri jail, where he met then CPI district secretariat member and future comrade-in-arms Charu Majumdar. Influenced heavily by Majumdar's ideology, Sanyal joined the CPI after his release, and later sided with the CPI-M after the party split over the Indo-China war.
Sanyal soon became known for his firebrand politics, and in 1967, he famously led the armed peasant's movement in Naxalbari village in north Bengal. The movement marked the beginning of armed Communist struggle against the government, which later spread to other states and assumed virulent proportions in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.
What happened at Naxalbari?
In May 1967, an armed peasant uprising against the oppression of landlords broke out in Naxalbari village in Darjeeling district.
Led actively by Sanyal and Majumdar, the movement was envisaged as an 'agrarian revolution to eliminate the feudal order'. Both Sanyal and Majumdar defended the use of arms and violence to fight back against the landlords. However, the state police, led by then chief minister Siddharth Shankar Roy, brutally suppressed the movement within a few months.
But the discontent and anger of the marginalised and the underprivileged sections of society continued to simmer in Bengal, which witnessed an intense surge in Naxal violence in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
What was Sanyal's next step towards a Communist revolution?
Sanyal and Majumdar founded the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist in 1969. The duo aimed for an 'Indian revolution' via a sustained arms struggle, to establish 'liberated zones' across the country that would eventually be merged into a single vast unit completely under Naxal control.
Sanyal publicly sought help from China to further the arms struggle, and reportedly even visited Beijing, via Kathmandu, Nepal, in September 1967. However, it is not clear whether China offered any moral, financial or logistical support to the Naxal movement raging in Bengal.
What were the activities of the CPI-ML?
The CPI-ML believed in capturing power by violent means and carried out political assassinations by targeting the 'enemies of the proletariat'. They also conducted raids on banks and armouries to build up their resources.
Was Sanyal arrested for the group's activities?
Sanyal, who had gone underground, was arrested in August 1970. He was convicted in the Parvatipuram case (an organised uprising against landlords in Andhra Prdesh and Orissa), often dubbed as the biggest conspiracy case in history, and imprisoned for seven years at a jail in Visakhapatnam.
In July 1972, Majumdar was arrested from his hide-out, and he died in police custody at a Kolkata jail a fortnight later.
By 1977, West Bengal had heralded in a Communist government and then chief minister Jyoti Basu personally intervened to ensure Sanyal's release.
Was Sanyal involved in politics even after his release?
Though Sanyal had renounced armed struggle, he formed the Organising Committee of Communist Revolutionaries after his release. He later merged the OCCR with the Communist Organisation of India-Marxist-Leninist.
Sanyal later became the general secretary of the revamped CPI-ML, which was formed when several like-minded groups coalesced to form a Left-wing organisation.
On January 18, 2006, Sanyal was arrested with fellow agitators for disrupting a Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express train at the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station in Siliguri, while protesting against closures of tea gardens in the region.
Sanyal was a vocal critic of the land acquisition methods adopted by the state government in Singur and Nandigram. He slammed the CPI-M-led government, calling it capitalist, and hailed the popular uprisings in the two regions. Sanyal believed that led by selfless and strong leadership, the protests in Nandigram had the potential to surpass even the Naxalbari movement.
What were Sanyal's views about the Maoist insurgency?
Ironically, Sanyal often spoke out against the Maoist movement, even though he is considered to be one of its founding fathers. He was disillusioned by the relentless violence perpetrated by the Maoists, and the indiscriminate victimisation of poor farmers and tribals.
Readily admitting the mistakes made by his CPI-ML in its hey days, Sanyal often declared that acts of terror could not bring change; they only hurt popular movements and alienated the masses. (Meri News)
Interview with Kanu
When I met Kanu Sanyal
Abhijit Ghose (story & photo), TOI
I met Kanu Sanyal only once. In May 2007 I was assigned to do a full-page story on the 40 years of the Naxalbari movement. I knew that talking to one of the tallest leaders of the armed struggle would be invaluable for my story. A journalist-friend from Kolkata had given me his landline number. On reaching Siliguri in north Bengal, I called him up from my hotel room. Sanyal himself picked up the phone. “Come in the evening. We will talk,” he said.
The bus dropped me off at a point that I don’t remember by name. When I mentioned Kanu Sanyal and Hatigisha to villagers, they immediately showed me a narrow road that snaked past bamboo groves, a rivulet and small hamlets. It was a two-km walk in tranquil surroundings.
Sanyal, then 75 plus, was sitting outside a sparse mud house, which also served as a one-room party office in Hatigisha. The sun was dying and fearing it would get dark soon, I immediately clicked his photographs.

Sanyal said he had been ailing for some time. He looked frail. In the sixties, the bylanes of Calcutta and the paddy fields of Naxalbari echoed the slogan “Jail ka tala tootega/Kanu, Jangal chhootega (The locks of prison will break, Kanu and Jangal Santhal will be freed). One wondered how he would have looked then.
What followed was a 60-minute interview. It could have been longer but I was worried if I would get a return bus. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I will send someone to escort you back.” Two things were clear during that interview – the radical Left leader’s mind was as sharp as ever and that he remained committed to the revolution through mass struggle.
Excerpts from the interview, parts of which were published in The Times of India in May 2007:
What are your memories of May 25, 1967, the day the Naxalbari movement began?For us, May 24 is the Naxalbari day. That day, the police were informed that some leaders of the Naxalbari movement were hiding in Boro Jhorojote village. There were no leaders there but a huge gathering of peasantry and tea garden workers. One police officer was killed there. Since the peasant understood and accepted our politics and took up arms on their own, we celebrate that day as a victory of our political ideas. Other groups observe May 25 as Martyrs’ Day, when 11 activists were killed.
In retrospect, do you think that Charu Mazumdar's “annihilation of class enemy” line was a historical error?It was not only a historical error but also a fundamental deviation from Marxism-Leninism and the thoughts of Mao. But remember we did not follow the annihilation line (forming small squads and killing landlords, policemen and other class enemies) in the Naxalbari struggle. Only one landlord was killed during the struggle. In practice, the annihilation line was first followed in Srikakulam area of Andhra Pradesh in late 1969.
Why did the Naxalbari movement fail?
We had a strong base among the peasants and the tea garden workers. But we carried on the movement without a proper party structure. That was the main reason.
What are the long-term gains?
There was no protection to sharecroppers earlier. We captured land in Naxalbari and the peasants are still in control over the land. After 1977, the West Bengal government was forced to bring the Bargadari Act through which some hereditary rights were given to the sharecroppers. Another question that came up is that if we want to lead an agrarian revolution, we need a strong party. Consequently, the CPI (ML) was formed in 1969.
But that too wasn't successful in the long run because Charu Mazumdar's annihilation of class enemies line prevailed. In a very subtle way, he said that peasant committees and associations are not necessary. Neither were mass organizations necessary. Only form small squads and start annihilation of class enemies. So I don't agree that after forming CPI (ML) agrarian struggle started in new areas. Mobilising and organizing peasants and taking them ahead in the struggle was not done.
Did you meet Mao secretly in 1967?
Yes. It was a 45-minute meeting. We went by road to Kathmandu. From there Chinese comrades took us by jeep to Peking. We stayed in Tibet too. We reached China on September 30. The next day we saw them celebrate October 1 as National Day. I could see people weeping after seeing Mao. We met Mao, Chow En Lai and the commander in chief. Mao's advice was: whatever you learn in China, try to forget it. Go to your own country, try to understand the specific situation and carry the revolution forward.
If you were the chief minister of West Bengal today, how would you have dealt with Nandigram?
I can only answer the question from a peasant organiser point of view. I feel the issue cannot be resolved. If you think deeply, Nandigram isn't just about the March 14 police firing. It is a question of policy. They say that agrarian reform is done. So we are opting for industrialisation. But the truth is that they have not completed the task of agrarian reform in West Bengal. Besides, thousands of industries have been closed. The entire 150-year-old tea industry is facing a deep crisis but the CPI (M)-led state government has been unable to resolve the problem. We should be asking whom does the industrialization benefit. During the French revolution, under the leadership of the bourgeoisie, land was given to the tillers. They should follow the French model.
What is the larger point emerging from Nandigram?
India still needs an agrarian revolution. Without solving the agrarian problem, you cannot develop the country by industrialisation.
The Maoists are present to a greater or lesser degree in over 150 districts. What is their future?
The Maoists are sure to meet with failure. In an Andhra Pradesh village, where they are very powerful, I found out that some peasants were not tilling their land. I asked them, why? They said, “If we do so, the landlords will come and ask for the produce. And if we do what the Maoists tell us, the forces will come.” The Maoists, in spite of having guns, have failed to assure the peasants that they should serve a radical land reform in the countryside. Back in 1969, when CPI (ML) was formed, we used to say after one action in a district that agrarian revolution is going ahead. And that guerrilla warfare has started. The Maoists have started the same thing in a wider form. Only now guns are more easily available. But I can say that they are detached from the people.
The Maoists cannot see. Earlier this month people revolted in Ranchi against Reliance Retail. The Maoists are active in the areas in and around Ranchi but they cannot see what is happening. They just want state power first. They feel that by killing some policemen and blasting some police jeeps, the agrarian revolution is going ahead. In Iraq, people have no option but fight the American forces. That's what the Iraqi people are doing. They feel if we kill more and more foreigners, they will go back to their own country. Such an option is justified in Iraq. But not in India.

Monday, March 15, 2010

MOA DRAFT OF GTA and PREVIOUS PROPOSAL OF GJMM FOR INTERIM SETUP


GORKHALAND TERROTORIAL ADMINISTRATION
Memorandum of Agreement
Whereas the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has been demanding for quite sometime past a separate State of Gorkhaland for the hill areas of Darjeeling district including some areas of Siliguri Terai and Dooars (hereinafter referred to as the Region) ; And
Whereas both the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal have
repeatedly emphasized the need for keeping the region as an integral part of the State of West Bengal ;
And
Whereas after several rounds of tripartite meetings at the ministerial and at the official
levels, the GJM, while not dropping their demand for a separate State of Gorkhaland, has agreed
to the setting up of an autonomous Body (hereinafter referred to as the new Body) empowered with administrative, financial and executive powers in regard to various subjects to be transferred to the said Body for the development of the region and restoration of peace and normalcy there at;

And
Whereas the objective of this Agreement is to establish an autonomous self governing
Body to administer the region so that the socio-economic, infrastructural, educational, cultural, and linguistic, development is expedited and the ethnic identity of Gorkhas established, thereby achieving all round development of the people of the region ;


And
Whereas all issues including issues relating to transfer of subjects to the new Body have been agreed in various tripartite meetings at the official level;
And
Whereas after several round of Tripartite discussions between the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the GJM, an agreement was reached in respect of all the issues;
Now, therefore, the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the GJM,
keeping on record the demand of the GJM for a separate State of Gorkhaland, agree as follows:-


1) An autonomous Body, which shall be called the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), will be formed through direct election. A Bill for this purpose will be introduced in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly ;
2) While under the provisions of the Constitution transfer of legislative powers to the new Body is not possible, the power to frame rules / regulations under the State Acts to control, regulate and administer the departments / offices and subjects transferred to the new Body will be conferred upon the new Body ;
3) The administrative, executive and financial powers in respect of the subjects transferred will be vested in such a way that the new Body may function in an autonomous and effective way ;
4) The subjects alongwith all Departments / Offices to be transferred to the new Body is appended as Annexure – ‘A’.
5) The area of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration shall comprise the areas of the entire sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong with extended areas of Kurseong. In regard to transfer of additional areas of Siliguri Terai and Dooars to the new Body, a High-Powered Committee will be formed comprising four representatives of GJM, three representatives of the State Government (one from the Home Department; the District Magistrate, Darjeeling; the District Magistrate, Jalpaiguri); the Director of Census Operations representing Government of India, apart from the Chairman of the Committee to be appointed by the State Government. The Chairperson of the Board of Administrators, DGHC will be the convener of this Committee. The Committee will look into the question of identification of additional areas in 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.
The Committee will be expected to give its recommendations within a short period, preferably within six months of its constitution.
6) The work of this High-Powered Committee will run parallel to the electoral process which will be based on the existing area delimitation. However, the empowering statute will have a provision for transfer of the additional areas from Siliguri Terai and Dooars that may be agreed upon, based on the recommendation of this Committee.
7) In regard to transfer of all forests including reserved forest, it was agreed that the State Government will make a reference to the Central Government on the issue of reserved forest as the power delegated to the State Government under the Central statute cannot be delegated to any other authority straightaway. However, all offices catering to the unreserved forests under the jurisdiction of GTA would also be transferred to GTA.
8) Regarding Tribal status to Gorkhas except the Scheduled Castes, the GJM or any organisation representing the Gorkhas will make an application to the Backward Classes Welfare Department of the State Government, which is the authority to process such claims. The Department, upon receiving such application supported by necessary documents will conduct a study through the Cultural Research Institute, Kolkata. After examination by the Department, the matter will be referred to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. The recommendations already submitted to the National Commission will be followed up by the State Government. The  Government of India will consider for granting ST status to all the Gorkhas excepting SC.
9) In regard to regularization of all ad-hoc, casual, daily wage workers of DGHC, regularization by way of outright absorption is not feasible due to the current legal position as enunciated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. However, those employees who have put in 10 years of continuous service would be guided by the Finance Department’s order of 23rd April, 2010. Those outside this ambit would be extended an enhancement in wages. This would be equivalent to 75% of the remuneration admissible under the order of the Finance Department subject to a minimum of 5,000/- per month for those who have not completed 10 years of continuous service.
As and when they complete 10 years of continuous service, they will be eligible for the full benefit in terms of the order of 23rd April, 2010. The employees will, however, have the liberty to apply for normal recruitment to any other posts of State Government. It was also agreed that the State Government will make necessary financial provisions for bearing the additional non-plan expenditure for this purpose.
10) There shall be a GTA Sabha for the GTA. There shall be a Chairman and Deputy Chairman to conduct the business of Council. The GTA Sabha shall consist of fortyfive elected members and five members to be nominated by the Governor to give representation to members of SC, ST, women, and minority communities. The M.Ps, M.L.As, and Chairpersons of municipality(s) of the region shall be Ex-officio Members to this GTA Sabha. The term of the GTA shall be five years.
11) The Executive Body shall consist of a Chief Executive who will nominate fourteenmembers out of the elected / nominated members as Executive Member. One of them shall be the Deputy Chief to be nominated by the Chief Executive.
12) Every member of the GTA shall before taking seat make and subscribe before the Governor or one of the elected members appointed in that behalf by him an oath or affirmation. The Chief Executive shall be administered an oath or affirmation by the  Governor.
13) There shall be a Principal Secretary of the GTA, who shall be of the rank of the Principal Secretary/Secretary to the State Government and who shall be selected by the Chief Executive from the panel sent by the State Government and shall be paid from the GTA Fund such salaries and allowances as may be fixed by the State Government. The Principal Secretary once deputed to the GTA shall not be ransferred for a period of at least two years without the consent of the GTA.
14) The Government of India and the Government of West Bengal will provide all possible assistance to the GTA for the overall development of the region. The Government of India will provide financial assistance of Rs. 200 crore (Rupees Two Hundred Crore) per annum for 3 years for projects to develop the socio-economic infrastructure in GTA over and above the normal plan assistance to the State of West Bengal. A list of projects which may be considered to be taken up by the GTA is at Annexure ‘B1’. List of projects to be separately taken up by the GTA with the State/Central Government is at ‘B2’.
15) The Government of India/ State Government will provide one time financial assistance required for development of administrative infrastructure viz., GTA Sabha House, Secretariat Complex and the residential quarters for the elected members of GTA and the senior officers.
16) The allocation sanctioned in the budget of GTA and all funds sanctioned by the State or the Union Government which remain unspent at the close of the financial year shall be taken into account for the purpose of providing additional resources in the Budget of the following year or years and the fund requirements will be met on a yearly basis.
17) The Government of West Bengal shall provide formula based plan fund with 60 per
cent weightage on population and the balance weightage on area backwardness, hill areas and border areas in two equal installments every year for executing development works.
18) The Government of West Bengal shall provide Non-plan grant including provisions
for bearing the additional Non-plan expenditure for existing employees payable in two installments in respect of the offices / departments transferred to GTA.
19) The fund received from the Government of India shall not be diverted and the State Government shall release the fund in time.
20) The GTA will have the power of creating Group B, C and D posts with the approval of Governor. The recruitment to Group B, C and D posts will be through a Subordinate Service Selection Board to be set up for this purpose.
21) The State Public Service Commission shall be consulted for the recruitment of Group ‘A’ officers.
22) The State Government will set-up a separate School Service Commission, College Service Commission; open an office of the Regional Pension and Provident Directorate; and set up an office for Registration of land, building etc., marriage, society etc. in the GTA area, subject to extant rules and regulations.
23) The Governor of West Bengal shall obtain a report on the functioning of the GTA and cause that report to be laid on the table of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly annually.
24) The Government of West Bengal will initiate action to re-organize / re-constitute the territorial jurisdictions of sub-divisions and blocks.
25) The GTA, once established, will separately take up the issues relating to grant of incentives, subsidies, waiver of taxes and tariff and other benefits as appropriate to the region’s backwardness, with the Central and State Governments.
26) A three-tier Panchayat will be constituted by elections in the GTA region, subject to the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution of India. Notwithstanding anything contained in the West Bengal Panchayat Act 1973, or the West Bengal Municipal Act, 1993, the GTA shall exercise general powers of supervision over the Panchayats and the Municipalities.
27) Since the formation of new authority will take some time and since the developmental works in the hills, which have already suffered badly, cannot be allowed to suffer further, there will be a Board of Administrators in DGHC which would be fully empowered to exercise all the powers and functions of the Chief Executive Councilor under the DGHC Act, 1988 and to decide on the much needed developmental works in the hills. The Board of Administrators will comprise MLA, Darjeeling; MLA, Kurseong ; MLA, Kalimpong ; District Magistrate, Darjeeling and Administrator, DGHC in keeping with the provisions of the sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the DGHC Act as amended vide Kolkata Gazette Notification of 22nd March, 2005.
28) The GJM agrees to ensure that peace and normalcy will be maintained in the region.
29) A review will be done by the State Government of all the cases registered undervarious laws against persons involved in the GJM agitation. Steps will be taken in the light of the review, not to proceed with prosecution in all cases except those charged with murder. Release of persons in custody will follow the withdrawal of cases.
30) The GTA youth would be considered for recruitment in the Police, Army and Para Military Forces subject to their suitability for such appointment.
31) The implementation of the provision of the Memorandum of Agreement shall be periodically reviewed by a committee representing the Government of India, Government of West Bengal and GJM.
32) The Government of West Bengal shall repeal the DGHC Act, 1988 along with formation of GTA to be constituted by an Act of the legislature.

Signed on 18th July, 2011 at Darjeeling in the presence of Shri P. Chidambaram, Hon’ble Union Home Minister and Mamata Banerjee, Hon’ble Chief Minister, west Bengal. 


(Dr. G.D. Gautama)                                                            (Shri Rooshan Giri )
Additional Chief Secretary,                                              General Secretary,
Home & Hill Affairs Department                     Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Government of West Bengal                                       for and on behalf of the
for and on behalf of the                                              Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Government of West Bengal


                                                    (Shri K.K. Pathak)
                           Joint Secreatry to the Government of India
                                            Ministry of Home Affairs
                        for and on behalf of the Government of India




Annexure ‘A’
List of Subjects to be transferred to the GTA
(1) Agriculture, including agricultural education and research protecting against pest and prevention of plants diseases; Horticulture, Floriculture and Food processing;
(2) Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, that is to say preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases, veterinary training and practices, cattle pounds; Dairy development;
(3) Cooperation;
(4) Information and Cultural Affairs
(5)School Education including primary education, secondary education, higher secondary education (including vocational training): Physical Education; Government Schools.
(6)College Education including Agricultural and Technical Colleges, Local Management of Government sponsored Colleges; Mass Education and Physical Education; Engineering, Medical, Management, and Information Technology with Government and Government sponsored colleges for which wings /cells shall have to be created by the GTA for the area under its jurisdiction;
(7) Adult Education and Library Services;
(8) Fisheries;
(9) Irrigation, drainage and embankments, floods and landslide protection;
(10) Food and Civil Supplies; Consumer Affairs;
(11) Management of any forest, not being Reserved Forest; [Explanation – ‘Reserved Forest’ shall mean a reserved forest as constituted under Indian Forest Act 1927 (16 of 1927)];
(12) Cottage & Small Scale Industries including sericulture, handloom and textiles; handicrafts and Khadi and Village industries;
(13) Cinchona plantation and settlement of land in possession of the plantation inhabitants: management of lease of cinchona lands etc. under it.
(14) Woman and Child Development and Social Welfare;
(15) District Sainik Board;
(16) “Health including Public Health and Family welfare” including hospitals,
dispensaries, health centres and sanatoriums, establishing a Nurses Training School;
(17) Intoxicating liquors, opium derivatives subject to the provisions of Entry 84 of List I of the Seventh Schedule; distilleries – control and regulation, Bonded House and raising of revenue;
(18) Irrigation;
(19) Water Resources Investigation and Minor Irrigation;
(20) Labour and Employment;
(21) Land & Land Revenue including allotment, occupation or use, setting apart of land other than land with reserved forest for the purposes of agriculture or grazing or for residential or other non-agricultural purposes to promote interest of the people; 
(22) Library services (financed and controlled by the State Government);
(23) Lotteries (subject to the provisions of the Entry 40 of the List I of the Seventh Schedule);
(24) Theatre, dramatic performances and cinemas (subject to the provisions of the Entry 60 of List I of the Seventh Schedule); Sports; entertainment and amusements;
(25) Markets and fairs;
(26) Municipal corporation, improvement of trust, district boards and other local authorities; Fire Services;
(27) Museum and archeology institutions controlled or financed by the State, ancient and historical monuments and records other than those declared by or under any Law made by Parliament to be of national importance;
(28) Panchayat and Rural Development including District Rural Development Agency(DRDA);
(29) Planning and Development;
(30) Printing and Stationery;
(31) Public Health Engineering;
(32) Public Works Department including work relating to State Highways as well as the responsibility discharged by the State Government for maintenance of National Highways within the jurisdiction of GTA;
(33) Publicity and Public Relations including Regulation of Media – both Print and Electronic media;
(34) Registration of births and deaths;
(35) Relief and Rehabilitation, establishing a branch of disaster management in consultation with NDMA under the extant laws/rules.
(36) Sericulture;
(37) Small, cottage and rural industry subject to the provisions of Entries 7 and 52 of List I of the Seventh Schedule;
(38) Social Welfare; including part of SC & ST Development and Finance Corporation under GTA area;
(39) Soil conservation;
(40) Sports and Youth Welfare;
(41) Statistics;
(42) Tourism: Tourism infrastructure within the jurisdiction of the GTA catering to the area of GTA would be transferred to GTA. However, GTA may set up its own wing of Tourism Development Corporation for the area under its jurisdiction;
(43) Transport (roads, bridges, ferries and other means of communication not specified in List I of the Seventh Schedule, municipal tramways, ropeways, inland waterways and traffic thereon, subject to the provision of Entry 40 of List I and List III of the Seventh Schedule with regard to such waterways, vehicles and other mechanically propelled vehicles);
(44) The State Government will consider opening an RTO Office in the GTA area however; powers vested with the DM at present would remain with him only.
(45) Tribal research institution controlled and financed by the State Government;
(46) Urban development – town and country planning;
(47) Weights and measures subject to the provisions of Entry 50 of List I of the Seventh Schedule;
(48) Welfare of plain tribes and backward classes subject to the area being under GTA only;
(49) Welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes;
(50) Welfare of Minorities;
(51) Management and settlement of land including markets and market sheds controlled by the Darjeeling Improvement Fund;
(52) Minor Minerals and Mineral development (subject to the provisions of Entry 23 of List II of the Seventh Schedule);
(53) Rural electrification;
(54) Renewable sources of energy including water-power (subject to Entry 56 of List I and Entry 38 of List III of the Seventh Schedule);
(55) Sharing electricity with GTA subject to evolving a mutually agreeable formula with the State government.
(56) Pounds and prevention of cattle trespass;
(57) Management of burial grounds and cremation grounds;
(58) Regulation of Cable channels; to the extent the powers of Central Act, i.e. the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2002 vests with the State government;
(59) Tauzi: Tauzi Department of the Collectorate.

Annexure ‘B1’
LIST OF PROJECTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE GTA TO DEVELOP THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE GTA AREA IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION
1. Comprehensive water supply system in the new body area;
2. Multi-super specialty Medical College and Hospital;
3. Establishment of Hospitality and Tourism Management Institute;
4. Establishment of a College of Nursing;
5. Establishment of a Gorkha House at New Delhi;
6. Establishment of an Institute for Research and Development of the Nepali Language;
7. Establishment of a Cultural Institute to preserve, promote and develop culture, tradition, heritage of the people of the region;
8. Establishment of Research and Development Institute for Tea and Cinchona;
9. Research and Development Institute for Horticulture, Floriculture;
10. Balasan Drinking Water Project to be taken up by the Union Government and be declared as a National Project;
11. Sidrabong Hydro Project has been declared a National Heritage but neglected. Funds for its maintenance and upkeep;
12. Food processing, agro-processing complex and cold storage;
13. Creation and development of the IT industry in this region;
14. A new bridge connecting Dooars to be constructed over the Teesta River as the only Coronation Bridge has become very old and it may collapse any time;
15. Mini and Micro Hydro Projects in GTA;
16. Establishment of Eight Multi disciplinary College different areas of the Region;
17. Establishment of Veterinary Hospitals;
18. High School/Higher Secondary School for every twenty-five villages;
19. Processing plants for Cinchona at Mungpoo;
20. Establishment of Polytechnics for all subdivisions;
21. 2 ITIs / Vocational Institutes in each subdivision;
22. Construction of Multi storied Car Parking at Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong;
23. Construction of Circular Road connecting Darjeeling Town-Lebong-Pandam-
Jorebunglow-Darjeeling Town;
24. Construction of Rope way at Kalimpong( Delo – Relly), at Darjeeling (Tukvar-Singla) and (Batasia-Roack Garden), at Mirik ( Mirik – Kurseong), at Kurseong (Giddeypahar- Rohini);
25. Special Fund for the construction of Super-speciality Hospitals in every Sub-Division;
26. Creation of an Industrial zone in an area of at least 1000 acres in the plain areas of the proposed GTA and to be accorded status of special economic zone;
27. Institute of Capacity Building & Livelihood School.

Annexure ‘B2’
LIST OF PROJECT PROPOSALS WHICH GTA MAY TAKE UP WITH THE
STATE/CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

1. Establish a Central Institute of Technology.
2. Establishment of a Central University;
3. National Institute of Technology (NIT) including IT and Bio-technology;
4. Construction of an alternative National Highway from Siliguri via Mirik along Balasan
River to Darjeeling;
5. Establishment of a Fashion Technology Institute;
6. Establishment of a Sainik School;
7. Establishment of National Games and Sports Academy;
8. Establishment of a Tea Auction Centre at Darjeeling;
9. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway to be revitalized for boosting Tourism sector;
10. To establish a Broad-gauge Railway Terminal Station at Sukna;
11. Strengthening and Widening of National Highway 55 and 31 A;
12. Central Government Engineering College funded by GOI;
13. Revival of Trade route to Tibet via Jelep-la from Kalimpong;
14. Reservation of seats for students of this region in College/Institution of higher educationincluding Engineering, Technical, Medical and Management etc all over India;
INTERIM ARRANGEMENT AFTER REPEAL OF THE DARJEELING GORKHA HILL COUNCIL ACT- 1988.




PRINCIPLES:

Definitions:
"Constitution' shall mean the Constitution of India.
"region" herein shall mean the region of Darjeeling District and Dooars as enunciated in the demand of Gorkhaland and delineated in the map submitted by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
"interim authority' shall mean the interim system of self-governance to be put in place in the interim period valid upto 31.12.2011.
1. DECLARATION: Trilateral declaration[to be included in all subsequent legislation as the first section/article/clause or preamble to the effect that nothing in the interim arrangement or any act done thereunder shall or be deemed to preiudice,affect,alter or diminish in any manner whatsoever the legitimate demand of the people of the region for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution out of the territories now within the State of West Bengal and referred to herein as the region.
2.  NAME: The name of the interim authority shall be THE GORKHALAND REGIONAL AUTHORITY or DARJEELING & DUARS REGIONAL AUTHORITY
3.   Before the formation of the interim authority
ALL THE GORKHAS must be declared SCHEDULED TRIBES to preserve the unique cultural heritage, tradition and ethnicity of the GORKHA community as a whole.
4.   CONSTITUTIONAL SANCTION: There shall be all suitable amendments to the Constitution for ushering in the interim authority.
5.   SALIENT FEATURES OF THE STRUCTRE - POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERIM AUTHORITY:
a.      Regional Board with Speaker and Deputy Speaker of not less than fifty five
members elected by adult franchise at elections to be held by the Election Commission of India with
i.       Powers of legislation over the subjects mentioned in Schedule A without subjection to approval, sanction or consent of or reference to the Government of West Bengal.
ii.      Powers to exclude the application of laws of West Bengal (subject to laws made or to be made by Parliament).
b.      Chief elected by the Board.
c.      Executive Committee headed by the Chief
d.      Judiciary subordinate to its own High Court
e.      Full legislative and administrative jurisdiction over panchayats and Municipalities.
f.       Legislative, Executive and Judicial control over the Departments administering the   
subjects enumerated in Schedule A.C
g.      Complete fiscal and policy authority in matters of planning, finance, tax, revenue, distribution of funds. Borrowing property, contracts rights, liabilities, obligations and suits as contained in Part XII of the Constitution.
h.      Special non-Plan fund assistance direct from the Government of India for a period of five years, extendable up to ten years from the formation of the interim authority.
i.       Special Initial Assistance of two thousand crore rupees to be divided and disbursed equally over a period of five years.
j.       Direct Plan Fund in accordance with approved yearly and Five Year Plans without routing through the State Government.
k.      Direct and special allocation of funds from the Union Government without reference to the State of West Bengal in all matters bearing in mind the unique and peculiar geopolitical conditions obtaining in the region.
l.       Guarantees by State/Union Government enabling borrowing by the interim authority.
m.    Public Service Commission and full powers of recruitment and conditions of service.
n.      Powers to impose regional restrictions on trade, commerce and intercourse subject to the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
o.      Allocation of all regional benefits hitherto accruing to the State of West Bengal such as  hydropower, trade and industrial subsidies.
p.      Reservation of Seats in higher education in institutes in all over India.
q.      Border Road Organisation to take over construction and maintenance of all National Highways in the region which are at present outside the jurisdiction of the BRO.
r.       Special fund for the construction of super-speciality hospitals in the region.
s.      Establishment of broad-gauge railway stations at Sukna, Sevoke, Malbazar,Birpara and Kalchini.
t.       Concomitant opening of all closed tea-gardens within the region.
u.      Induction of personnel of the Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) in armed forces/paramilitary.
v.      Office of the Advocate-General for the region.
w.     More particularly, direct and special allocations for education, human resource development, environment and disaster management, employment generation, land and land use, settlement of land, rural and urban construction and regulation, etc.
x.      Establishment of a Tribal Research Institute.
y.      Such other powers and functions as may mutually be acceptable.

6. EXEMPTIONS:
a.     Waiver of all revenues including electricity, telephones, taxes and other revenues accruing as a result of the agitation for a separate State of Gorkhaland during 2007 to the date creation of the interim authority.
b.     Withdrawal of all criminal cases relating to the above period arising out of the agitation for a separate state in both Darjeeling District and the Dooars.
Schedule A
1.         Public order (but not including [the use of any naval, military or Air force or any other armed force of the Union or of any other force subject to the control of the union or of any contingent or unit thereof in aid of the civil power).
2.         Police (including railway and village police) subject to the provisions of entry
of List 1.)
3.         Local government, that is to say, the constitution and powers of municipal corporations, improvement trusts, district board, mining settlement authorities and her local authorities for the purpose of local self-government or village Administration.
4.         Public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries.
5.         Relief of the disabled and unemployable.
6.         Burials and burial grounds; cremations and cremation grounds.
7.         Libraries, museums and other similar institutions controlled or financed by the region; ancient and historical monuments and records than those [declared by or under law made by Parliament] to be or national importance].
8.         Communications, that is to say, roads, bridges, ferries, and other means of communication; municipal tramways; ropeways; inland waterways and traffic thereon with regards to such waterways; vehicles other than mechanically propelled vehicles.
9.         Agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases.
10.      Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice.
11.      Pounds and the prevention of cattle trespass.
12.      Water, that is to say, water supplies, irrigation and canals, drainage and embankments, water storage and water power.
13.      Land, that is to say, right in or over land, land tenures including the relation of landlord and tenant, and the collection of rents; transfer and alienation of agricultural land: land improvement and agricultural loans: colonization.
14.      Fisheries.
15.      Regulation of mines and mineral development subjects to the provisions of this    schedule with respect to regulation and development under the control of the Union.
16.      Industries subject to the provisions of this schedule.
17.      Trade and commerce within the State subject to the provisions mentioned in this schedule.
18.      Production, supply and distribution of goods subject to the provisions mentioned in this schedule.
19.      Markets and firs.
20.      Inns and inn-keepers.
21.      Incorporation, regulation and winding up of corporation, other than those specified in this schedule, and universities; unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, specified in this schedule, and universities. unincorporated trading, literary, scientific, religious and
22.      Theaters and dramatic performances; cinemas, sports. entertainments and amusements.
23.      Betting and gambling.
24.      Works, lands and buildings vested in or in the possession of the region.
25.      Elections to the Interim Authority of the region subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament.
26.      Salaries and allowances of members of the Interim Authority of the region, of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Interim Authority.
27.      Powers and privileges of the Interim Authority and of the members and the committees thereof and of persons for giving evidence or Producing documents before committees of the Interim Authority of the region.
28.      Salaries and allowances of members of Interim Authority for the region.
29.      Regional public services; Regional Public Service Commission.
30.      Treasure trove.
31.      Land revenue, including the assessment and collection of revenue, the maintenance of land records, survey for revenue purposes and records of rights, and alienation of revenues.
32.      Taxes on agricultural income.
33.      Duties in respect of succession to agricultural land.
34.      Estate duty in respect of agricultural land.
35.      Taxes on lands and buildings.
36.      Taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development.
37.      Duties of excise on the following goods manufactured or produced in the region and countervailing duties at the same or lower rates on similar goods manufactured or produced elsewhere in India:
(a) alcoholic liquors for human consumption;
(b)opium, Indian hemp and other narcotic drugs and narcotics, but not including medicinal and toilet preparations containing alcohol or any substance included in sub paragraph (b) of this entry.
38.      Taxes on the entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein.
39.      Taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity.
40.      Taxes on The sale or purchase of goods other than newspapers.
41.      Taxes on advertisements other than advertisements published in the newspapers 2 [and advertisements broadcast by radio or television].
42.      Taxes on goods and passengers carried by road or on inland waterways.
43.      Taxes on vehicles, whether mechanically propelled or not, suitable for use on roads, including tramcars subject to the provisions of this schedule.
44.      Taxes on animals and boats.
45.      Tolls.
46.      Taxes on professions, trades, callings and employments.
47.      Capitation taxes.
48.      Taxes on luxuries, including taxes on entertainments, amusements, betting and gambling.
49.      Rates of stamp duty in respect of documents other than those specified in the provisions of List 1 of the constitution with regard to rates of stamp duty.
50.      Offences against laws with respect to any of the matters in this List.
51.      Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the matters in this schedule.
52.      Fees in respect of any of the matters in this schedule, but not including fees taken in any court.
53.      Criminal law, including all matters included in the Indian Penal Code at the commencement of this Constitution but excluding offences against laws with respect to any of the matters specified in List I or List II of the Constitution and excluding the use of naval, military or air forces or any other armed forces of the Union in aid of the civil power.
54.      Criminal procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Criminal Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution.
55.      Preventive detention for reasons connected with the security of a State, the maintenance  
of public order, or the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the community; persons subjected to such detention.
56.      Marriage and divorce; infants and minors; adoption; wills, intestacy and succession; joint family and partition; all matters in respect of which parties in judicial proceedings were immediately before the commencement of this Constitution subject to their personal law.
57.      Transfer of property other than agricultural land; registration of deeds and documents.
58.      Contracts, including partnership, agency, contracts of carriage, and other special forms of contracts, but not including contracts relating to agricultural land.
59.      Actionable wrongs.
60.      Bankruptcy and insolvency.
61.      Trust and Trustees.
62.      Administrators-general and official trustees.
63.      Administration of justice; constitution and organisation of all courts, except the Supreme Court and the high Courts.
64.      Evidence and oaths; recognition of laws, public acts and records, and judicial  proceedings.
65.      Civil procedure, including all matters included in the Code of Civil Procedure at the commencement of this Constitution, limitation and arbitration.
66.      Contempt of court, but not including contempt of the Supreme Court.
67.      Vagrancy; nomadic and migratory tribes.
68.      Lunacy and mental deficiency, including places for the reception or treatment of lunatics and mental deficients.
69.      Prevention of cruelty to animals.
70.      Forests.
71.      Protection of wild animals and birds.
72.      Adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods.
73.      Drugs and poisons subject to the provisions of this schedule with respect to opium.
74.      Economic and social planning.
75.      Population control and family planning
76.      Commercial and industrial monopolies, combines and trusts.
77.      Trade unions; industrial and labour disputes.
78.      Social security and social insurance; employment and unemployment.
79.      Welfare of labour including conditions of work, provident funds, employers' liability, workmen's compensation, invalidity and old age pensions and maternity benefits.
80.      Education, including technical education, medical education and universities, vocational and technical training of labour.
81.      Legal. medical and other professions.
82.      Charities and charitable institutions, charitable and religious endowments and religious institutions.
83.      Prevention of the extension from one State to another of infectious or contagious diseases or pests affecting men, animals or plants.
84.      Vital statistics including registration of births and deaths.
85.      Ports other than those declared by or under law made by Parliament or existing law to be major ports.
86.      Shipping and navigation on inland waterways as regards mechanically propelled vessels, and the rule of the road on such waterways, and the carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways subject to the provisions of List I with respect to national waterways.
87.      Trade and commerce in, and the production, supply and distribution of —
a)      the products of any industry where the control of such industry by the Union is declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest, and imported goods of the same kind as such products;
b)        foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils;
c)        cattle fodder, including oil cakes and other concentrates;
d)        raw cotton, whether ginned or unginned, and cotton seed; and
e)        raw jute.
88.     Weights and measures except establishment of standards.
89.     Price control.
90.      Mechanically propelled vehicles including the principles on which taxes on such vehicles are tbe levied.
91.      Factories
92.      Boilers.
93.      Electricity.
94.      Newspapers, books and printing presses.
95.      Archaeological sites and remains other than those 2[declared by or under law made by
Parliament] to be of national importance.
96.      Custody, management and disposal of property (including agricultural land)   declared by law to be evacuee property.
97.      Acquisition and requisitioning of property.
98.      Recovery in a State of claims in respect of taxes and other public demands, including   arrears of land-revenue and sums recoverable as such arrears, arising outside that State.
99.      Stamp duties other than duties or fees collected by means of judicial stamps, but not including rates of stamp, duty.
100.  Inquiries and statistics for the purposes of any of the matters specified herein.
101.   Jurisdiction and powers of all courts, except the Supreme Court, with respect to any of the   matters in this schedule.
102.   Fees in respect of any of the matters in this schedule but not including fees taken in any court.