Gurung seeks quota for poor schoolkids

BIMAL GURUNG

TT; RAJEEV RAVIDAS Kalimpong, Aug. 29: Bimal Gurung today said big English-medium schools in the hills must reserve 10 seats for children from economically weaker sections. Gurung, who was addressing Gorkha Janmukti Morcha workers on his first visit to Kalimpong after taking over as the GTA chief executive, said he has asked the two executive members in charge of education — Roshan Giri and R.B. Bhujel — to work out the modalities and talk to the schools.

 “Big schools like St. Paul’s and North Point (St. Joseph’s School) in Darjeeling and similar schools in Kalimpong and other parts of the hills must reserve at least 10 seats for deserving children from poor families,” he said. The Morcha president said poor children must have access to quality education to ensure a better future. School principals in the hills have declined comment.

 One of them, who did not want to be named, said the school would study the quota proposal when it is brought before it. “I run a school called Kanchenjungha Public School in Darjeeling where I provide free education to many poor children. The children are being given very good education and are being brought up in a good environment.

 I want them to be educated in such a manner that when they go outside for higher studies, they face other students with confidence and on equal terms,” Gurung said. None of the school heads The Telegraph spoke to wanted to comment on Gurung’s quota plan. “The proposal is yet to come to us. 

We will have to study the demand as and when it is brought to us before making any comment,” said a school principal on condition of anonymity. Gurung, during his speech, repeatedly assured the students that he would work towards bettering their lot. He also announced that a bus will be provided between Darjeeling and Cluny Women’s College at 8 Mile here using cash from the MP local area development funds.

 The Morcha president, who arrived here from Kurseong after paying his respects to Father Abraham, who passed away yesterday, paid rich tribute the educationist and philanthropist, hailing him as the Father of Gorkhas. State affidavit The state government on Wednesday filed an affidavit at the high court against a case filed by GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh challenging the validity of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Act, 2011. The affidavit, filed before Justice Dipankar Dutta, held that the GTA Act was constitutionally valid as it had been endorsed by the President. It also said Ghisingh’s contention that the act was passed without amending the Constitution was incorrect.

 The state had powers to draft laws and get them passed by the President. The affidavit also stated that the act was necessary to form a new autonomous body for the development of the hills as the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council had failed. 

“The tripartite agreement on the GTA was signed by the Centre, state and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on July 18, 2011 and Ghisingh challenged it after a year and the court should declare the case as not maintainable and ask Ghisingh to pay the cost,” the affidavit read.

 In another affidavit, filed by Morcha president Bimal Gurung, it was stated that Ghisingh’s case against the GTA Act was “politically motivated.” He added that Ghisingh was not accepted in the hills. Justice Dutta after hearing both the sides said the case would come up for hearing on September 14. He also directed the Centre, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the ABGL to file affidavits stating their views on Ghisingh’s plea before September 13.