Tribal populace in W Bengal foothills to begin aggressive movement demanding VIth schedule status

SILIGURI: After the Gorkha activists in Darjeeling hills, this is the turn of Tribal populace of adjoining foothills to come down to the turf of aggressive movement field.

With high demographic contribution in foothills of West Bengal and own agility, apparently simple minded tribal populace holds immense potential to generate enough worry for the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad(ABAVP), the all India organization of the tribals, have decided to initiate a massive movement demanding VIth schedule status for the foothills of West Bengal.

"We are not ready to give any place under the ruling of Gorkhas. Instead, we want all the Tribal dominated areas at present under the Governance of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC) to be taken out and put under VIth schedule," said Mr. S. Damor, ABAVP All India president.

It may be recalled that Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM), demanding separate statehood for Darjeeling hills, is asking for foothills also to be put under the governance of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration( GTA), a planned replacement of existing DGHC to govern hills areas.

But ABAVP never accepted it. The report of Justice Shyamal Sen committee recommending five mouzas of foothills to be put under GTA has reignited the fury of tribals.

" Tribals with their grossly different ethnicity and culture can never be given under Gorkha governance," said Mr. Damor while strongly demanding entire foothills to be put under VIth schedule status of Indian constitution that has been designed especially to give special administrative status and financial benefit to the tribal dominated areas.

"We will start our movement as soon as possible," said Mr. Birsa Tirkey, ABAVP WB state President.

"Tribal communities contribute over 50% of the West Bengal foothills populace. Naturally, any agitation from their side is bound to be of great magnitude. In addition, their simple mind but agile physical nature are bound to make these agitations very aggressive in nature," said political observers.

To complicate the scenario further, a section of tribals are supporting Gorkha activists and naturally alienated from the mainstream ABAVP. Hence, there is a major possibility of in-fight within tribal groups that is also going to cause enough law and order disturbances at remote corners of the state foothills far from Government's close watch.