“Chana Ghotala”? Irregularities in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration’s Handling of Bharat Dal Scheme (Chana Allocation)

The Bharat Dal initiative aims to supply pulses at subsidized rates through cooperatives like the National Consumer Cooperative Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) and NAFED to stabilize retail prices and meet dietary needs. However, the GTA’s implementation appears to have involved the swift appointment of an advisor, an immediate large-scale requisition, appointment of a private Kanpur-based firm as “Nodal Agency” without visible tender process, a substantial advance payment by that firm, and subsequent justifications amid apparent objections from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The advisor later resigned in April 2025.

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Dazzling Darjeeling

Sawane Sakranti: The Special Day We Pray to Mother Nature for Prosperity

Tonight hill folks take out a procession, wherein people carry a fire torch with local medicinal herb पट पटे to ward off the animals and pests, while crying out loud “ढंग ढंग राति…. सक्रंती…. उपिय्याँ जा रुपियाँ आइज” thus wishing for hardship to end and for prosperity to begin.


Bhasa Sangrami Shri. Gopal Singh Bhandari

His association with literature brought him in close contact with the who’s who of the Nepali Bhasa Manyata Andolan, in which he was an active participant. His articles and write-ups in Hindi and Urdu languages made people outside Darjeeling region aware of the plight of Nepali speaking Gorkhas. A dedicated foot soldier of Gorkha cause, Gopal Singh Bhandari openly supported the demand for Gorkhaland even as a Government servant. The then Govt of West Bengal transferred him to Krishnanagar as a punishment, following which he had resigned, but later the government relented.