For the last couple of days, members of the Drivers’ Welfare Association plying on the Balasun-Ringtong-Margaret Hope roads took time-off and spent time clearing the road and filling potholes to make the road fit to drive. However, there is only so much they can do without the necessary equipment and expertise.

A member of the association while speaking to TheDC states “Today, many students who were going to schools in Sonada returned home because they couldn’t walk through the road. Our association members did not ply taxis yesterday because we had to fix whatever little we could on the road. The residents and especially old and sick people are trapped here and unable to go out of the village. How long can this continue?” He asks.

An audio message sent by BA-RI-MA Drivers’ Welfare Association states that the major problem lies in the 7 Km stretch between Balasun to Gorabari, which include some deep turns and a huge waterlogging problem during the monsoon. He states that there are about 23 culverts installed in the 7 km stretch, at every 10 meters but without any proper survey or planning. He alleges that the culverts are erected in places where there is no drainage requirement, but those places that need a culvert don’t have one.

The audio states “while we understand there are business interests in installing so many unplanned culverts, we request the higher authorities to look into the matter urgently roads are one of the most important aspects of our region’s development. With such road conditions, our lives are threatened, students are unable to attend classes, and the general public is gravely inconvenienced.”

While corresponding with TheDC, a member of the association says “For the administration, the delay may be paperwork issues, but for us, it is a question about the education of our children, our daily income and employment, access to healthcare, and everything.” He says some engineers from Kolkata had visited the site a few days back. The Bha-Ri-Ma driver association and villagers had met with the engineers and requested to expedite the construction. “We even hosted them warmly with Khada and they assured that the construction will be taken on priority. We are worried that any further delay in the construction will stall the work for the whole year as Monsoon will soon hit the Hills.”

Requesting the authorities to urgently intervene in the matter, the Ba-Ri-Ma Drivers’ Association raises deep concern for the students who are missing their classes, for the old and sickly who are unable to travel for medical care, and even the livelihood of people who depend on daily wages.

There is always so much talk about development in the media, but without properly planned roads, we are simply putting people’s lives at risk.

The post Unplanned Road Constructions a grave public concern: Says Ba-Ri-Ma Drivers’ Welfare Association appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

With family, we first decided to visit the famous Rock Garden, one of Darjeeling’s most mesmerizing tourist spot, managed by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). We were enjoying the scenic drive along the Hills, but were suddenly jolted by heavy turbulence for almost 1 km from the beautiful spot. The broken roads, washed away by the monsoon rains was slippery, waterlogged, and full of pits. It brought back childhood memories of riding the Bullock Cart, just like a rocking cradle, with all passengers choreographically swinging as the roads demanded.

The next stop was the Chunnu Summer Falls, a site dedicated to one Gorkhaland movement ‘martyr’ and inaugurated by Late Subash Ghisingh. Though filled with emotions for the sacrifices made by the people for Gorkhaland statehood, I could not help notice the condition of the roads, torn everywhere.

The Rest House there had marks of ‘Khukuri’ cuts everywhere on the walls and doors; broken window panes, and shattered window glass everywhere. Feeling curious about the pathetic condition of the rest house, I mustered up some courage to ask to a staff about the neglect. Hesitatingly, making sure no one was around, the staff replied “Oh this is the Price of Gorkhaland movement 2017 when local goons broke and cut it in provocation of one leader Daju’s order. The crowd said thousands of rest houses can be constructed once, Gorkhaland, the 30th State in Union of India is achieved.” What a shame that Darjeeling’s heritage and properties was being damaged and vandalized by our own leaders.

Next, we paid our visit to Gangamaya Park, named after another martyr of Gorkhaland Statehood movement in 1986. The condition of the part was equally disappointing, severely lacking care and neglect. Some locals said that seasonal leaders rule Darjeeling with seasonal support from Kolkata. When one Valley doesn’t support a leader or party during its tenure, the punishments can be felt on the development of that valley.

One question that comes to mind – Why Development in Darjeeling has to suffer because of the vengeful politics of our Gorkhey local leaders? Such instances of petty politics make us understand the wisdom, knowledge and farsightedness of our leaders who are supposedly leading us towards statehood.

The last destination in our itinerary was Bijanbari. On the way, I notice how the road from Marybong to Pul Bazar was another such victim of vengeful seasonal politics. The entire trip has left me in a state of shock, pain, and made me question the politics of Darjeeling Gorkha leaders. This episode had made me question the politics of the West Bengal Government and its Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had promised to make Switzerland out of Darjeeling. And not to forget the new GTA leaders like Binoy Tamang, whose only promise after the 2017 agitation was Development of Darjeeling and Gorkhaland region. Whatever happened to those promises, but it time our leaders rise above their petty personal politics, seasonal enmity, insecurities, and vengeful politics in the Hills.

Jai Gorkhaland

Writes: Sanjay Subba

The post Sightseeing in Darjeeling: The Reality of Development and Switzerland Dreams appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Firstly, I would like to apologize to everyone for writing this, please I am not pointing out single individual but all of us, so I don’t want to hurt but bringing out the reality is needed at times.

On 14th February, most of the people where busy celebrating Valentine’s Day with their loved ones, there were a small group of people who Expressed their love to the Darjeeling and mother nature. A few volunteers from the Environmental Awareness Group came forward to clean up the main road connecting Darjeeling to Sonada.

With the number of people less than 15, they started the clean up drive from the bus stand Darjeeling. Slowly and steadily they moved forward cleaning up plastics, covers and wrappers of chocolates, chips, remnants of cigarettes, Water bottles etc. They cleaned up everything which could be done. All through the clean up drive, only a handful of people came to support the volunteers.

Only three people came forward and helped the volunteers by giving some water and one individual offered Rs 100, while the other two people gave water. Remaining people just looked at the volunteers cleaning up and went off on their own way. But the spirit of those 15 people involved in the clean-up drive was high and they didn’t give up. They continued on their own and tried cleaning up almost everything that they could. It was difficult, but they persisted and managed to collect a pick-up van full of plastics.

Anyhow the clean up drive was the successful and the members of the of environmental awareness group were very happy.

But after a few days, that is on 17th of February, I went to Darjeeling and what I saw made me feel that our people will never understand the value of the cleanliness. Every place that was cleaned up by the Environmental Awareness Group was again turned into a mess by the locals. I don’t know whether the people are not aware of the health hazards that can be caused due to waste or pollution created by the plastic, or they are just waiting everyday for a group of volunteers to come and clean up the place.

Everyone is busy in blaming the terrorist that attacked the CRPF convoy but the actual problem we are not realising that the plastic we are using and the wrappers that we throw outside the window of the vehicles are also destroying our country internally and not only that but it is also contributing towards the destruction of mother earth.

A terrorist group was responsible for the attack done on the CRPF convoy at Pulwama district, but who will take the responsibility of making the country internally weak by making the country roads dirty and throwing plastics?

We talk about great ideas and great thoughts but until and unless we change our habits, nothing is going to prevent the world from ending, the humanity to become extinct and the Earth – our mother nature to be lifeless.

We still have time to act and save ourselves from the wrath of pollution. The least you can do is, if you cannot come forward and clean the town area on the roadside, please make sure that you don’t contribute towards the deposits of the waste.

Please don’t make our place dirty and walk off. There are always some good people who come forward to clean up, but please if you can’t lend your hands to clean up, then please do not discourage them by making the places, which they have cleaned up, dirty.

Writes: Rajat Thakuri

The post Terrorists – External and Internal appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Bucking the trend practiced elsewhere in Bengal, the authorities at Kurseong court premise are actively promoting the use of purely organic fertilizers and manures in the court premises. In order to ensure everyone contributes, they haven’t made any urinal for the general public. This ingeniousness on the part of court authorities has ensured that everyone who can or needs to, does their share of watering the plants, and in case of super emergency, even provide manure to them.

However, there are certain sections of the people who feel left out – women. They are actually deprived of their right to contribute to such a novel cause. After all who wouldn’t want to do their fair share of keeping Bengal clean? But then again, do women really need to pee?

While the common people are contributing this way, it is unfair that the authorities don’t do their part, and instead waste their waste in toilets. We request and urge the officials too to contribute in the same way as the general public are made to do.

Congratulations Kurseong court authorities, you guys honestly deserve to be rewarded.

TheDC Editorial Note: Before a few “sarcasm challenged” people start to lambast us, please note – This is a satire, written to shame the officials at Kurseong court premise into providing a urinal for the general public. Hope they will kindly look into the issue, and do the needful at the earliest.

The post NIRMAL BANGLA: Kurseong Court Premise – Uses Innovative Organic Fertilizers and Manure appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Locals have informed us that the original tender for the bridge on Dabai Khola, Tangta was opened in 2013, and constructions for the bride commenced in 2016. Yet there has been no progress, and completion of the project seems a far way off.

Yesterday, a huge rally was held at the bridge construction site, against the contractors who have not completed the work, and also against the government officials who haven’t taken any action against the erring contractors.

The post The Never Ending Wait for a Bridge on River Dabai Khola, Tangta appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Now coming back to the point, I myself have never been subjected to such culture of “fund raising”, except for once when we were given raffle sheets of a small amount to support a fellow student who was fighting some kind of disease – for a very valid reason, to say. But then, I would always see my friends from other schools trying to sell raffle every year.

I hadn’t given much thought on it. But recently, I came across a little kid in my neighbourhood trying to sell lottery tickets. I took a closer look at it. The lottery was issued by his school, each ticket came at a cost of Rs. 20, and a list of ludicrous prizes were printed on it. The purpose behind the lottery was also mentioned on the ticket – it said “for building school ground”.

And I ask “Why?”

We all know that education is as of now one of the most flourishing businesses in the hills. And when normal means of profit making doesn’t satisfy the management, they resort to such unscrupulous ways of earning, every year on a constant basis.

If you notice it closely, there is a definite pattern that the schools follow.

The prices of the tickets vary along the repute and the economic stature of the schools, and for some very “reputed” schools, the prices are surprising. The maths is simple – You give education, you charge for it. The school fees incorporates in detail all the expenses that need to be accounted plus the profits, including vacation months when the schools remain closed. There is a special section in the fee receipt that says ‘development fees”, and even if it isn’t mentioned, it is anyway incorporated one way or the other.

So, if a school is already charging for all its necessity, why put an additional liability on the students and thus to the society?

Moreover, the lotteries are never a part of the school’s contract with its students. Not just lotteries, the schools have through the years evolved a network of systems that can suck out money from the people. Uniforms, books and copies, bags, accessories, magazines, fetes, and the list runs longer.

The problem isn’t just with schools; the problem is also with us.

Education for us has always been important, and schools in the hills have been the most sacred institution. Whatever a school says is right for us, and we never mind to question the decisions of the school and humbly submit to their demands.

I maybe wrong at many places here, but yes I believe in what I have said. The society may come forward and contribute if a student in some school has some ailment and genuinely needs help. But please stop bothering people for building your ground, terraces or simply raising your bank balance.

We Are Greedy School Raffle

The post Schools, Raffles, Lotteries and A Humble Question – Why? appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

Just a little distance from Singtam fatak, the road access to villages like Ramlal Dhura, Rockvill, Dhanmand Dhura, Godam Dhura are next to non-existent.  One of the locals, a 70 year old Gajdish Rai who wants to see Tar line up the road before he dies questioned, “I have lived without roads, but will my grand children have to suffer the same as me?”

According to a local Mahesh Dewan, “the road work has started in 2013, but it was stopped midway, then again they laid foundation stone for the road in 2017, and after constructing a few walls and parapate, the work has again been stopped.”

Singtam Road – They dug but left

Mr. Madan Rai of the Ramlal Dhura Gram Sudhar Samiti has stated, “In the two-phases, only 10% of the road construction has actually been undertaken. They dug few patches and left, now during rainy season we suffer more, the students have a harrowing time getting to school and back.”

There are over 1000 residents who live in the 5 villages, and they have to suffer a lot, especially while transporting sick and elderly to town. Many a times, people have died while being transported to the main road. This utter apathy and neglect has left the residents fuming.

Will the administration “wake up” and ensure that this road is completed, or will they continue to neglect such basic infrastructural needs, while parroting “development”?

Only time will tell

No Roads in Singtam

The post Singtam T.E Residents Deprived of Roads appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

I am not sure if it’s same every day or just today only. From the people in queue around me – someone said “Yestai Ho”, someone said “yeti saro ta hudaina aru bela” and someone said “Aaju ta kamti po hola”, and another one added “ladies haru ko ta jhan laamo cha… para sama”.

Here I also noticed that this space in OPD section of district hospital is multipurpose. Its space for the line to stand to get the appointment tickets, its space for patients, their relatives, and hospital staff to walk, it’s also space for patients to wait for their turn to visit the doctor – WAITING ROOM.

Super-speciality

There I remembered a TV debate last year where a TMC leader claimed in live TV that “Didi has made super-specialty hospital in Darjeeling”. May be she was talking about this MULTIPURPOSE corridor. The rush suggested it was indeed super special, even fish markets down in Calcutta are less crowded.

Thok-ko-Bhau-Ma Checkup

Then I hear someone saying “Paanch Paanch jana halcha, chito huncha”. I asked her “Paanch Paanch jana?” She said “hajur ekfero maa paanjana check garcha”. I was surprised and a little shocked to hear that. But then I looked around. The crowd of some hundred people and that time limitation. We CANNOT BLAME doctors and staff for that… maybe they are trying their best to reach all the patients.

There, that “Paanch paanch jana” thing made me decide to not leave but see and experience how the things go.

Doctor: “K bhayo?”

Me: “Bhudi poldai cha”

Doctor: “Kaa nira?”

Me: “Yaha” – while showing where I am having trouble

Doctor: While writing something in paper…“Khorsani khayo?? Huh? ”

He forwarded that paper to one of the lady staffs; she wrote something in another paper and told me to get those medicines from room 22. I thanked them and came out.

That’s it. In a minute I was out of that room. The doctor barely touched me. Maybe he is Experienced enough, or, as I said earlier, he (they) need to cover the hundreds of patients within a limited span of time. Maybe that is the best they can offer. While coming out I saw the crowd and thought to myself, No, we cannot blame the doctors. If they are to examine each of those patients properly it would take them week/s.

• Hospital Administration – Can we have a separate place for ticket counter in OPD section? Maybe somewhere nearby so that that ‘Multipurpose’ corridor can be used for Waiting Room (as you have mentioned there in the signboard or info-board) and freely walking purpose?
• While I was standing in line, a lady who seemed to be a staff there said.. “Uu yeta ko gate kholdinu bhanera sabai jana le request garnus na.. hami le bhannu apthero huncha.. tyo gate kholdyo bhane ta sajilo huncha ni”. Which gate she was talking about? Hospital administration, can you talk with lower staff who seem to have better knowledge about to make things easy and take suggestions from them to make things easier for patients coming there??
• Hello so-called Development kaari Local netas and so-called Development ki Devi jyu, What happened to another hospital (Sadar hospital) that used to be there earlier in Darjeeling? Kosle khayo Sadar hospital?? With the increment population the medical facilities (Hospitals, Doctors,) should increase, how come its decreasing in ours?
• Why cannot we have more hospitals at least with 10-20 beds, with some basic life-saving medical facilities and a full-time general physician, weekly or fortnight visit of specialist doctors from District hospitals in every 2-3 GTA constituencies? There are already a few hospitals which can be converted as suggested. This can reduce a huge pressure in District Hospital and will also help in reducing reduce traffic problem in town with population de-concentration.
• Why ddi that old and weak baajey from Dhajey have to travel some 40 Kms to just to have his blood sugar level test?? Why cannot these basic facilities available therein?? Instead of just making bogus claims in speeches and media why do you do some real work?
• Why does a place like Darjeeling with high population density – have a district hospital catering to over 5 lakh people just have a very few doctors? Health is one of the foremost infrastructures of Developing society and the status is dismal in our region.
  How can you boast about your development works with such PATHETIC medical facilities?? What is the Doctor : Patient : People ratio in our region? (Also requesting our RTI activist can help me find this)
  – How much you, especially our local leaders have invested in the creation of human resources (doctors) needed for the Medical sector??
  – Hello our society and people, how many doctors we are producing? Forget about a specialist, how many general physicians we have produced as of now? Where are they? Do we have? How many of them are giving back (serving) to our society?

Dear society, till when we will have this attitude of “khai yestai cha abo.. ke garnu ra”? Till when we will keep saying “aaa bhai ta gayo abo”?

[Writes: Vikram Chettri]

The post MOUNTAINS AND MOLEHILLS: Abysmal Health Infrastructure in the Hills appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

यस बेला सडकमा छताछुल्ल हुँदा गाडी दुर्घटना हुन सक्ने सम्भावना रहेको छ।यस बिषयमा पनि सम्बन्धित निकाय खण्ड बिकास अधिकारी, पुलिस प्रशासन, शिक्षा बिभाग सबैतिर पत्राचार गरेको धेरै भयो तर कतैबाट पनि पहल नभएको गुणाषो बिधालयकी शिक्षक प्रभारी सरोजा भारतीले बताएकी छिन्।बिधालयमा महिला र पुरुषको अलग अलग शौचालय निर्माणका लागि पनि पत्राचार गरिएको छ।तर महिलाको मात्रै शौचालय छ।पुरुषको शौचालय छैन।बिधार्थीहरूले यसरी निकै सास्ती खेप्नुपरेको छ।समस्यै समस्याले ग्रसित यस बिधालयका मरमतिको निम्ति सम्बन्धित निकायले ध्यान दिनुपर्ने देखिन्छ।सरकारी बिधालयको स्थिति नाजुक हुनु भनेको सरकारको उदासीन नीति पनि झल्किन्छ।यस दिशामा बर्तमान जीटीए बीएओ, शिक्षा बिभाग र सरकारले पनि ध्यान दिनुपर्छ भन्ने धारणा व्यक्त गरेका छन् ।बिधालय परिवारले पनि सुधार हुन्छ भन्ने आशा साचेका छन्।

The post फुवागढी उमाबिको नाजुक स्थिति appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.

These places are as far away from each other and as different as possible, but they are similar due to the nature of the crime which shook them to the very foundations, laying bare questions of morality and humanity. All three places, the scene of a gruesome crime involving innocent minors, perpetrated by the very people who are supposed to serve and protect the interests of the people under their care.

The victims at Kathua, Unnao and Darjeeling are all vulnerable minors. Each have been sexually abused by people who were supposed to protect them, people in power, religious heads and police personnel. The story of each victim is heartwrenching, as each have succumbed to the violent attacks in them and the two who have survived in Unnao and Darjeeling will probably never recover from psychological trauma, an aftermath of their ordeals at the hands of these brutal and bestial perpetrators.

However though there were widespread protests which are still on going in different parts of the country for the children of Kathua and Unnao, there has been little done for the victims in Darjeeling. No doubt opinions have been voiced on social media but little response was garnered when #Marg decided to call all public citizens to Divyavani (on 17/3/2018)to express their solidarity and support this victim of a  most heinous crime. Very few came when it was time to file an FIR against the perpetrator and to deliver justice to this little child.

It is about time we all came out of our comfort zones, travelled within the confines of Facebook and WhatsApp and voice our indignation on the streets so that concrete steps may be taken by those in power to bring to book these barbaric predators.

Let’s come together so that what happened in Darjeeling, Kathua and Unnao may never happen again.

Only then can we deliver justice to our innocent young people who believe in us and trust in our protection.

No outrage for Gorkha daughters.

Writes: Kamlesh Rai – is a teacher at St. Teresa’s School, Darjeeling and is associated with MARG

The post In Vogue: Outrage – But Not For Our Own appeared first on The Darjeeling Chronicle.