After meeting with members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and other officials from Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government will set up four skill development centres in the hills.
These centres will give youths of the region the right platform to acquire the skills required to be employable in the job market. CM Banerjee said, “With this skill development centres many youths will soon be independent. Students from ITIs also get jobs immediately after completing their training.”
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In addition to chairman Anit Thapa, other GTA members and chairpersons of hill community development boards attended the meeting, where the primary focus was on creating employment and promoting regional development.
The District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, along with the principal secretaries of the backward class welfare and tribal development departments, were also present at the meeting.
The chief minister, reportedly, reviewed the GTA’s audit and outstanding dues. Additionally, she requested an update on the development board’s progress in the hills.
The District Magistrates of Darjeeling and Kalimpong were also instructed to provide updates on the repair work following recent natural disasters in the area. CM Banerjee stated that the state government was making additional efforts to support rehabilitation and development in disaster-affected regions.
She also announced the establishment of a monitoring cell to assess the development and audit works of the GTA. Anit Thapa will be the chairman of the cell.
The monitoring cell will also oversee structural changes in the development boards for hill communities that are scheduled over the next 45 days.
Additionally, CM Banerjee announced that the state government plans to distribute more title deeds (pattas) to tea garden workers in the hills.