Mamata Banerjee with an elderly Lepcha member at the 4th foundation day function of Lepcha Development and Cultural Board. (PTI)
West Bengal Chief Minister today announced formation of a development board for the Mangar community residing in the state and sanctioned funds for the Lepcha Board.
"The Hill communities are very close to my heart. Today I have announced setting up of a development board for the Mangar community," Ms Banerjee said on a Facebook post during her tour to Darjeeling district.
She said funds have been sanctioned for construction of night schools, hostels for girls, jhora improvement schemes, apart from several other projects for the Lepcha Board, which would now be known as the West Bengal Mayal Lyang Lepcha Development Board.
"Today, I have handed over to them a cheque of Rs 10 crore for construction of 'Rong Lee' houses for Lepcha families. 2,000 such houses have already been completed and (work on) 1,000 more are going on, which will be completed very soon," the chief minister said.
Since its formation, the Lepcha Board has actively worked for development of housing, education, livelihood, sanitation, tourism and preservation and propagation of heritage, arts and crafts and language of the community, she said.
As a part of the 'Clean Darjeeling, Green Darjeeling' mission, the government has sanctioned 22,500 toilets for various Hill communities involving a substantial funding.
"We have taken a decision to build two 100-seater Youth Hostels - one for Lepcha Board and another for Tamang Board at Rs 5 crore each. The hostels will be equipped with solar lighting, solar heating, rainwater harvesting and other modern eco-friendly amenities," Ms Banerjee added.