West Bengal Government announced to constitute two task forces for tribals, Gorkhas

West Bengal Government on 24 February 2016 announced its decision to constitute two task forces for the development of Adivasis and Gorkhas living the state.

One task force will work for the tribals of the Terai-Dooars and the other for the Gorkhas living in the Darjeeling Hills region in northern part of the State.

These task forces will have working authority akin to the development boards constituted earlier.

The decision to the effect was taken at the State Cabinet meet held on 17 February 2016. But the announcement was made by State Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Arup Biswas at a meeting of the Dooars Siliguri Terai Bhartiya Nepali Development Forum (DSTBNDB) held on 24 February.

Earlier, the State Government had set-up six development boards for the Lepchas, Bhutias, Sherpas, Tamangs, Mangars and Khambu-Rais inhabiting in the north Bengal region.

About Dooars region

Dooars, meaning door, is synonymous with the term Terai used in Nepal and northern India and form the only nitrate rich soil in India.

These areas are the floodplains and foothills of the eastern Himalayas in North-East India around Bhutan and the region is divided by the Sankosh River into the Eastern and the Western Dooars, consisting of an area of 8800 square kilometer.

The Dooars region politically constitutes the plains of Darjeeling District, the whole of Jalpaiguri district and Alipurduar district and the upper region of Cooch Behar district in West Bengal and the districts of Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Goalpara and Bongaigaon in the state of Assam.