Interview with Mr. Pranay Rai - MLA

Pranay Rai- Young and Dynamic, Member of Legislative Assembly from Darjeeling Constituency, was interviewed on 17 September 2006 by DarjeelingTimes Correspondent at his Chamber, Unique Building, Chowk Bazaar, Darjeeling.

DT: What inspired you to get into politics? Were you interested in politics? How did you get into politics?

MLA: As a matter of fact, nothing inspired me, I rather say, it was change of time, situation, and circumstances that made me part of this political scenario. In the year 1986, when Gorkhaland Agitation started, I actively participated in the activities. In 1987, I joined the College politics under the banner of GNSF (Gorkha National Student Front). I was elected for the first time and that was the first and last Students Union in history of St. Joseph’s College administration. In the year 1988, I was arrested under the various Act of Indian Panel Codes. After that I joined the University and passed out in the year 1994 and started my practice specializing in Criminal Laws. I was very imminent debater in the University and represented the University in National Level and stood Second in Banaras Hindu University. This is how my interest towards how to speak or interact with public that came into being.

In the year 2004 during the Municipality Election, I got the Ticket from ward no. 18, I was elected with highest no. of votes, it’s a record in West Bengal, I won by 99 per cent of votes. And I actively participated in Social and Political measures. This year I got the ticket for MLA and I won convincingly, this is the way, its not that I always desired to be a politician, so, it is a question of time, it is the person encompasses and converse into the right place.

DT: As a MLA representing people of Darjeeling, what do you think that you have the responsibilities towards the Darjeeling and its people?

MLA: As a matter of fact, what I feel, there are various way that a person does politics, what I feel at the present context is positive, constructive vision, so that your representation will be justified, So, what I am going to do, how I am going to justify to the people is by catering the local issues for example, water is the major problem, streets, employments etc.

DT: Recently you have completed 100 days as a MLA, did you evaluate your performance? Are you satisfied with your performances? What are the outcomes?

MLA: Well, Rome was not built in a day, so, it takes time. Well, if I have to assess the 100 days, what I would say is, well, people have sent me to the Assembly to ventilate the grievances for the better development of Darjeeling, society at large, when the first Assembly took place, pre budget session, I voiced lot of demands, such as Chungthung Tea Garden, which is locked tea garden….

DT: But problem has not been solved even after so many rounds of talk?

MLA: Yes, it has not been solved, it is chronic problem, well, it’s like Tuberculosis, and I can not say its Cancer. It takes time to cure, I got positive talks. With the amount of pressure I put, at least the rounds of talks are taking place, instead of being silent like other tea gardens. Something positive will take place.

Other voice I raised was regarding youths, implementation and upgrading of colleges of Hills, introduction of post graduate studies subjects like English, Nepali, Geography, Tea technology, Business Administration….

DT: Recently St. Joseph’s College introduced the post graduate Studies in English, your voice at Assembly, was supportive?

MLA: No..No.. I can not say that, St. Joseph’s College authorities were doing lot of things since long. So, even in Assembly I raised the voice to upgrade the colleges of its infrastructure to cater higher studies, for the students who can not afford to go Siliguri or NBU for post graduate studies.

There was a problem of introduction of School Service Commission, in higher secondary school such as; St. Teresa, Nepali Girls High School, High School, St. Roberts, St. Michel, etc., which I initiated the matter, for their unconditional contributions towards the welfare of society.

National highway for the first time in the history of Darjeeling 0 to 4 km road has been masticated. What I am doing, I think, I am doing my best, within very short span of time with my best of capacity..

Looking at previous candidate, I think I am satisfied, that I have catered so many Problems and Issues of Darjeeling, which have given the good impact upon the people in a very short span of time, and numerous activities are going on.

DT: What are the major Plans and Project for Darjeeling?

• Over-Bridges are being constructed all over the Darjeeling, under my head certain funds are there,
• Regarding water, Municipal Chairman doing lot on the issue • 4th Lake Reservoir will be under construction in Tiger Hill very soon, with the sufficient volume of water required for Darjeeling people.
• Parking Places
• Bus Terminals
• Taxi Stands
• Expansion of Town.

DT: Which Project has the priority?

MLA: I have a list of priorities in my laptop, water is the major problem,
Higher Educations, etc.,

DT: Any program relating to generate the employments in the Hills or economic package for Darjeeling?

MLA: Unemployment is the global problem…

DT: What I mean to say is, at some point most of the youths of Darjeeling leaving after Graduation or Post Graduate, which is brain-drain…

MLA: You are right… That is the reason why we are talking about Gorkhaland, that’s why we are talking about Sixth Schedule, where we have our own systems, at the present context Gorkhaland is quite impossible. Once Darjeeling Hills is included in Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, lots of employments will be generated.

So far what I have done as a MLA for employments is ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) program which is the scheme for rural area but for the first time I have applied it on Darjeeling town, creating 60 centres all over Darjeeling, employing under Graduate candidates in each centre.

DT: Your activities, performance etc. what so ever you are doing, the guidelines are given by your party or you are doing your own?

MLA: Certain guidelines are given by our party. We study observe, analyze the merits and demerits of issues and problems and we act accordingly and reach into conclusions, after all, it is not a one man show.

DT: What party manifesto do you have?

MLA: We are not like the CPI-M party who has the manifesto, who is very vocal; we look into the need of people, some people are asking what did the DGHC do since 1988 and my question is what did you do before 1988 after independence? At least within a span of 18 or 20 years, lots of activities are going on. Look at Sodenangta, the place is almost like Siberia, under-privileged place, Sri Khola, Barbate, Rani, Buglung, Dabaipani etc. people now, at least, economically sound, door to door vehicles are plying, so that they are now able to sell their agricultural products.


DT: Are you still associated with Municipality Conservation Dept.?

MLA: Yes, I am still a councilor. But being the Member of Assembly, it is wider to work on, too many things to work out..…

DT: I mean, recent news was that somebody was taking over your responsibility from Conservation Dept?

MLA: Regarding that we had discussion among the GNLF party and temporarily given this responsibility to Mr. Dinesh Gurung, Councilor of Chandbari Ward.

DT: Since you are associated with Conservation Department, do you have the Solid and Liquid Waste Management System in the Dumping Chute?

MLA: Segregation in the primary level, which we tried and we are still trying. Segregate the bio-medical waste, degradable and non-degradable waste is very difficult. We have wide plans for that; general people awareness campaign should be implemented. We have already sent a proposal to Pollution Board of West Bengal for segregation at the last level. And it is going to be implemented. Attitude of people also need to be changed. Under my leadership, many ‘Jhoras’ have been cleared, most of the drains are illegally engrossed. Most of ‘Jhoras’, Drains, Public Toilets were built during the British time, I assure you, all have been revived and they are functioning today, I repaired it… but ultimately as I said, attitude of people comes first. Even though, we are trying our best to feed the people at every household level, local level to change the attitude of people regarding garbage delivery.

DT: We can visibly witness spits on the roads in every 5 to 10 meters of area. May be, Darjeeling is a cold place, so, people might have always cough and cold, that may be reason of spitting. Did you have or do you have any awareness program or campaign regarding that?

MLA: In September 2005, we declared the small area from Kevinter to around Mall as the ‘Spit less Zone’ and installed the 98 movable and non-movable vats and we implemented fine for that. But we had adverse impact on election; we did for the welfare of tourism, we can not think about Singapore staying at Darjeeling, this is the attitude of people. People did not like it; I did my best as being the member of Conservancy Dept. Many Public Toilets have been turned into pay toilets for cleanliness and maintenance.

DT: Very soon Sixth Schedule will be implemented in Darjeeling Hills, what is this? And what could be your role as a MLA after implementation of Sixth Schedule?

MLA: Sixth Schedule is very important provision under Indian Constitution, it is basically safeguard customs and rights of Tribal people, and it has legislative as well as judicial powers. In the DGHC we have only Executives powers, we never had the legislative powers to legislate the rules and regulation, and we never had judicial power to safeguard the rules and regulations.

We work as liaison between Gorkha Hill Council under Sixth Schedule and State Government.

DT: Your party has recent demand is inclusion of all Gorkha communities into Tribal status, it that true? And how seriously are you working on that?

MLA: We all are tribal; look at the census of 1931, the pre-independence census, everybody was tribal. After 1957, we have been categorized, we lost the Tribal status, look at Rai, Limbus, Dewan, they are all same, Limbus are Tribe but not Rai and Dewan. How can that be? So, this is the confusion always been created by the Government. And we are fighting for that.

DT: How do you look at Bharatiya Parisang, the non-political party demanding Gorkhaland? And United Gorkha Revolution Front?

MLA: This is the democratic country, everybody has right to voice, we have got nothing to loose. We can not condemn, we can not support them. Look, we have our own problems, agendas, how to bring changes in the Hills. We got nothing to say.

DT: What about Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Scam, can we expect the conclusion of this scam?

MLA: Off course! We are very serious about it. We are the one who filed the case, we are following up the case and pressurizing to administration regarding one of the main culprit Mr. Lakpa Rynden, who is absconding at large.

DT: Finally, how serious are you with your Opposition Parties, about the issues they raise?

MLA: Democracy is there because of Opposition, what ever issues they raise at large for the society, I take it positively, as a MLA, I should think and study about it. But when the politicians comment on an individual's character, it is very bad, and then I think, politics becomes very dirty, we must condemn such politics.