The development and cultural board constituted by the Mamata Banerjee government seven years ago for adivasis has been non-functional for over a year.

“For the past 15 months, no member-secretary (government official) has been on the board. The last member-secretary was transferred in the previous year. Around ₹3 crore is lying unutilised with the board. We fail to understand why the board was formed then with the promise to work for the socio-economic development of the tribal community,” said Birsa Tirkey, a former chairman of the board and the state president of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad.

Adivasis make up around six per cent of the state’s population. In 2017, the chief minister announced the West Bengal Adivasi Development & Cultural Board.

According to sources, the board was formed to build houses, community halls and cultural centres in tribal-dominated areas. “Also, funds are to be provided for drinking water supply, street lights and toilets in such areas,” said a source.

According to the chief minister’s decision, the board’s office was set up in Malbazar, a tribal-dominated area in Jalpaiguri, and Tirkey was made the chairman.

“Four employees were recruited for the office. There is no authorised signatory to sign on chequebooks and these employees have not received salaries in the past 15 months. There are no funds to meet daily expenses to run the office. This is utterly disappointing,” said Tez Kumar Toppo, a former member of the board.

He said the government had reconstituted the board in March and the chief minister was made the chairperson.

“Among the new members, only one representative is from north Bengal. We doubt whether the state sincerely wants adivasis’ progress through the board,” Toppo said.

Malbazar is the constituency of Bulu Chik Baraik, the state tribal affairs minister.

“We don’t know why he is silent on the issue. He should immediately take it up with the chief minister so that the board becomes functional again,” said a tribal leader in the Dooars.

Baraik could not be contacted. His personal assistant, when contacted,
declined comments and asked this correspondent to call the minister.

Mahua Gope, the Jalpaiguri district TMC president, said: “It is a matter of the state government. Even then, I will talk to the (state tribal affairs) minister and the former members of the board.”