Mamata provides support for development of handicrafts,olden art forms in Hills

Kalimpong: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her government is providing support to the people of the Hills for building houses, livelihood,preservation of language and culture and development of handicrafts and traditional art forms.

"Today we handed over cheque of Rs 10 crore to the Tamang Board as first instalment for construction of 1,000 houses. We also released funds to the Sherpa Board and the Bhutia Board for construction of houses for our Sherpa and Bhutia brothers and sisters," Banerjee said at a function organised by the Tamang Development and Cultural Board at Graham's Homes.

"On the invitation of the Tamang Development and Cultural Board, I was present at their First Foundation Day celebration in Kalimpong today," she later said in a Facebook post adding the Board was formed by the Trinamool Congress government in July, 2014.

Appreciating the gathering, Banerjee said it was a very colourful show with thousands of participants comprising various indigenous people of the Hills turning out in their traditional attire and performing their arts.

"My Tamang brothers and sisters conferred on me the title 'Nalsang Dolma' (The Goddess of Light). I feel humbled with their love and affection. I want them to shine and smile always," the Chief Minister said in her post.

Banerjee was likely to attend a programme hosted by the Lepcha Development Board at the Kalimpong Mela Ground tomorrow and was scheduled to return to Kolkata on September 17.