GTA’s Ajoy Edwards demands disclosure of landslide grant beneficiaries
The Statesman | 22 November 2025
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabhasad Ajoy Edwards has fired off a letter to the newly-appointed Darjeeling District Magistrate, Manish Mishra, demanding full transparency in the Housing Grant disbursal for victims of the 5 October landslides.
In a strongly worded communication, Edwards welcomed Mishra to his new role but stressed that his appointment came “at a defining moment,” with hundreds of affected families across the district alleging glaring irregularities in relief distribution.
According to Edwards, numerous residents have complained that they were left out of the beneficiary list or did not receive the sanctioned amount despite suffering significant damage during the landslides triggered by relentless rainfall.
Calling the situation “deeply concerning,” Edwards urged the DM to immediately publish a complete, block-wise and municipality-wise beneficiary list, including the amount allocated to each household.
“Only full transparency can restore public trust,” he wrote, insisting that the administration must demonstrate fairness and accountability as discontent grows among affected families.
Edwards added that making the data public would not only address widespread doubts but also strengthen confidence in Mishra’s leadership during an already fraught rehabilitation process.