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Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Audio-visual awarness to boost polio vaccination
Reporting by Manas R Bannerjee
MALDA. Dec.29.(India)- In order to bring success in pulse polio immunisation on 15 January 2006, the district administration has launched an awareness programme with a difference.
The district magistrate said that they have been preparing a 30-minute documentary video film and an audiocassette for the ignorant people who love folk songs and its culture.
Today the district magistrate and the sabahdhipati were editing a mother copy of a video film that was finally made on district’s folk based songs and dramas just to make another audio cassette selecting five songs from it on the subjects of pulse polio, sanitation and literacy.
The objective of such a campaign is to make a good progress report on sanitation in this district, officials said.
The Malda administration had been criticized by the state officials in several monitoring committee meeting earlier owing to bad progress report on sanitation that had put the district in health hazards.
The songs have explained utility for setting up latrine in every house. But how the people belonging to below the poverty line group will avail it from sanitary mart organised by various NGOs in rural areas and its minimum costs?
" Video and audio cassettes will be distributed to each block soon. A few tabloids will also be made for its campaigning.
The programme would be continued from 2 to 15 January 2006 in the first phase", said Mr. Abhijit Choudhuri , the Malda D M .
The district magistrate said that they would have to meet the targeted figure of 60,000 this financial year setting up such latrine in rural belts.
In-fact ill date the administration has been able to set up 25,000 latrines this year, he added.
MALDA. Dec.29.(India)- In order to bring success in pulse polio immunisation on 15 January 2006, the district administration has launched an awareness programme with a difference.
The district magistrate said that they have been preparing a 30-minute documentary video film and an audiocassette for the ignorant people who love folk songs and its culture.
Today the district magistrate and the sabahdhipati were editing a mother copy of a video film that was finally made on district’s folk based songs and dramas just to make another audio cassette selecting five songs from it on the subjects of pulse polio, sanitation and literacy.
The objective of such a campaign is to make a good progress report on sanitation in this district, officials said.
The Malda administration had been criticized by the state officials in several monitoring committee meeting earlier owing to bad progress report on sanitation that had put the district in health hazards.
The songs have explained utility for setting up latrine in every house. But how the people belonging to below the poverty line group will avail it from sanitary mart organised by various NGOs in rural areas and its minimum costs?
" Video and audio cassettes will be distributed to each block soon. A few tabloids will also be made for its campaigning.
The programme would be continued from 2 to 15 January 2006 in the first phase", said Mr. Abhijit Choudhuri , the Malda D M .
The district magistrate said that they would have to meet the targeted figure of 60,000 this financial year setting up such latrine in rural belts.
In-fact ill date the administration has been able to set up 25,000 latrines this year, he added.
"A group of folk artists in Manikchak and other areas have prepared scripts of street dramas and songs. Their programmes have been recorded as documentary evidences to pacify the ignorant and reluctant people", a senior official said. SNS
The Picture in India - "An estimated 400,000 children under five years of age die each year due to diarrhoea" : Unicef
Pic collected from Unicef
Workshop held at Malda on sanitation awareness
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Jan. 5. — A workshop was organised today at the Malda zilla parishad bhawan to expedite sanitation work undertaken by various organisations in the four districts of North Bengal. Besides, the Malda district, units manufacturing sanitation materials from North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Cooch Behar districts attended the workshop. It was aimed to review the performance of the units in the districts, officials said. During interaction with government officials and the organisers of the workshop, it was revealed that the present performance of Malda district is better, but, some remote areas are lagging behind in the sanitation sector. A representative from an NGO said: “Though we have set up many additional manufacturing unit for installing public bathrooms and toilets, the development has not been homogeneous owing to inaccessible areas like Pardewnapur in Kaliachak III or some places in Harishchandrapur II, where the communication system is very poor”. At the same time, the NGO members informed: “Few panchayat pradhans and members treat NGO workers as contractors, which is creating misunderstanding leading to problems in executing sanitation work”. The district magistrate has stepped up vigilance in the concerned organisations related to the sanitation programme, officials said. “By March this year, public latrines and a drinking water project will be completed in each and every primary school in the district”, said Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, the Malda DM. #
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
EPIC probe begins
Statesman News Service MALDA, Dec. 28. — In response to the clarification sought by the election commission on detection of irregularities in the distribution process of electronic photo identity cards in the Noorpur gram panchayat area, the Malda district magistrate today started an inquiry into the allegations received from the EC, a senior election official informed.
Authorities said that the sub-divisional officer has been assigned to inquire into the matter and the block development officer has been instructed to submit satisfactory clarification on it by evening.
“I will check the submitted reports and will then personally conduct a verification into the irregularities in the photo identity cards distribution by Thursday”, said Mr Abhijit Chowdhuri, the Malda district magistrate.
It has been reported that Malda, Murshidabad and Birbhum districts have received a demand for clarification from the EC yesterday.
The EC team itself, which had come to visit the three districts few days ago, detected irregularities and reported to headquarters in New Delhi.
According to the officials , the dispute came to light in the 11 polling stations under the Noorpur gram panchayat, led by Congress in the Manikchak block in Malda district, where 12,606 voters are enlisted in the electoral roll.
The officials informed that of the 9,780 photo ID cards, 9683 have been distributed. 97 of the remaining ID cards are lying in the possession of the concerned authorities.
Official sources said: “ The irregularities that have been recorded state that more than 1500 photo ID have been misplaced.
Though, the gram-panchayat was responsible for the distribution of the the photo ID cards and maintenance of record, but, the work was not carried out properly.
In many cases, it was found that some relatives and neighbours had received the wrong ID cards”.
“The EC has directed the state to see to it that the EPIC is handed to the original card holders and also a clean record of its distribition is maintained”, the officials said.
The election department is now preparing and distributing the rest of the ID cards to at least 10 to15 per cent of the voters.
It was also found that some people belonging to poor families are still reluctant to come to mobile or permanent EPIC distribution centres.
In many cases, the local leaders have taken up the responsibility to bring them to the EPIC centres using money from the party funds for this purpose.
Trinamul leaders held in twin-murder case
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 28. — The district Trinamul Congress leaders are in turmoil after the Bihar police issued an arrest warrant against the district president, Mr KN Chowdhury, and another rebel leader of the district youth Trinamul, Mr Dulal Sarkar, on the charge of twin-murder cases in the Katihar district in the year1997. The rebel leader, Mr Dulal Sarkar, who had recently extended his co-operation to the district Trinamul president, on the direction of the Trinamul supremo, Miss Mamata Banerjee, for calling no-confidence motion, has been blamed earlier by Mr KN Chowdhury for cross voting in favour of the LF backed independent chairman. Last night, the Bihar police went to arrest the two accused, but had to return unsuccessfully. The IC was also not available to make any comment on the incident. The accused, Mr Sarkar and Mr Chowdhury, who were still in the district, spoke to the reporters over the phone. Mr. KN Chowdhury has taken bail in advance from Malda Court a few days ago in another case. The CPI-M had also published a booklet before the civic body election, in which the CPI-M leaders pointed out 23 cases charged against him, as per the reports from the district police office.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Housing project on wetland
Statesman News Service MALDA, Dec. 27. — The Malda district officials and political leaders visited ‘Chatrabil’ a wet-land area at the English Bazaar town on Sunday, with an aim of setting up a housing project on it, after draining away all water. The English Bazaar civic body has taken the responsibility of launching the programme, before starting the water-drainage work. A draft prepared for the setting up a housing estate project for all the sections, encompasses plans of acquiring lands surrounding the wet land area, so that the housing projects can be monitored properly. Owing to congestion of waterways in the wetlands, flowing towards Bangladesh earlier, huge water discharged by the locals and has resulted in expansion of the wetlands in last 30 years, submerging many cultivable land. “A pond will be dug in the centre of the wetland for water storage, re-defining it back into its earlier shape”, informed an MLA of the English Bazaar town. Housing project will be constructed in the periphery areas of the pond, said Mr Samar Roy, an MLA. The district magistrate has expressed his interest in the proposed scheme. A group of irrigation engineers first visited the site to make the required for the project planning. It may be noted that over 200 families depend on the wetland for fishing. In the northern regions of the wetlands, many people have even built their houses and grown crops in the land of Chatrabil. #
Ultras find safe haven in Malda
MALDA.(India) Dec. 27. — Two of the suspected militants that Delhi Police claimed yesterday were plotting to kill leading politicians and target IT parks, railway stations and other vital installations across the country, were arrested at Kaliachak police station area in Malda district on 17 November, an official said on Tuesday . According to Malda police records, Nafiqul Biswas (26), Sohag Khan alias Hilaluddin (22) were arrested from Kaliachak on 17 November. They were residents of Pullagari and Dhanirampur villages, respectively in the Jalangi police station area close to the Bangladesh border, in Murshidabad. A third man, Md Nader Sheikh (39), who reportedly provided shelter to the duo was also arrested (under the Arms Act). On 2 December, Malda district administration had received a “production warrant” in connection with “unlawful activity” against the three persons, from the chief metropolitan magistrate (special cell), Ms Rina Singh Nag in New Delhi. “After arrest police had raided the Jalangi village and found that Sohag Khan was a Bangladeshi national and had taken shelter in Jalangi with the help of a most-wanted criminal Nader Sheikh,” said Mr Timir Banerjee , IC, Kaliachak police station. A few months ago, a hard-core activist belonging Al Badr, who was working as second in command in Kashmir valley after completing Jihadi training in Pakistan, was also arrested from a village within Kaliachak police station. — SNSCops foil terror plot
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA, Dec. 26. — Delhi Police today claimed to have foiled a plot to kill leading politicians and target software parks, markets and railway stations across the country with the arrest of three Pakistan-trained terrorists, including a Bangladeshi, from West Bengal and Hyderabad. Two of the suspects, Hilaluddin from Bangladesh and Bengal-based Nafiqul Biswas, were arrested from Kaliachowk, Malda. The third, Md Ibrahim, was arrested by police in Hyderabad and brought to Delhi for interrogation. The joint commissioner of police (special cell), Mr Karnal Singh, said Delhi Police had specific information that the Bangladesh-based terror outfit, Harkat-ul-Jihad, was planning to target leading politicians and sensitive locations in India. Police also had information that Nafiqul was helping the outfit arrange weapons and was providing shelter to its activists. Both suspects were found in possession of weapons when they were arrested, police claimed. Police said Hilaluddin was an activist of the Harkat-ul-Jihad and one of the conspirators in an explosion at the STF office in Hyderabad on 12 October. Mr Singh said the three militants had undergone training in Pakistan. “Interrogation revealed that the ISI has been operating terrorist camps in Baluchistan and ferrying Indians and Bangladeshis there to train them in handling sophisticated weapons and IEDs for subversive activities against India.” — SNS
Terror strikes Bangalore
Statesman News Service
Statesman News Service
BANGALORE, Dec. 28 — Suspected terrorists today barged into the campus of the Indian Institute of Sciences this evening and fired indiscriminately at a group of delegates who had just left a seminar. The attackers, who are learnt to have come in a white Ambassador around 7.30 p.m, escaped under the cover of darkness. Emeritus Professor MN Puri from IIT, Delhi, died of bullet injuries. Four other professors — Dr Pankaj Gupta, Dr Sangeeta, Dr Vijay Chandru and Dr Vijay Patelappa — were seriously injured. The injured have been admitted to a city hospital. Puri’s family came to know about the incident through a student, who had accompanied the professor to the seminar. After the attack, a tight security blanket was thrown over the city with the 100-year-old IISc cordoned off. An AK-47 rifle, three magazines of an automatic weapon and a hand grenade were seized from the site of violence, police said. A sources said the possibility of a terrorist attack could not be ruled out given the nature of the automatic weapon used and the discovery of a grenade. Bangalore and other IT hubs are on the hit list of terror groups, including the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba. When asked if this was a terrorist strike, Bangalore Police Commissioner Mr Ajay Kumar Singh said: “We cannot say anything at this stage. We have no information about how they (the gunmen) gained entry and who they were.” The Karnataka chief minister, Mr N Dharam Singh, called a high-level meeting of police and other officials here tomorrow to review security measures in Bangalore. The chief minister spoke to Union home minister Mr Shivraj Patil and apprised him of the incident, an official source said. Mr Singh, the source added, had directed the Bangalore Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. In New Delhi Union home secretary Mr Vinod Kumar Duggal said: “As of now it’s not a terrorist attack.” The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, expressed shock at the firing. The attack at the IISc, Bangalore today came two days after Delhi Police said the Bangladesh-based terror group, Harkat-ul-Jehad, was planning to target software parks in Hyderabad and Bangalore. A senior police officer said tonight that the IISc had not been a “specific target” of terrorists.
Pic collected from site
Monday, December 26, 2005
A wake-up call for labourers
Manas R Bannerjee in MaldaDec. 26. — The collapse of an under-construction shopping mall in south Delhi on Saturday in which 10 Malda labourers were killed was a wake up call for thousands of skilled and unskilled daily labourers who are forced to go to different states of the country from Bengal in search of a job, the Malda district labour officials said today. They said that owing to acute poverty the labourers do not even bother to register their names with the state’s labour department before leaving for other states or abroad.Considered as a backward district, many labourers from Malda go to other states for construction and other works. District labour officials said: “The central labour department can only collect information about the victims in accident cases outside the state. No official letter has reached yet in connection with the Saturday’s mishap in Delhi.” “Very few persons come to collect license for their business of supplying labourers. But hundreds of local people have been working as labour contractors. Though they are supposed to submit the group of labourers’ list to the district officials, no body follows the system,” the labour officials said. “Thousands of women from the poor depend on biri binding and they allow their husbands, sons and relatives to work in big cities of the country. They do the job on contract basis. The contractors offer them a contract price for a certain perios and promise to offer some basic facilities, but they do not fulfil their promises. We face difficulties to live in makeshift arrangements at the construction sites and fight against frequent accidents”, Malda labourers said. Recently it was also found that some graduated youths left for places like Malaysia and through various links for the sole objective of getting a job. “After receiving passport from India they are going to other countries and do different daily jobs with the help of various placement agencies. They think remuneration in those countries is better than India,” officials said. Meanwhile, the Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, and the sabhadhipati of MZP, Mr Goutam Chakraborty, today visited the victims’ families in Ratua after attending a meeting of district Human Development planning department. “The bodies of the victims will reach very soon,” the DM said. It was reported that the government declared compensation for the kin of the death people. On the other hand, political interference has formed a new political equation just before the assembly election. To establish service for the victims, two leaders from Congress and the CPI-M were in the race following the New Delhi mishap. The state minister for food processing industries and horticulture , Mr Sailen Sarkar and the union information and Union minister for Information & Broadcasting, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, were busy in making policies to reach the victims in the northern part of this district from where both the ministers were elected. The congress sabhadhipati of the Malda Zilla Parishad , Mr Goutam Chakraborty assured of the family members that he also looks into their matter.
Pic collected
Relatives break down as bodies reach home
Statesman News Service
MALDA. Dec. 28. — The relatives of the deceased burst into tears at the Malda town station on Wednesday morning when the 11 bodies reached here from New Delhi by train. The Delhi police today handed over the bodies to Malda police and the coffins were handed over to the relatives. The communist party leader and state minister Mr Sailen Sarkar was present at the Malda town station with the district administration to supervise the total matter expressing his condole to the bodies by offering flower and garlands on the coffins there. The CITU workers and other activists of CPIM backed organisation were packed in the station and there was no Congress leader in the political race running after bodies. Sources said the assigned contractors had given them a token money for the expenditure of their funeral and the Delhi based Citu workers played a vital role to send the bodies with the government’s assistance.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Families wiat for bodies in Malda
Statesman News Service MALDA. Dec. 25. — Serving as a pointer to the grim reality of the poor in the state and callous work conditions in big cities where they end up in search of employment, 10 construction workers from the Malda district of West Bengal were killed yesterday when the basement roof of an under-construction, multi-storey shopping mall caved in in the Jasolia village of south Delhi.
It was a nerve-wrecking scene of grief in the Ratua block, when the Malda additional SP, Mr D Baral, called on the family members of the victims. The people in the village burst into tears. The villagers had already received the sad news from TV news channels. One Nitai Saha, one of the workers who survived the collapse, called the local villagers after the mishap from New Delhi, police said. Even as the Malda district administration was preparing to send the relatives of the victims to identify the bodies as required before the post mortem, the Delhi government decided to exempt this formality and send the bodies as early as possible. Meanwhile, the CPI-M leader Mrs Brinda Karat met the Delhi chief minister, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, and requested her government to bear expenses for sending the bodies to their homes, informed Malda DM Mr Abhjit Choudhuri. The resident commissioner of West Bengal government in New Delhi, Mr P Banamali, informed the state government early today about the incident. Subsequently, the Malda DM was asked to convey the sad news to the family members of the victims. According to reports, a group of 28 labourers from Ratua village in Malda had gone to New Delhi only a few weeks ago and joined the construction work there. One Sheikh Bablu and his associates had engaged more than 50 workers from this area in New Delhi three weeks ago for building construction. Family members of Sheikh Akhtar, a victim, said they have lost their bread earner. Aktar’s mother, Tohora Bewa, his wife Afsari Bibi, and daughter Masila, were inconsolable when the officials reached with the sad news. “We have lost our bread earner. How could we live now,” they wailed. The family members of Jahoor Ali (20), another victim, could not believe Jahoor was no more. They live at Baikunthapur Mominpara village in the Ratua block, 50 km north of Malda town. Jahoor’s mother, Tamina Bewa, and sister, Jahirul Khatun, could not even speak when the shocked locals called on them to mourn the death of Jahoor. “We expect the bodies to reach Malda by 27 December,” the Malda DM said. He has instructed district police to hand over the bodies to the family members after their identification.
Those killed The following were on the list of the dead: Ruksat Ali, Atul Chandra alias Kalik, Shankar, Gandhi, Suresh Mondal, Rahul, Uday, Juhoor Alam, Sheikh Akhtar and Ajit Mondal.
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DiscussionDisclaimer: These are Internet generated discussion threads for which the The Statesman has no responsibility.Pic collected
RE: Modern day SLAVE TRADERS
The death of the labourers is only a fleeting manifestation of the enormous exploitation of the poor by building contractors who are modern day SLAVE TRADERS. If you live in Delhi (as I do), you will see evidence of this every day. The contractors bring whole families of poor from West Bengal, Orissa, Rajasthan, Bihar, and other states. While the parents are working on the construction sites, their children, including little infants, even new-borns, are neglected. The night temperatures in Delhi had dropped to 3.3 degrees earlier this month, but the labourers and their little children sleep in the open -- without even a tent -- on side-walks. It is common to see wailing infants, all alone: their mothers or fathers nowhere in sight. The families cook their own food -- none is provided by the contractors. After the contract work is over, the labourers and their families are often abandoned by the contractors.They have nowhere to go. This is one of the main reasons for the sprouting of the very large number of SLUMS in Delhi. I suggest there should be some legislation to compel at least public enterprises like DDA or PWDs to ensure the well-being of the labour employed by their contractors. This should be made a pre-condition for the award of contracts, and independent persons should be appointed to monitor the welfare of labourers.NGOs and Human Rights organizations PLEASE NOTE. These poor people are HUMAN BEINGS just like you and me. tsraman96@rediffmail.com
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Dances with the gods
A string of cultural events enthrall Malda residents. Manas R Bannerjee reports
Malda’s English Bazaar residents were in for some good entertainment during the last few days when a local cultural organisation and educational institutes staged several shows at the Malda College auditorium.
Ananya Bose, a college student and also the director of the music and dance academy, Srishti, invited the team from Kalamandalam led by Bharatnatyam expert Ms Thankamani Kutty to present Tagore’s dance drama, Chitrangada.
The programme was organised to mark the second anniversary of Srishti.The students of the academy also presented several dance recitals including ones based on Rabindra Sangeet as well as folk songs.
Besides, there was a performance based on Tagore’s poem, Dushsamay. Chitrangada, in different classical combinations, was directed by Guru Gobindan Kutty and Ms Thankmani Kutty.
Malabika Sen as Kurupa and Sanjukta Banerjee as Surupa performed well, much to the satisfaction of the audience.
Ananya Bose, a student of Ms Thankamani Kutty, presented three solo items. The audience was happy with her performance because it was for the first time that a local artist got support of such kind from an eminent institution as Kalamandalam, said cultural activist Reshmi Muzumder.
Ananya’s presentations include Natyangam, based on Indian classical Raga Hansadhwani, Shibakastakam, in a combination of Khandachapu Tal and Raga Mohanam, and finally, Tillana, directed by Ms Thankamani Kutty. Ms Kutty was herself on stage providing the vocal accompaniment.
Following this on 17 December, Malda Aabritti Shiksha O Charcha Kendra presented a cultural programme of poetry and drama in memory of local poet and writer Tridib Gupta.
The next day, a kindergarten school, Nalanda Shishu Sikshayatan, staged its annual cultural programme. Needless to say, the tiny tots were the main actors. Among other performances, they presented Sita Haran with the help of a senior local artist by way of music, light and songs.
Source : N B Extra of The Statesman on Dec 23 , 2005.
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Friday, December 23, 2005
Minor girls raped
Statesman News Service MALDA. (India)Dec. 23. — An eight-year-old girl was allegedly gang raped by a group of four boys at Debiganj village under Olihonda gram panchayat in Chanchal police station, the police said on Friday.The authorities said the minor girl was allegedly gang raped on 21 December in a bush near her house. The police said that the miscreants picked up the girl when she was playing with her friends. The parents came to know the incident when the girl returned home alone after a few hours and told what she went through. The parents informed the villagers at evening on Wednesday and sought help demanding punishment for the four criminals. The villagers informed the CPI-M gram panchayat pradhan and organised a kangaroo court at their village, the officer in-charge of the Chanchal police station said claiming that nobody agreed to inform the police about the incident on that day. Villagers at the local court under the leadership of the CPI-M Prodhan tried to convince the parents that the accused boys, age between 16 and 17, would bear the cost of medical treatment, an official said. Parents turned violent and decided to inform police when the four accused agreed to pay only Rs 100, sources said. Though the girl was admitted to the Chanchal rural hospital on 22 December morning but she was not attended by the doctors on time, police said. The hospital doctors told them that they would attend her only if they inform police and registered the case, Mr Krishnendu Chatterjee, the OC, Chanchal police station said. “We registered the case as a gang rape consulting with the local hospital doctors yesterday,” Mr Chatterjee said. He added: “Today the girl was referred to Malda district hospital for treatment and medical examination. We could not inform the police because we were threatened with dire consequences by the accused group”, said Md. Majid Ali, father of the victim. Malda SP Mr DK Mondal from Kolkata instructed to nab the criminals.While interrogation the victim disclosed four names of accused before the police. “We are planning to trap them. They fled the place after the kangaroo court trial,” the O C Chanchal said. The Congress MLA, elected from Chanchal area, Mr Mahababul Hoque expressed his concern over the issue and took initiative to admit her in the district hospital.
Girl raped by father
A 16-year-old girl accused her father of raping her.The girl, a resident of Balancha village in North Dinajpur’s Islampur police station area, yesterday registered a complaint with the Islampur police against her father, Md Khairul, a peasant, alleging that her father used to rape her frequently at home. Khairul was later arrested by the police.The girl, whose mother had expired nearly seven years ago, said when the situation became intolerable on 16 December, she chose to knock on the doors of her relatives. “When I told them everything, they suggested me not to inform the police keeping in mind the prestige of our family and my future. I kept mum for three years in a row. But since it was not possible for me to live this way, I finally decided to register a complaint against my father with the police,” she said, adding that after raping her on 16 December, her father had threatened her not to disclose the matter to anyone else.”Mr Dinesh Pramanik, officer-in-charge of Islampur police station, said: “On the basis of the complaint lodged by the girl, we have arrested her father and an inquiry has been instituted against him. A medical test would be conducted on the girl to know the truth.”
Addtional reporting by SNS in North Dinajpur , adjoining district of Malda
Neo-natal care in Malda dist hospital
Statesman News Service MALDA,(India) Dec. 23. — After the visit of the health minister, Dr Surya Kanta Mishra, in Malda district hospital on Wednesday, the district health authorities are gearing up for the proposed neonatal care unit project in Malda district hospital in order to stop cross infection among newborn babies. The proposed unit was prepared earlier following the government instructions but it was yet to take off finally due to unknown reasons. “In fact the initiative was taken and every thing was ready but all of a sudden the programme was deferred,” said a medical officer when the minister, Dr Mishra had sought clarification from them during his visit in the district hospital. The minister was taken aback visiting the pediatric ward where on an average 80 babies were being treated. The ward, however, had no system of separation for the new born babies. “Though there are only 40 beds for babies including 15 paying beds but rush of admitting babies in the ward is too high owing to three common diseases prevailing in this region at present including breathing problem”, said a doctor of the hospital. “Besides Malda district, baby patients come from Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, and from the adjoining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar very close to Harischandrapur in Malda”, said Dr ML Das, the superintendent of the district hospital. The district health records show that the mortality rate of babies here is higher than other patients. It was also found that the average rate of death in the district hospital is 2,000 per year and the rate of baby death is higher than other. “On an average 10 babies died in every month in the district hospital”, said a pediatrician. Official sources said that over Rs 3.50 lakh has been estimated for opening the neonatal unit in the district hospital very close to labour room in the district hospital. The district health authorities have also planned, if they get sanctioning for more 200 beds in the district hospital, it would open another ‘sub neonatal’ unit in the newly constructed building of the district hospital. Comparatively better babies will be shifted to that unit from the neonatal care unit after a month considering their health consideration.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
CPM opposes Congress move
Statesman News Service
MALDA,(India) Dec. 22. — The Congress is planning to bring the Union health minister to Ratua to inaugurate a half- constructed block primary health centre in the last week of December to beat the CPI-M in the race of inauguration ahead of the Assembly election. The Congress leader, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, has already chalked out a plan in this regard and approached the district administration for making the arrangements for the inauguration. But the district administration is reluctant to fix a date for the inauguration as the project is still incomplete. The objection raised by the state minister for food processing industries and horticulture, Mr Sailen Sarkar to this project is another problem for the Congress. It may be recalled that the Congress had earlier planned to inaugurate a project of rural electrification at Mahanandatola in Ratua inviting former Union power minister late PM Syeed after extending its area with the help of the Congress-led Malda zilla parishad. But the sudden death of PM Sayeed had stalled the plan. Following the death of PM Sayeed, the local Congress leaders approached the Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi to make the health minister available for the inauguration of Ratua block primary health centre. An operation theatre and other units are built for the Ratua BPHC with the financial assistance of the Central government. Ratua falls under the Raiganj parliamentary constituency from where Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi was elected. According to the health officials, it would take two more months for the completion of BPHC. District officials are reported to have told the local congress leaders that the inauguration of a half-constructed project would invite criticism from the political opponents.
Joint border survey in January
Statesman News Service MALDA, (India)Dec. 23. — Land surveyors of India and Bangladesh would measure the borderline along the river Mahananda in Old Malda area from 26 December, the Malda district magistrate said today. The DM said that the Bangladesh officials had informed their Indian counterparts about the mater after interacting with them yesterday. It may be recalled that the joint survey along the river was actually scheduled for 22 December. The officials who were present on the borderline in Indian part, waiting for the Bangladeshi team, had informed the media that the joint survey would be conducted in the first week of January 2006. Though irrigation official sources said that there might be another joint aerial survey on 15 of January 2006, the Malda DM said on Friday: " I did not get any official letter for this programme till date".
Joint border survey deferred
Statesman News Service
MALDA. Dec. 22. — In order to solve the “misunderstanding” between the two countries on the issue of area operation in the borderline along the river Mahananda, a joint survey of senior Indian and Bangladeshi officials which was scheduled on 22 December has been deferred, officials said today . The BSF and other officials were ready to conduct the survey in Adampur and Muchia border outposts in Malda and they were also waiting for the Bangladeshi officials today on the border line. But suddenly the officials got information that the Bangladesh team would not come today and tentative dates of the joint survey has been set in the first week of January 2006. On the other hand, the district officials through the water resources department got information that a high-level team of both Indian and Bangladesh will be visiting the disputed the area by air on 15 January 2006. It may be recalled that both the country were forced in gun battle on the issue of area operation during anti-erosion work started by Indian officials on the left bank a few months ago . Official sources said that the local irrigation department has finalised a permanent anti-erosion and bank protection project estimating Rs 7 crore , for three km in the two separate parts at disputed areas and in Habibpur block areas along the Mahananda river. The project has been approved by the chief engineers’ committee and now it is awaiting for the approval of the technical committee, irrigation official said. #
Pic. Pralependu Sanyal
Sister Nirmala at missionary hospital
Nirmala asks for visiting doctors at hospitals
MALDA, ( India) Dec. 22. — The head of the Missionaries of Charity, Sister Nirmala, today urged the district health officials to provide visiting doctors to the Missionary-run hospitals in the state for the treatment of poor people, especially those suffering from tuberculosis, kala-ajar and malnutrition. Sister Nirmala today visited a Missionary centre at Noonbahi in English Bazaar and urged the district health and welfare officials to provide better services to the patients in Malda district. “We do not need to get medicine. We can provide sufficient medicine to the patients. But, we need a group of visiting doctors for our centres where elderly patients are being treated”, Sister Nirmala said. She also approached the health officials to take initiative to rehabilitate patients after treatment in the society and requested them to chalk out a plan in this regard. “Owing to acute poverty, they are not in a position to take proper rest and sufficient food after their release from hospitals. Since we provide them treatment, it is the responsibility of the state government as well as private organisations to ensure that they do not die due to poverty after their release from hospitals,” she said. The in-charge of the Noonbahi MOC, said: “We are planning to set up a home for elderly patients here and need to get some visiting doctors for them. We are not getting medicines for Kala-ajar patients from open market.” The MOC activists informed the district health officials that most of the people, falling in the category of poorest of the poor, from the tribal belts such as Gazole, Nalagola and Habibpur in Malda district are forced to go to MOC’s sanatorium located at Patiram and Raiganj in South Dinajpur and North Dinajpur, respectively for treatment. “They face difficulties to bear the cost of their journey from Malda. It is not possible for them to reach the outdoor departments of the hospitals on time,” the in-charge of the Noonbahi centres told the health officials. “There are 140 and 170 bed sanatorium in Patirum and Raiganj where most of the bed are being occupied by the patients from Malda,” the nuns said. At Noonbahi MOC, there is only a children’s home called Nirmal Shishu Bhawan where 36 poor kids are being treated suffering from tuberculosis , kalaajar and malnutrition. — SNSPics collected
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
State to evaluate doctors' work
MALDA,( India) Dec. 21 — The Communist ruling state government will evaluate the performance of doctors on the basis of their attendance in the Operation Theater in government hospitals, the health minister, Dr Surya Kanta Mishra, said today. Inaugurating a private nursing home at English Bazaar today, Dr Mishra said: “We will not tolerate cases where a doctor is found to have attended OT for 35 days in hospital out of 365 days and the same doctor is seen to be attending to cases more than twice a day at private nursing homes”. “Government doctors will have to answer to their higher authorities about his contribution to public health services’’, he announced. The district officials have also been informed of the system of evaluation of a government doctor’s performance at a regional meeting of four districts held in Malda today, he disclosed. The hospital doctors will prescribe medicine with its genetic name and not in the name of a company in cases where it is out of stock in the hospital, he told government doctors present at the inauguration programme today. The health minister also said: “The government is responsible for providing health services to all as a fundamental right. We cannot leave it depending on the ‘open market’ and cannot tell the people to buy health services from them but unfortunately we are doing it for various reasons”. — SNSPic collected
CPI criticises PCB order
Statesman News Service MALDA,( India) Dec. 20. — The Malda Communist Party of India leaders have criticised the recent order of the state’s pollution control board instructing 32 brick kiln in the state to cease production from February till May, 2006. The leaders claimed that over 30,000 labourers will be jobless in Malda after the implementation of the pollution control board’s order and also the brick kiln production industries will be hard hit. He added that many more who were indirectly employed with the trade will be affected.It may be mentioned here that more than 5 lakh people that includes a large number of women labourers as well, are indirectly engaged in the brick kiln production. In a particular case, on the issue of mango cultivation in
Barasat, which was being affected by smoke emitted by the brick kiln production site, the pollution control board had to follow the verdict of the court for ceasing the brick production. Following the court’s order, now many brick kiln owners and the labourers are facing problems due to discontinuation of the brick kiln production. Malda alone constitutes over 80 brick kilns factories, out of which, 65 of the brick-kiln factories are legally registered. It was reported that each brick kiln unit produces over 25 lakhs brick every season. “Almost all legal brick kilns in Malda have installed chimneys to check pollution caused by smoke, to prevent harm to mango cultivation in the district. Despite of this, the brick kiln units have received instructions to stop production”, said Mr Tarun Das, the district secretary of the CPI. Mr Das further informed that the brick-field owners usually manufacture bricks from the month of November to May. February is the ideal time for the maximum brick production, and the court verdict to stop brick production during the peak season will upset each and every unit related to the brick kiln industry. Malda CPI that solely looks after the labour organisation in the Malda sector, claimed that installation of chimney in brick kiln units that have not yet installed it, will prevent damage to the mango cultivation. #
Pic . Collected from site
Monday, December 19, 2005
Erosion work runs into troubled waters
Statesman News Service MALDA,( India) Dec. 19. — The bank line protection work to check erosion is uncertain this year, political leaders said here today. The Malda irrigation officials said that they have started surveying the damaged anti erosion work carried by the state authorities on the left bank of the Ganga within the 3 km stretch in Kaliachak II block, which was eroded due to severe erosion this year rendering many families homeless . “Following the direction of the higher authorities we have started the survey and will be waiting for their next instruction”, said an engineer of the Malda irrigation division. “There is no fund at present this year”, he added. It may be recalled that the anti erosion work had been completed this year, having spend Rs 24 crore for this 3 km stretch which is a erosion prone zone. Over 50 percent of the constructed portion was washed away this monsoon. On the other hand, the CPI-M MLA, Mr Samar Roy, said: “The Farakka Barrage project has taken up nearly 500 metres stretch in the down stream for bank protection. But how could it protect the entire vulnerable zone out of the 40 km which was handed over to the central organisation, Farakka Barrage Project, for anti erosion measures?” “After the change of ministerial berth for water resources department from Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi to Mr Santosh Mohan Dev, we are apprehending that the Union government may hand over the charge to the state again”, Mr Roy claimed. It may be noted that Mr Das Munshi took initiative to take the charge of nearly 32 km out of 40 km from the state on the left bank of the Ganges from FBP to the up stream in Malda district in order to adopt effective measures for checking active erosion that has destroyed thousands of hectares of crop lands and home stead lands in this belt in last few years. Official sources said that the FBP officials have placed some conditions in the last meeting held at Farakka. “If we take restoration work of the damaged part of the present three km long anti erosion work, they would take up 500 metres more fresh anti erosion work from zero point of the work in the down stream. But we do not have fund for its restoration”, they said. The state had proposed the FBP to take up anti erosion work in this down stream near Sultantola in Kaliachak II, which was also under threat. #
Farakka anti-erosion move on hold
MALDA, Jan. 6. — The Farakka Barrage Project will not carry out any anti-erosion work without the approval of its technical advisory committee (TAC) on either side of the Ganga in Malda and Murshidabad districts, a senior engineer with FBP said today. It was reported that the authorities were forced to take such a decision due to problems in receiving payment from the contractors. All the anti-erosion work executed by them last year. “Following the instructions from the Union minister for water resources, the FBP was forced to start the anti-erosion works without the TAC and at present, the FBP is not in a position to pay following objection from the finance department,” an engineer said. “Several anti-erosion projects and proposals have been placed before the TAC, but we are now waiting for the TAC meeting scheduled in the third week of January”, the engineer said. On the other hand, it was also learnt that the former Union minister for water resources, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, would inaugurate some FBP projects in Gazole, Harishchandrapur and a few other parts of the Malda district on 15 January. Though, the programme was scheduled on 9 January, the programme was deferred today.Reports said that the Chief Minister will also be in Malda on 15 January to lay the foundation stone of some projects, that includes two drinking water projects. — SNS
MALDA, Jan. 6. — The Farakka Barrage Project will not carry out any anti-erosion work without the approval of its technical advisory committee (TAC) on either side of the Ganga in Malda and Murshidabad districts, a senior engineer with FBP said today. It was reported that the authorities were forced to take such a decision due to problems in receiving payment from the contractors. All the anti-erosion work executed by them last year. “Following the instructions from the Union minister for water resources, the FBP was forced to start the anti-erosion works without the TAC and at present, the FBP is not in a position to pay following objection from the finance department,” an engineer said. “Several anti-erosion projects and proposals have been placed before the TAC, but we are now waiting for the TAC meeting scheduled in the third week of January”, the engineer said. On the other hand, it was also learnt that the former Union minister for water resources, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, would inaugurate some FBP projects in Gazole, Harishchandrapur and a few other parts of the Malda district on 15 January. Though, the programme was scheduled on 9 January, the programme was deferred today.Reports said that the Chief Minister will also be in Malda on 15 January to lay the foundation stone of some projects, that includes two drinking water projects. — SNS
Hope springs eternal for Mamata
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 19 — Despite her failure to rope in Mr Pranab Mukherjee at the recent Trinamul youth convention, Miss Mamata Banerjee is determined to try out her experiment at English Bazaar in Malda by calling for a no-confidence motion with the help of Congress councillors against the Left-backed civic board. Yesterday, Miss Banerjee held a meeting with Trinamul councillors in Kolkata and directed them to move a no-confidence against the English Bazaar civic board with the help of the Congress and the BJP, said Mr Krishnendu Chowdhury, the district president of the Trinamul Congress, over telephone from Kolkata, after attending the meeting. “It was also an acid test for the rebel Trinamul councillor, Mr Dulal Sarkar, who allegedly cast his vote in favour of the Left-backed Independent chairman, Mr Nihar Ranjan Ghosh”, he added. “Mamata-di has instructed party leader Mr Mukul Roy to be present in Malda when the no-confidence motion will be moved and on the day of voting or requisition meeting as an observer of the party”, Mr Chowdhury said. The Trinamul Congress is trying to muster support from the Congress and like-minded parties to dislodge the present board before the Assembly election. Political sources said that if the Trinamul Congress failed to oust them, they will have to wait for a year. The Trinamul candidate for the chairman’s post was defeated narrowly despite the party having secured the requisite strength. Mr Biswanath Guho, the Congress councillor who was termed ‘betrayer’ by the Trinamul Congress after the chairman’s election, today said: “If they move a no-confidence motion now they will make a mistake. The present board is doing well adopting some projects in the interest of the people”. ‘‘I can reconsider my stand if they accept me as chairman of the board but the party will take the final decision in the matter”, Mr Guho said.
For devolution of power at the grass-root level
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 19. — The Malda district administration yesterday organised a workshop to set up village development society in order to decentralise power at the gram panchayat level. Though there is a gram sansad in the three-tier panchayat system to adopt an action plan of the rural development collecting opinion of each villagers of a “polling station” under a gram panchayat , the government is planning to form a body of GUS comprising the local villagers irrespective of their political identity where the women will be get priority in terms of decision-making. Today, the government officials including the state officials trained some persons as resource persons for collecting data from three gram panchayat of 15 blocks in this district in order to introduce it as the pilot project.The workshop will continue for three day. The newly-formed body will take up various programmes for the betterment of their society and formulate plans to development them in the social sectors like literacy, hygiene and public health. It may be noted that the government officials including the chief minister of the state, Mr Buddhdeb Bhatacharjee, failed to fulfil the main objective of forming gram sansad and the past experience has also being bitter due to reluctance of the elected political panchayat leaders at each gram panchayat.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
RSP demands Assembly seat in Malda
MALDA, ( India) Dec. 18. — The Revolutionary Socilist Party leaders have demanded that one Assembly seat should be given to them so that one of their candidates could contest from Malda in the coming Assembly election. The decision was taken at a district conference of Revolutionary Youth League on Saturday at Pakuahaat in the Bamongola police station area of Malda where the Balurghat MP, Mr Ranen Barman, was also present. It may be recalled that at the state conference of the RSP, held in Malda last year, the leaders had decided to demand at least one seat in this district considering their organisational strength here. In Malda, the RSP had been demanding not only assembly seat but also seats for Malda zilla parishad for last three years. It may be recalled that in the last panchayat election, the RSP had fielded its candidates where the CPI-M candidates were contesting. As a result, the Left Front had lost two of their seats with narrow margin and the anti-Left parties led by the Congress washed out the LF from power in Malda zilla parishad. Addressing at a district conference of RYL, the leaders said that out of 11 assembly segments the LF has allotted only one seat Harishchandrapur for Forward Bloc many years ago but after that despite all their demands no changes have been made here following objection of the district CPI-M leadership. The district leaders, Mr Goutam Gupta and Mr Sarbananda Padey said that they would send the fresh proposal to its state leadership demanding allotment of one assembly seat in this district. — SNS
Stop cattle trafficking: DM
Statesman News Service
MALDA. (India) Dec. 16 — The Malda district magistrate today urged BSF and police officials to prevent cattle smuggling to Bangladesh at any cost.At the district-level monitoring committee meeting the English Bazaar MLA Mr Samar Roy raised the issue of cattle smuggling and blamed the BSF for it.While acknowledging the problem, the BSF sought police help to deal with the matter.Speaking to reporters, the DM said he would take steps to check cattle smuggling and accepted some suggestions, like drop gates, of the SP, Mr DK Mondal.It was also discussed that the police and the BSF would unearth cattle smuggling points near the unfenced border and arrest the touts.The DM today asked BSF officials to hold a flag meeting with Bangladesh Rifles soon in order to inform them that a joint survey of the disputed border line on either side of the river Mahananda will be conducted on 22 December. The DM held a meeting with officials of the BSF, CPWD, land acquisition department, political leaders including the sabhadhipati of the Malda zilla parishad and the superintendent of police to discuss various issues regarding the India-Bangladesh border. At the district-level monitoring committee meeting the main discussion centred on the disputed areas between the Adampur and Muchia border outposts on the Indian side and Gillabari and Poladanga in Bangladesh. “With a view to conducting the joint survey to finalise the international border line between the two countries peacefully and settle it amicably the BSF would seek their cooperation’’ Mr Abhijit Choudhury, DM, said. “We would begin anti-erosion work on the left side of the river Mahananda after settlement of the border dispute and we are determined to start our anti-erosion work based on the present pillar and last survey of our land”, said Mr Goutam Chakraborty, sabhadhipati, after the meeting today. “We will not give them our land which is being enjoyed by Bangladesh after severe erosion by the Mahananda for some years”, he maintained. The Centre has agreed to increase the number of border outposts in Raiganj in view of its burgeoning population.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
It's a happy season ahead
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 15. — If the present climate continues, mango buds would make their presence felt within the next 15 days which is a good symptom and an indication of a better crop in Malda district, said mango cultivators here. A group of big mango cultivators said that fluctuation of climate and unplanned system of cultivation are the main reasons for the loss of original taste of Malda mangoes. As a result, the demand for the otherwise popular Malda mangoes has been gradually decreasing in other states. This year, owing to the heat wave, popular variety of mangoes matured early than its scheduled time and the farmers were forced to pluck such mangoes to sell in the local markets at a low price, they said. In 2003, the cultivators faced problems owing to cold wave and mango buds came too late. It may be noted that after 1999, the district famous for mango cultivation, has not recorded bumper crop production. Not only the cultivators, but also the mango development officers of the district horticulture department, admitted that devastating flood was the main reason for the drop in production of mangoes here. “There is no need to build any embankment on the left bank of the Ganges. The flood water of the Ganges and its silt is imperative for good production of mangoes,” said Mr Subodh Mishra, the secretary of the Malda mango Merchants’ Association. “Last year we got better production of Ashwina, a late mango variety, suitable for processing of mango by-products but the common farmers and traders did not earn profit from another popular variety called Fazli,” he added. Mr Mishra also disclosed that not only the Bangladeshi importers but also the traders in Assam and other states are receiving mangoes from us but they are delaying the payment and till date the payment is pending owing to lack of demand of our production like ‘hot cake’. “Without big processing units in this district the mango farmers will not be able to earn more profit from this sector,” he said adding that the local entrepreneurs are not in a position to invest at least Rs 3 crore for setting up a processing unit which can manufacture mango by-products.” Recently, a team of exporters held a meeting with the mango farmers in association with Khadi Board here and had proposed them to produce mango by-products with pouch packaging system (considering present pouch culture) for foreign markets but no body came forward to take the venture though they ensured them to take responsibility for its marketing. On the other hand, the mango traders are facing great marketing problems for using unscientific chemical fertilizers. Though the district horticulture department is trying hard to train farmers for adopting method of using bio fertilizers, only 15 per cent farmers are experimenting the method, the Mango Merchants Association said. “The cost is high applying bio fertilizers in mango orchards. A small farmer will not be benefited if the neighbouring farmers do not apply bio products.A Farmer will be interested to use only bio products when there will be a separate market for bio produced mango,” the farmers claimed.
Joint border survey on 22 Dec
Statesman News Service
MALDA,(India) Dec. 15. — In order to solve the “misunderstanding” between the two countries on the issue of area operation in the borderline along the river Mahananda, senior Indian and Bangladeshi officials will conduct a joint survey on 22 December, officials said today.
The date has been finalised after a long dialogue between the top-level officials of the two countries and there is no question of postponing the programme, a state official informed the district administrative officials today.
The Malda district magistrate has called a meeting with senior officials of BSF tomorrow and will discuss about the present position of the border, including the disputed borderline areas located in the district.
“Officials of both the countries are interested in resolving the ongoing stalemate on the issue of land allegedly grabbed by both the countries on either side of the river Mahananda with a view to starting anti-erosion work for the protection of the bank line. After 22 December, development will be coming one by one”, a senior top official told this correspondent.
“I can not say anything more about it based on the table calculation of area operation. You will have to wait till the end of the joint survey”, the officer said.Sources said that owing to the stalemate and after heavy gun battle between the Indian and Bangladeshi border guards a few months ago the on going works of the both the countries have been stalled.
Similarly, the central public works department has stopped the payment of compensation to the local people though their lands have been acquired for the construction of the proposed 1 km barbed fencing in this zone.
The central officials think that if the Bangladesh government claimed the area, after change of river course due to erosion with “meandering nature” of the river, they will have to shift the alignment of the proposed barbed wire fencing if survey reports go against India.
But, on the other hand, the district administration and the BSF officials, after studying the treaty regarding the borderline and its zero point along the river Mahananda based on the last map of the International boundary line, have claimed that the Gillabari and Poladanga areas presently located in Bangladesh side was an Indian territory.
Based on the information the BSF had objected to the continuation permanent bank line protection work on the right bank of the Mahananda carried out by Bangladesh, which was also waiting for the verdict of the Joint River Commission.
The BSF officials had argued that the on going work was within the 150 yards from the zero line of the border. The Bangladesh Rifles had criticised the Indian officials on the issue of building border fencing.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Meet to solve border issues
Manas R Bannerjee
Statesman News Service
MALDA,( India) Dec.14. - The Malda district administration has called a coordination meeting with the border security forces in this week, officials said on Wednesday.
Besides the common issues like cross border smuggling, infiltration and imposition of section 144 Cr. P C district officials will discuss the issue of proposed fencing and its completion at the routine meeting with the Indian border guard officials. Indian border security authorities are also planning to man this border areas particularly in the Malda sector which comprises two districts including South Dinajpur to check infiltration of link men of foreign fundamentalist outfits owing to lack of fencing in some places. The authorities are also planning to introduce technology to guard the unfenced areas scientifically, they added. A tentative date has been set in this month for a joint visit of India and Bangladesh along the disputed border areas after a gun battle between the two countries near Adampur and Muchia border out posts, a few months ago, owing to issue of on going anti erosion work either side of the river Mahananda. " We do not have confirmation of the date for joint visit. But its tentative dates were 14 to 16 December", said Mr. O P Gour, the DIG, Malda sector. At the review meeting the plight of the farmers along the borderline will also be discussed. After the fence is built the farmers will have to depend on the BSF officials for opening the gate so that they can cross the border. They will have to return within a stipulated time. A large group of villagers has prevented the concerned officials from building border roads works in this district with the support of almost all political parties. It may be noted that recently, local political party leaders of CPIM and the Trinamul congress criticized the continuous and unlimited border smuggling of cattle and essential items. BJP leaders have also protested against the increase of crimes committed along the Indo Bangladesh border by the Bangladeshis sneaking into Indian Territory at night. Bangladeshis are rendered jobless as land labourers for cultivation in their country in winter season along the border and are forced to commit crime. #
MALDA,( India) Dec.14. - The Malda district administration has called a coordination meeting with the border security forces in this week, officials said on Wednesday.
Besides the common issues like cross border smuggling, infiltration and imposition of section 144 Cr. P C district officials will discuss the issue of proposed fencing and its completion at the routine meeting with the Indian border guard officials. Indian border security authorities are also planning to man this border areas particularly in the Malda sector which comprises two districts including South Dinajpur to check infiltration of link men of foreign fundamentalist outfits owing to lack of fencing in some places. The authorities are also planning to introduce technology to guard the unfenced areas scientifically, they added. A tentative date has been set in this month for a joint visit of India and Bangladesh along the disputed border areas after a gun battle between the two countries near Adampur and Muchia border out posts, a few months ago, owing to issue of on going anti erosion work either side of the river Mahananda. " We do not have confirmation of the date for joint visit. But its tentative dates were 14 to 16 December", said Mr. O P Gour, the DIG, Malda sector. At the review meeting the plight of the farmers along the borderline will also be discussed. After the fence is built the farmers will have to depend on the BSF officials for opening the gate so that they can cross the border. They will have to return within a stipulated time. A large group of villagers has prevented the concerned officials from building border roads works in this district with the support of almost all political parties. It may be noted that recently, local political party leaders of CPIM and the Trinamul congress criticized the continuous and unlimited border smuggling of cattle and essential items. BJP leaders have also protested against the increase of crimes committed along the Indo Bangladesh border by the Bangladeshis sneaking into Indian Territory at night. Bangladeshis are rendered jobless as land labourers for cultivation in their country in winter season along the border and are forced to commit crime. #
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
No-trust motion called against civic board
Statesman News Service
MALDA, (India)Dec. 23. — A total of 13 out of councillors of English Bazaar municipality, belonging to the Congress, Trinamul and BJP, today called a no-confidence motion against the Left Front backed board under section 18(3) of the Municipal Act. Though the rebel Trinamul councillors were present and put their signature in the official letter submitted to the chairman of the civic body and, the copy of which was later forwarded to the district magistrate and other concerned officials, one Congress councillor, Mr Biswanath Guho, did not join the movement. The chairman of the civic body, Mr Nihar Ranjan Ghosh, said: “According to the Municipal Act I must call a meeting to show our majority in January 2006. In the meantime, we would discuss the matter and chalk out our stand to overcome the situation”. It may be recalled that Mr Ghosh was elected by one vote in the chairman election six months after the civic body election in English Bazaar. Ignoring the call of no-confidence against him, the LF-backed Independent civic body chief also informed the reporters that they have chalked out lots of developmental schemes and invited all reporters to visit an area of wet land called Chatrabil on 25 December morning where the district officials will estimate the proposed project of new township there including beautification of the wet land after purifying the drainage waters of the town. According to him, he would discuss the proposed water supply projects with the public health minister and housing minister Mr Goutam Deb tonight at Malda circuit house in English Bazaar including the supply of arsenic free water in added areas on the western side of the railway tracks from the nearest rural project. On 28 we will meet the divisional railway manager of Malda division for seeking permission for the construction of a feeder road along the railway track connecting ward no 23 and 24 for easy access to English Bazaar town via Rathbari NH-34 five point crossing.
No-trust plan against EB civic body
Statesman News Service
MALDA, ( India) Dec. 13. — Mr Dulal Sarkar, the rebel Trinamul Congress leader and councillor of the English Bazaar Municipality, has planned to call a no-confidence motion against the Left Front-backed civic board of English Bazaar in the fourth week of December, sources said.
After being cornered by the party over several political issues and violation of laws, Mr Sarkar was directed to call a no-confidence motion by the party supremo, Miss Mamata Banerjee, recently.
Sources said that Mr Sarkar is ready to appear in a crucial test following two cases, which are under process against him.
“How he would manage to escape is a very difficult question right now but he is trying hard to save his councillor post after a case of anti-defection law in High Court and his fake schedule caste certificate issue. He may quit the party violating another whip from the top Trinamul leaders only to save his membership in the LF-backed English Bazaar civic body”, a district Trinamul leader said.
It may be noted that the Trinamul district president, Mr KN Chowdhury, is not interested to call no-confidence against the present board with the help of the Congress and the BJP right now.
“The reason is nothing but to cancel Mr Sarkar’s post according to law”, the Trinamul sources said.
Sources also said that the Trinamul state leader, Mr Mukul Roy, might come to watch the no-confidence motion as the observer in English Bazaar.
“Mr Mukul Roy, who was allegedly backing Mr Dulal Sarkar in this internal party feud, had suggested me to file a case of anti-defection law against Mr Dulal Sarkar, after detection of cross voting in chairman election”, Mr KN Choudhury claimed today.
“No-confidence will be coming after finalisation of total member of councillors in the board. It would be better to call no confidence, as the total number will be 24 out of 25. And it would be more easier to bag the vote of another rebel councillor from congress to table the majority list of 13 councillors”, said Mr KN Choudhury.
“But Mr Sarkar will do every work for calling no confidence motion in the selected date of the party”, he added.
On the other hand, the Trinamul district president has kept two top congress leaders and the MP under pressure reporting against congress councillor Mr Biswanath Guho, who is also the district president of the Intuc.
The LF-backed board with 11 members, including an Independent, has got support from two councillors Mr D Sarkar and Mr Guho out of 25 member board where the anti-left councillors were 14.
Malda Trinamul gets new women’s wing
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 11. — The rebel Malda Trinamul Congress leader, Mr Dulal Sarkar, has formed a new Trinamul Congress women’s wing in English Bazaar by “bypassing” the district Trinamul Congress, Mr K N Chowdhury.
After formation of the new women’s cell parallel to another women wing, formed by the district president of the Trinamul Congress, Mr Chowdhury, the Malda Trinamul has been sharply divided.
A few days ago, the rebel leader had called a meeting and had convened a programme for the youth wing and had invited the district president of the Trinamul Congress, but the show witnessed a very poor attendance by the members from this lobby.
On the other hand, when a group of state leaders called Mr D Saha, district president of the youth Trinamul Congress few days ago to attend a meeting in Kolkata, the rebel leader, Mr Sarkar was reportedly too busy to attend the programme, at the same time, declaring Mr Saha as president of the youth Trinamul Congress in Malda district that was backed by other state leaders of the Trinamul Congress.
As a result of a series of such mud-slinging incidents performed by the two groups of the Malda Trinamul Congress, a rift has occurred between the groups, who are now facing great crisis in carrying out their plans and programmes harmoniously.
Sources informed that a group of Trinamul Congress leaders have been reporting against Mr KN Chowdhury and his behaviour with other Congress leaders to Miss Mamata Banerjee and have successfully beaten Mr Chowdhury in getting power from the state leaders associated with Miss Banerjee.
Ignoring the relation with Miss Mamata Banerjee, which is gradually turning sour, Mr Chowdhury is now busy strengthening friendship with two top Congress leaders, Mr AB A Ghani Khan Chowdhury and Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.
The rebel leader has allegedly lodged complaint before Miss Mamata Banerjee against Mr K N Chowdhury saying that he is trying to get a ticket to contest in the assembly election from English Bazaar.
Though Miss Mamata Banerjee told both Mr Chowdhury and Mr Sarkar, to work together but the latter is adamant to prove himself right on the issue of ‘sweet relation’ with the Congress.
On the other hand, Mr Sarkar was also accused for supporting the CPI-M in casting a vote to an independent councilor, as the chairman of the English Bazaar municipality was backed by the CPI-M. #
MALDA, ( India) Dec. 13. — Mr Dulal Sarkar, the rebel Trinamul Congress leader and councillor of the English Bazaar Municipality, has planned to call a no-confidence motion against the Left Front-backed civic board of English Bazaar in the fourth week of December, sources said.
After being cornered by the party over several political issues and violation of laws, Mr Sarkar was directed to call a no-confidence motion by the party supremo, Miss Mamata Banerjee, recently.
Sources said that Mr Sarkar is ready to appear in a crucial test following two cases, which are under process against him.
“How he would manage to escape is a very difficult question right now but he is trying hard to save his councillor post after a case of anti-defection law in High Court and his fake schedule caste certificate issue. He may quit the party violating another whip from the top Trinamul leaders only to save his membership in the LF-backed English Bazaar civic body”, a district Trinamul leader said.
It may be noted that the Trinamul district president, Mr KN Chowdhury, is not interested to call no-confidence against the present board with the help of the Congress and the BJP right now.
“The reason is nothing but to cancel Mr Sarkar’s post according to law”, the Trinamul sources said.
Sources also said that the Trinamul state leader, Mr Mukul Roy, might come to watch the no-confidence motion as the observer in English Bazaar.
“Mr Mukul Roy, who was allegedly backing Mr Dulal Sarkar in this internal party feud, had suggested me to file a case of anti-defection law against Mr Dulal Sarkar, after detection of cross voting in chairman election”, Mr KN Choudhury claimed today.
“No-confidence will be coming after finalisation of total member of councillors in the board. It would be better to call no confidence, as the total number will be 24 out of 25. And it would be more easier to bag the vote of another rebel councillor from congress to table the majority list of 13 councillors”, said Mr KN Choudhury.
“But Mr Sarkar will do every work for calling no confidence motion in the selected date of the party”, he added.
On the other hand, the Trinamul district president has kept two top congress leaders and the MP under pressure reporting against congress councillor Mr Biswanath Guho, who is also the district president of the Intuc.
The LF-backed board with 11 members, including an Independent, has got support from two councillors Mr D Sarkar and Mr Guho out of 25 member board where the anti-left councillors were 14.
Malda Trinamul gets new women’s wing
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 11. — The rebel Malda Trinamul Congress leader, Mr Dulal Sarkar, has formed a new Trinamul Congress women’s wing in English Bazaar by “bypassing” the district Trinamul Congress, Mr K N Chowdhury.
After formation of the new women’s cell parallel to another women wing, formed by the district president of the Trinamul Congress, Mr Chowdhury, the Malda Trinamul has been sharply divided.
A few days ago, the rebel leader had called a meeting and had convened a programme for the youth wing and had invited the district president of the Trinamul Congress, but the show witnessed a very poor attendance by the members from this lobby.
On the other hand, when a group of state leaders called Mr D Saha, district president of the youth Trinamul Congress few days ago to attend a meeting in Kolkata, the rebel leader, Mr Sarkar was reportedly too busy to attend the programme, at the same time, declaring Mr Saha as president of the youth Trinamul Congress in Malda district that was backed by other state leaders of the Trinamul Congress.
As a result of a series of such mud-slinging incidents performed by the two groups of the Malda Trinamul Congress, a rift has occurred between the groups, who are now facing great crisis in carrying out their plans and programmes harmoniously.
Sources informed that a group of Trinamul Congress leaders have been reporting against Mr KN Chowdhury and his behaviour with other Congress leaders to Miss Mamata Banerjee and have successfully beaten Mr Chowdhury in getting power from the state leaders associated with Miss Banerjee.
Ignoring the relation with Miss Mamata Banerjee, which is gradually turning sour, Mr Chowdhury is now busy strengthening friendship with two top Congress leaders, Mr AB A Ghani Khan Chowdhury and Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.
The rebel leader has allegedly lodged complaint before Miss Mamata Banerjee against Mr K N Chowdhury saying that he is trying to get a ticket to contest in the assembly election from English Bazaar.
Though Miss Mamata Banerjee told both Mr Chowdhury and Mr Sarkar, to work together but the latter is adamant to prove himself right on the issue of ‘sweet relation’ with the Congress.
On the other hand, Mr Sarkar was also accused for supporting the CPI-M in casting a vote to an independent councilor, as the chairman of the English Bazaar municipality was backed by the CPI-M. #
DM urges NTPC to repair potholes
Statesman News Service
MALDA.( India)Dec. 12. — The Malda district magistrate has requested the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to repair potholes on a section of NH-34 to make it motorable, officials said today.
Officials said that the decision has been taken owing to the present deplorable condition of the NH-34 and the delay to take up repairing project from the national highway authorities of India. Under the Corporate Social Relief fund the authorities of the NTPC can take up such a job in its area, said the Malda district magistrate.
MALDA.( India)Dec. 12. — The Malda district magistrate has requested the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to repair potholes on a section of NH-34 to make it motorable, officials said today.
Officials said that the decision has been taken owing to the present deplorable condition of the NH-34 and the delay to take up repairing project from the national highway authorities of India. Under the Corporate Social Relief fund the authorities of the NTPC can take up such a job in its area, said the Malda district magistrate.
The fund is used for the development of the infrastructure for the distressed people, he added.
The Malda DM, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, said that the national highway authorities had assured them that they would finish the repairing work of NH-34 by January.
The district authorities, however, refused to comment on when the project for strengthening the national highways.
With the financial help from the Asian Development bank, connecting road for international immigration check post, would begin.
The district magistrate also informed that work for the development of the infrastructure for the land customs station at Mehadipur would be started soon.
The district public works department would being the job including the truck parking at the station very close to the Mehedipur Indo Bangla border post.
The Malda DM, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, said that the national highway authorities had assured them that they would finish the repairing work of NH-34 by January.
The district authorities, however, refused to comment on when the project for strengthening the national highways.
With the financial help from the Asian Development bank, connecting road for international immigration check post, would begin.
The district magistrate also informed that work for the development of the infrastructure for the land customs station at Mehadipur would be started soon.
The district public works department would being the job including the truck parking at the station very close to the Mehedipur Indo Bangla border post.
Bidiworkers' PF under scanner
Statesman News Service
MALDA.(India)Dec. 13. — The Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri today asked trade union leaders to lodge first information report with the police against the racketeers who have been depriving the Bidi workers from provident fund, officials said.
The district magistrate held a meeting with the members of the monitoring committee for the welfare of more than 200000 families, working as Bidi workers, with the trade union leaders where the proprietors of the Bidi manufacturing unit were not present despite call letter from the assistant labour commissioner.
It is discussed at a meeting that thousands of bidi workers have been deprived of other due wages, which was finalized by the district administration at Rs. 40 for the payment 1000 Bidi binding.
It was also reported that the Bidi workers had to accept Rs. 24 to 32 fearing retrenchment of their job.
On the other hand, the racketeers showing other men as bidi workers have been duping a large section of Bidi workers in five blocks manipulating the amount of provident fund and depositing its share to some post offices and mini banks under fake names. #
MALDA.(India)Dec. 13. — The Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri today asked trade union leaders to lodge first information report with the police against the racketeers who have been depriving the Bidi workers from provident fund, officials said.
The district magistrate held a meeting with the members of the monitoring committee for the welfare of more than 200000 families, working as Bidi workers, with the trade union leaders where the proprietors of the Bidi manufacturing unit were not present despite call letter from the assistant labour commissioner.
It is discussed at a meeting that thousands of bidi workers have been deprived of other due wages, which was finalized by the district administration at Rs. 40 for the payment 1000 Bidi binding.
It was also reported that the Bidi workers had to accept Rs. 24 to 32 fearing retrenchment of their job.
On the other hand, the racketeers showing other men as bidi workers have been duping a large section of Bidi workers in five blocks manipulating the amount of provident fund and depositing its share to some post offices and mini banks under fake names. #
EC faces problems in roll revision
Statesman News Service
MALDA,(India) Dec.13. — The Election Commission officials are reportedly facing some problems in maintaining a fair system of electoral roll revision at the block-level, as some persons on contract basis have been engaged in serving notifications to the people, a senior official of the election department said today.
During the visit of the EC team to the Malda district yesterday, it was alleged that not only the personnel for serving notifices, but also the government employees were being guided by the political parties to guard political interests in the revision of the electoral rolls.
Most of these employees working at the block-level, belong to organisations backed by the ruling political party.
As a result, these employees working for electoral roll revision can easily convince the local government employees to divulge information about some people, who have not handed over their notifications.
The underlying objective is to avoid informing those supporting the Opposition political parties, from attending hearing at a particular place and time, for the inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls.
As such, in case of absence, their names will automatically be deleted from the final electoral rolls.
The officials also discussed the process to be followed for the system of notification by engaging direct government employees to deal with such difficult situations.
“The EC is planning to formulate a system for fair electoral roll revision in the state,” a district official said.
At present, the election officials are following a strict procedure for accepting applications.
The applicants are being asked to submit at least one document to prove that they are Indian citizens.
Inaugurating a permanent EPIC distribution centre at the Malda district magistrate’s office yesterday, the secretary of the Election Commission of India, Mr RK Shrivastava, directed the district officials to distribute all the electronic photo identify cards that are lying in the processing units. #
During the visit of the EC team to the Malda district yesterday, it was alleged that not only the personnel for serving notifices, but also the government employees were being guided by the political parties to guard political interests in the revision of the electoral rolls.
Most of these employees working at the block-level, belong to organisations backed by the ruling political party.
As a result, these employees working for electoral roll revision can easily convince the local government employees to divulge information about some people, who have not handed over their notifications.
The underlying objective is to avoid informing those supporting the Opposition political parties, from attending hearing at a particular place and time, for the inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls.
As such, in case of absence, their names will automatically be deleted from the final electoral rolls.
The officials also discussed the process to be followed for the system of notification by engaging direct government employees to deal with such difficult situations.
“The EC is planning to formulate a system for fair electoral roll revision in the state,” a district official said.
At present, the election officials are following a strict procedure for accepting applications.
The applicants are being asked to submit at least one document to prove that they are Indian citizens.
Inaugurating a permanent EPIC distribution centre at the Malda district magistrate’s office yesterday, the secretary of the Election Commission of India, Mr RK Shrivastava, directed the district officials to distribute all the electronic photo identify cards that are lying in the processing units. #
Monday, December 12, 2005
EC seeks list of poll violence, ATR
Statesman News Service
MALDA, (India) Dec. 12 — The Election Commission today sought a list of poll-related violence which occurred in different polling stations in the last general elections in Malda, officials said.
The authorities said the commission had also sought an “action taken report” from the administration with regard to poll violence recorded in the police department.
A two-member team, led by the commission secretary, Mr RK Srivastav, today met the district magistrate, superintendent of police and other officials concerned and instructed them to review the situation in those areas where poll violence occurred in connection with action taken against the culprits.
They also suggested implementing Section 32 under the RP Act (Representation of People Act) for ‘duplicate’ names.
“Under the process of electoral roll revision, through receiving of objections and hearing, the block-level election officials will start field verification. After hearing the applicants, the election officials will visit the locations and houses to verify the existence of the voters appeared in the hearing for inclusion of their names”, said Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, the Malda district magistrate.
Though it is very difficult to detect duplications, section 32 of the RP Act would be applied in keeping with the Election Commission directive“, the Malda DM told this correspondent.
The process for detection of duplicate names will be started very soon, he added.
Official sources said the team had selected some areas at random including the very area close to the Indo-Bangla border from the information and data supplied by the district administration.
The team today visited some stations of Old Malda, Gazole, Ratua I, Ratua II, Kaliachak III and English Bazaar block areas where district election officials conducting hearing for revision of electoral rolls.
The team will also visit Murshidabad tomorrow and then Nadia and Birbhum, officials said.
Club booths
The Election Commission has asked for a report on the polling stations located at club premises across the state following complaints about partisan roles taken by some club organisers during earlier polls.
The chief election commissioner, Mr BB Tandon, came across such allegations during his visit to north Bengal last week, state chief electoral officer Mr Debashis Sen said today.
The state government is likely to suggest to the EC to hold Assembly polls in the state from the third week of April onwards.
Though no such formal request has been made to the EC, Mr Sen pointed out that higher secondary examination would be over by 13 April and joint entrance examination would end on 23 April. Earlier, the state home secretary, Mr PR Roy, also maintained that the government would prefer the three-phased polls between the end of April and the first half of May.
The EC wants to hold Assembly polls in five states almost simultaneously while Assam chief minister prefers it in the first half of April.
West Bengal polls are likely be held closely in view of the logistical factors involving movement of central para-military forces in the two states, senior officials at Writers’ Buildings observed.
State government will finalise its position following the CPI-M politburo meeting which begins tomorrow in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the CEO’s department will open 65 permanent centres for issuing photo-identity cards to voters at the sub-divisional and district headquarters level across the state by 31 December, in a bid to ensure photo-identity cards to every voter.
The CEO will submit another report to the EC tomorrow on the status of residents of 111 Indian enclaves surrounded by Bangladesh territory at the Cooch Behar border.
No census has been done on the population of those isolated villages after 1951. Neither the 10900 Indians living there have been enrolled in the voters’ list, Mr Sen said.
Bangladesh too has 51 such enclaves inside India. Mr Tandon became aware of the plight of these stateless people during his recent visit.
Additional reporting by Kolkata
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Checking erosion
Statesman News Service
MALDA, (India) Dec. 11. — In order to formulate an appropriate policy to stem erosion on the left bank of the Ganga, two morphology study committees have been formed in Malda comprising of state and Central officials, state irrigation engineers said. Officials said that the secretary of the state irrigation and waterways department has been selected as the chairman for the morphology study team for the river Ganga and the Pagla — it’s tributary. The superintending engineer of the Farakka Barrage Project is the member secretary of the new committee. The state irrigation officials and a member of the central water and power research station in Pune have also been inducted into the committee. The Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, is the convener of this morphology study team. On the other hand, comprising of officials like the chief engineer and superintending engineer of the state irrigation division and a member of the Central Water Commission, another committee has been formed to study the big island, “Bhutni Diara”, located at mid-Ganga in Manikchak block. The two teams will conduct a study on the two rivers and the island, with a view to collect data, watching the present behaviour pattern of the Ganga, of its course, probable meandering change, formation of shoal, trend of silt deposit and its location with fresh erosion forecasting. The team will also keep a tab on the newly formed take off point at Pachanandapur in Kaliachak II. Similarly, another team will also study the trend of the Ganga near the Island Bhutni Diara to find out the cause of severe erosion. In this zone, the state irrigation department has recorded that over 50 hectare lands have been eroded away due to severe erosion this year. Officials said that the two teams would send data time to time to the concerned authorities with a view to chalk out strategies to check erosion on the left bank of the Ganga. The Malda irrigation officials had demanded a research wing here, a subsidiary of a research station, for continuous study of the Ganges not depending on the formula of the CWPRS that comes after a year to stem erosion when the configuration of the Ganga here has been changed.
MALDA, (India) Dec. 11. — In order to formulate an appropriate policy to stem erosion on the left bank of the Ganga, two morphology study committees have been formed in Malda comprising of state and Central officials, state irrigation engineers said. Officials said that the secretary of the state irrigation and waterways department has been selected as the chairman for the morphology study team for the river Ganga and the Pagla — it’s tributary. The superintending engineer of the Farakka Barrage Project is the member secretary of the new committee. The state irrigation officials and a member of the central water and power research station in Pune have also been inducted into the committee. The Malda district magistrate, Mr Abhijit Choudhuri, is the convener of this morphology study team. On the other hand, comprising of officials like the chief engineer and superintending engineer of the state irrigation division and a member of the Central Water Commission, another committee has been formed to study the big island, “Bhutni Diara”, located at mid-Ganga in Manikchak block. The two teams will conduct a study on the two rivers and the island, with a view to collect data, watching the present behaviour pattern of the Ganga, of its course, probable meandering change, formation of shoal, trend of silt deposit and its location with fresh erosion forecasting. The team will also keep a tab on the newly formed take off point at Pachanandapur in Kaliachak II. Similarly, another team will also study the trend of the Ganga near the Island Bhutni Diara to find out the cause of severe erosion. In this zone, the state irrigation department has recorded that over 50 hectare lands have been eroded away due to severe erosion this year. Officials said that the two teams would send data time to time to the concerned authorities with a view to chalk out strategies to check erosion on the left bank of the Ganga. The Malda irrigation officials had demanded a research wing here, a subsidiary of a research station, for continuous study of the Ganges not depending on the formula of the CWPRS that comes after a year to stem erosion when the configuration of the Ganga here has been changed.
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