Rural polls & heat waves take toll on blood donation camps

MALDA, April 30: The Malda blood bank is facing an acute crisis of blood as the supply through regular blood donation camps organised by voluntary organisations has been stalled due to the forthcoming panchayat polls.With the rural polls round the corner and the rising mercury, the Voluntary Blood Donors’ Association including the CPI-M backed youth wing DYFI is not in a position to organise blood donation camps in the district.Under the prevailing circumstances, the voluntary organisations are planning to organise camps in the urban areas to tide over the present crisis. Though the DYFI had planned to organise 11 blood donation camps in the district, it has been able to organise only one so far. Similarly, another voluntary organisation has been able to organise only three out of the planned eight. In April, the Malda blood bank has received 150 units of blood only. As a result, the Malda blood bank is running short of AB+ blood group. The secretary of the Malda district Blood Donors’ Forum, Mr Soumitra Datta said: “We have been able to collect 151 units of blood from eight camps so far. Low turn out at blood donation camps has created the problem.” n SNS

State may involve gram panchayats in water scheme

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 30: The state government is planning to engage gram panchayats in a house-to-house drinking water supply programme through pipeline in the rural areas with the help of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department.Senior officers of the PHE in Malda said the civic bodies in rural areas would supply drinking water through pipeline and execute ‘house to house connection’. The gram panchayat, following the present system of municipalities, will collect Water Tax and other charges from the capable rural residents to provide water service. “The idea was conceived to provide arsenic free water supply where present report of execution of house to house drinking water connection and collection of maintenance cost of water supply failed,” said a senior engineer of the Malda PHE. For the last five years the state government has been trying hard to execute house to house connection from its surface water treatment plants in Kaliachak and Manikchak areas to collect at least Re. 1 per day and Rs 30 per month. The PHE minister Mr Goutam Deb had conducted meetings several times to yield results of the programmes but still had unsatisfactory results in procuring maintenance costs for the arsenic free water treatment plants. Speaking to this correspondent, the executive engineer PHE (arsenic decision) Mr AK Das said: “The newly constructed arsenic free water treatment plant at Balupur at Ratua is supplying drinking water in its commendable areas. After the end of panchayat polls we would launch a special drive for house to house water supply connection in the commendable areas with the help of panchayat samiti.” “We don't how many families will come forward to get water at their houses. But the government is planning to assign gram panchayats for this job in future,” he added.

'NREGA was a major failure'

Mr Goutam Chakraborty, who was elected as the sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad with the support of the Trinamul Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), finally completed his five-year tenure despite protests by a majority of the Opposition. He had to face problems to run the board, failing to prove majority for passing its annual budgets, on more than one occasion. There was also a misunderstanding among the associate members of the Zilla Parishad belonging to the Congress, Trinamul and the BJP. But, Mr Chakraborty tackled all hurdles including the Opposition’s constant bickering including a court case when the CPI-M led Opposition challenged all permanent committees of the board, terming them as ‘illegal’ on the basis of the Panchayat Act. During his five years tenure, the one project that has left Mr Chakraborty aggrieved in his district is the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). Here he speaks with Manas Banerjee on why the project didn’t fare well and the success and failures of other projects in Malda.

Why has NREGA failed to produce the results it was expected to achieve?

In the gram panchayat level the programme of NREGA has not been executed properly owing to lack of monitoring. The reason is the system of monitoring where the block development officers (BDOs) were mainly responsible for monitoring and execution. But there was no separate cell for its monitoring and execution of planned schemes under the leadership of the district magistrate. In the last two years, the district has received more than Rs 43 crore, but the average number of days per household was 13.31 in the year 2006-07 and the average has gradually increased to over 15 in 2007-08. A few households have got 100 days work under the scheme.

I did not find a person who got compensation when the district administration failed to provide jobs within 14 days of registration. Several people had applied for compensation but none was compensated. When the gram panchayat pradhans had misappropriated funds under of NREGA and transferred job cards of the registered labourers and an inquiry had proved the irregularities, no action was taken against them.

This is a ‘black picture’ of during my tenure. There was lot of scope to provide employment for nearly seven to eight lakh daily labourers who are forced to go out of the state from this district in search of jobs. We have failed to use our labour force in utilising NREGA for irrigation and cultivation to develop barren lands in the Barind belt of this district.

Which project do you think was success in your district?

When we took charge of the Zilla Parishad, we found that only 12 km sanctioned road project under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojona (PMGSY). But, till 2006-07, a total of 132 km road schemes under PMGSY were in progress. Out of 132 km, a total of 104 km of the sanctioned road projects across the district is currently going on. We could not start 28 km of the road project owing to a lack of bidders. Though the P&RD (panchayat and rural development) department had floated tenders, not a single bidder took part due to some unknown reason.

The Central government project for the development of horticulture, especially in Malda, which is famous for mango and litchi production has also been a success. Nearly Rs 19 crore was allotted during my tenure for the development of horticulture and export of fruits, vegetables and other produces from this district. Under the National Horticulture Mission, nearly Rs 8 crore was allotted to the beneficiaries for the cultivation of mangoes and litchis and development of infrastructure in various sectors. Hundreds of beneficiaries have already received funds for the development quality cultivation. During my tenure we have been able to bring nearly Rs 11 crore for the development of mango and litchi research for export quality production and the Malda farmers will be getting benefit under the project after two years.

Which gram panchayat has done a commendable job during your tenure and which did not?

The Amriti gram panchayat is undoubtedly the best, which falls under the Chanchal-I panchayat samiti. Most of the gram panchayats could not perform well as the board was hung and it could not be formed with majority members belonging to the same political parities. The Chouki-Mirdat-pur gram panchayat in Manikchak block could not utilise funds due to this problem. The board was dissolved owing to lack of majority members of a political party and internal feud. ###

Malda Congress hopeful in rural polls after Sonia's visit

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 29: A section of Malda Congress leaders hope that the results of panchayat polls in Malda would improve and the party would be able to retain the Malda zilla parishad (MZP) after Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the district yesterday.Mrs Gandhi’s visit to the Kotwali House, residence of Malda MP Late ABA Ghani Khan and her public comments about Ghani Khan and his family at Sujapur yesterday were an indication that Delhi considered the late MP’s family the last word where Congress was concerned in Malda. Ghani Khan’s family has also invited Mr Rahul Gandhi to visit Malda.According to sources in Ghani Khan’s family and the Congress, more members of the late MP’s family are expected to enter into the political arena in the days to come. Sources said that Mr Abu Naser Khan Choudhury alias Lebu may be the next big name in Congress politics in Malda district and a contender for the MP seat in Northern Malda. Similarly, young members from Ghani Khan’s family may be inducted in district politics to contest in the Kaliachak Assembly segment. It may be recalled that Mr AH Khan Choudhury alias Dalu was elected as an MLA from Kaliachak Assembly segment earlier. He was elected as the Malda MP after the demise of Ghani Khan Choudhury.

Water crisis hits Malda as dry spell continues

MALDA, April 29: The receding water level in Malda district has started affecting hand pumps and tube wells in the Barind belt of the district, said a public health engineering (PHE) official today. The district is facing water crisis due to a dry spell continuing over a fortnight. “Though we continue to supply water through collection of surface water, getting water from hand pumps and tube wells is becoming increasingly difficult due to the abnormal drop in water level,” said Mr AK Das, executive engineer, PHE, arsenic division.According to him, the water level usually goes down at Habibpur, Bamongola and Gazole areas in the district due to excessive usage of water for irrigation.“The flow of water from tube wells has diminished thereby making it necessary to increase the time limit for lifting water to run the drinking water schemes through the pipe lines,” the PHE official, said. The PHE officials today informed their district headquarters about the situation of drinking water supply in the area.It was decided that the PHE officials would select the defunct tube wells and would place them in areas with higher water level.The district administration is conducting a survey to estimate the availability of drinking water sources in the nearby areas of polling stations before conducting the rural polls scheduled on 18 May in the district. The defunct tube wells will also be repaired to ensure that the polling personnel and the local people do not face any water crisis during polls. n sns

Sonia lashes out at L F over Nandigram

Uday Basu & Manas Banerjee

YMA GROUND (Berhampore)/SUJAPUR (Malda), April. 28: Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi today hit out at the Left Front government for the “deteriorating” law and order situation and expressed her sympathy for the hardships the people of Nandigram had suffered in the course of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee-led government's misadventure there.“The law and order in this state is a cause for concern and there are complaints of torture for political reasons. If law and order isn't properly maintained, the whole system collapses. The law enforcing agency shouldn't make any discrimination in a democratic set-up,” she said.“I am with the people of Nandigram who have suffered so much. I am especially with my sisters, children and farmers of Nandigram who have faced such miseries,” Mrs Gandhi said to thundering applause from the crowd.She also took a dig at the Left parties’ demand for special measures for West Bengal and Kerala to mitigate the hardships of the people reeling under the skyrocketing prices, “You should realise there can't be one policy for Bengal and another for other states. The policies will have to be uniform for the whole country,” Mrs Gandhi said.The Congress chief described the UPA government's decision to waive farm loans worth Rs 60,000 crores as “a continuation of the policies of Nehru and Gandhiji for the uplift of the country's poor farmers." Farmers are the bulwark of the nation just as the soldiers protect the country's borders, she said.Mrs Sonia Gandhi continued her tirade against the CPI-M led government during another rally at Sujapur in Malda, slamming it over several issues, the most pointed among those being the “non-development of the Muslim community under the Left rule.”Mrs Gandhi advised the state government to introspect why the Muslims lagged behind in West Bengal despite the Left Front in power for 30 years. “The Sachar Committee report reveals the real position of the Muslims in West Bengal, it is not a statement of any political party,” she underlined.While hitting out at the Left on several issues, the Congress president, however, kept the option for an alliance with the Left open to retain power at the Centre.Explaining the Congress's stand on a secular alliance, Mrs Gandhi said it was not because the Congress was weak. “The alliance (with the Left at the Centre) was made for the unity of the country. In future too, we would fight for secularism and unity of the country,” she said.But she made it clear that she was not particularly happy with the West Bengal government and the Left parties’ routine accusations against the Centre on almost every count."It is easy to blame the Centre on every issue, but the state government should not forget its responsibilities," she commented and pointed out the spiraling prices of essential commodities in the state as a failure of the West Bengal government to deliver. #####

SBI adopts girls to fund their education

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 27: The State Bank of India has “adopted” 37 orphan and disabled girls aged between 6 and 14 years from Malda and South Dinajpur, with the objective to provide financial assistance to the school-going girls for their education and other expenses for sustenance up to their age of 14.Yesterday, SBI top officials including the general manager, Mr AK Ghosh Dastidar, regional manager Mr B Halder and Malda sub-divisional officer Ms Arunima De handed over a cheque for Rs 3,000 to 5,000 to girls for one year. The general manager (net work II) of the SBI Mr A K Ghosh Dastidar said: “The SBI would provide such financial assistance to them up to the age of 14 years under its community services banking project”. “Though we have targeted to adopt at least 70 such girls from two districts, we could not achieve the target. In fact we are lagging behind here,”said Mr B Halder.The SBI has planned that each branch would adopt at least two such girl children all over India. It has 35 branches in Malda and South Dinajpur and targeted to adopt at least 70 girls. The sub-divisional officer approached the SBI officials to “sponsor” poor girls under Section 97 Cr Pc.

Security beefed up for Sonia's visit to Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 27: Malda district administration h-as stepped up the security for Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s visit, which is scheduled to be held in Malda district tomorrow. According to the ins-truction by Mrs Gan-dhi’s special protection group (SPG), the Malda adm-inistration has beefed up police security at Sujapur under Kaliachak police station where Mrs Gandhi would address a political rally. Security has also been beefed up at Kotwali including the residence of late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury in English Bazaar where the Congress chief would meet the kin of former Malda MP and Union minister and would pay homage to his grave. According to Malda district magistrate, Mrs Gandhi would arrive in a helicopter to Behrampore in Murshidabad and after addressing a rally in Behram-pore would proceed towards Sujapur in Malda between 11 am to 11.30 am on Monday. Mrs Gandhi is also scheduled to visit the Kotwali area.Two heliports have been constructed with proper security arrangements following instructions by the SPG. Mrs Gandhi would visit late Ghani Khan’s residence through this route.On the other hand, the National Highway 34 from Sujapur to English Bazaar town and other connecting roads up to the residence of late Ghani Khan are being repaired as an alternative arrangement if she desires to go there by road for political campaigning. According to the police, traffic may be suspended on the National Highway 34 at Sujapur during the Congress chief’s rally at Hatimari field, which is just beside the NH 34, where she would address a political rally. In order to avoid any untoward incident traffic may be suspended for few minutes from her arrival to departure. Top police officials including IG north Bengal would be present during her visit to supervise the security arrangements at the two places.

Water crisis in Malda leads villages to boycott

MALDA, April 25: Water crisis in Malda district is fast turning into an issue in the panchayat polls. About 1400 voters of Mandal para (booth no 173) in Habibpur Block, who are facing water crisis, today decided to boycott the panchayat polls.Villagers alleged that the political leaders assure round the year drinking water before every election but forget their assurances after the polls. According to them, the CPI-M in the last panchayat polls had assu-red to arrange drinking water but the assurance was ignored after it fared badly in polls in the area. The CPI-M has a strong support base in certain areas of Habibpur but the BJP came to power in the Haib-pur panchayat samity in the last polls with the help of the Congress and the Trinamul. The scarcity of water in the district is also triggering clashes. Yesterday, two groups of villagers at Alal in Gazole Block clashed over the right of irrigation and water distribution. Five persons were injured in the clash. Some of them had to be admitted in the Malda district hospital. The dry spell continues since last week here drying up sources of drinking water across the district, mainly in Barind belt comprising Gazole, Habibpur, Bamongola Blocks. The water level of the local rivers and tributaries has gone down abnormally from the second week of April creating problem of river lifting irrigation as well. n sns

CPM led body to train teachers for panchayat polls

MALDA, April 25: Leaving nothing to chance, the CPI-M backed primary teachers’ association is organising meetings of its members to train them on the “role of primary teachers in panchayat polls”. Hundreds of primary school teachers attended the meeting at the Malda college auditorium today. Similar meetings have been called across the district before the panchayat polls. The teachers’ association of the anti-Left parties said teachers to be engaged in the panchayat poll duty are being trained by the CPI-M leadership for election campaigning. The Opposition is doubtful if the CPI-M backed teachers would be able to discharge their responsibility impartially and in keeping with the guidelines of the election commission. The chairman of the district primary school Mr Uttam Sarkar said: “If the primary teachers’ organisation holds the meeting seeking permission from the concerned sub-inspector of school then the meeting is valid. But the same is not valid if held without permission.” The teachers in the English Bazaar circle were asked to attend such meetings at 8 a.m. today after attending school at 6.30 a.m. “Everybody has the right to join any political party but the question is how they will play their role during poll duty on behalf of the government after attending such meetings?” questioned the chairman. n sns

DI says teacher 'misused' Rs. 4 lakh

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 24: The teacher in charge of Gangadevi High School in Chanchal II block allegedly misappropriated nearly Rs 4 lakh allotted from Sarba Siskhsha Mission in last financial year, the district education officials said today. The misappropriation of fund has come to light yesterday after inspection conducted by the education officials headed by the district inspector of school, Mr Chinmay Sarkar. Yesterday, Mr Sarkar inspected the school and checked the accounts of the schools but did not locate the whereabouts of Rs 4 lakh out of Rs 5.55 lakh which was allotted to the school for the construction of three classrooms. Mr Sarkar said: “Both the secretary and teacher-in-charge of the school failed to answer satisfactorily about utilisation of funds and they failed to show a single brick for the construction of the classrooms yesterday.” But it was detected that the teacher-in-charge, Sridam Chakdar, had withdrawn Rs 4 lakh from October to February 2008, he said. “No work has been done there and there was no entry in the cash book. Even in the last two years' accounts there were no records of grant in aid received from the government,” Mr Sarkar said. Though Mr Chakdar said they paid in advance for supplies and the contractor for the construction of the three classrooms, he could not show any papers to justify his argument. The district inspector of the school instructed the secretary of the school Mr. M A Mian to give written statements who confessed that he did not know about the funds allotted from SSM and where was the money. The DI has also collected some written statements from the secretary and other people from the schools on the charges of misappropriation of funds against the teacher-in-charge so he can submit a report to the Malda district magistrate and other concerned officials soon.

Plan needed to solve water crisis

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 24: The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das has asked the irrigation department to prepare a master plan to ‘recharge’ under ground water to resolve the crisis of surface water in the district. The executive engineer of irrigation department Mr S Misra pointed out the problem of surface water crisis and explained its cause to the engineers of public health engineering, irrigation and other concerned department in ameeting yesterday.“If the ongoing situation continues without recharging the ground level water, the water table would drop further and the district would lose all surface water in the next 10 to 15 years,” Mr Misra, said.The executive engineer also criticised the present practice of rampant use of submersible pumps, shallow and deep tube wells and held the practice responsible for surface water crisis. “We need to develop surface water containing capacity and to recharge under ground water level to resolve the present water crisis. There is need to increase depth of silted rivers and their tributaries through excavation across the district setting up check dam”, said Mr. C R Das, the district magistrate of Malda. “The water level in all rivers such as Mahananda, Punarbhaba, Tangan, Bhagirathi, Pagla and others has gone down abnormally in April this year in comparison with past records,” he said.

Drought-like situation follows heat wave

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 23: The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das convened a meeting today with the agriculture department to review the ‘drought-like situation’ and heat wave prevailing here over the past few days. Heat wave continues unabated, drying up small water sources affecting jute, mango and vegetable cultivation. The layer of underground water has gradually been going down due to this dry spell. Farmers, are facing water crisis for irrigation due to lack of rain. The district plant protection officer (DPPO) of Malda agriculture department Dr Tamal Kumar Sarkar said jute and vegetable cultivation would be badly hit if the dry spell continues. Dr Sarkar said the standing paddy crop like boro is in harvesting position and all boro paddy fields were under ‘assured’ irrigation area and would not be affected. But he said farmers for jute and vegetables are being affected. "Mainly the standing vegetables need rain this time," he said. Dr Sarkar said the normal rainfall in April is 39.1 mm here but it has received only 18.1 mm till date, creating problems in the agriculture sector. In April 2007 the district had 25.5 mm rainfall. From January to April in 2008 the district has already received 90.4 mm rainfall, higher than the average rainfall in the last five years, but in April the district did not receive normal rainfall In 2004 the district had received 86.8 mm rainfall from January to April. From 2005 to 2007 it received 77.2 mm, 74.6 mm and 72.5mm rainfall. “We cannot say this dry spell is drought. The changing rain pattern has affected the agriculture sector,” the DPPO said.

Malda reels under water crisis

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April. 23: A water crisis has hit Malda town. The effect of it is being particularly felt in several wards of the English Bazaar Municipality. The EBM authorities have decided to reduce per head water supply in the town to tide over the crisis caused by the ongoing dry spell in the district.Breaking the news of water crisis today, the English Bazaar Municipality chief Mr Narendranath Tiwari urged the people not to waste water.According to him, the civic body has decided to supply 70- litre water per head /per family instead of the usual 90 litre water in normal times.“The EBM requires 1.67 lakh litre water per day for the people but at present the collection of water from underground water sources has fallen to 1.20 lakh litre,” Mr Tiwari, said.According to the EBM chief, the ground water level has gone down and the existing pump houses do not have the capacity to pump out the required volume of water. “Several wards including ward numbers 20, 23, 9, 12 and several others are facing acute water crisis due to the ongoing dry spell,” he said.The civic body chief also admitted that the locals, particularly flat owners in residential complexes, have been extracting large volumes of ground water without the civic body's permission. “This practice is also one of the reasons for the scarcity of under ground water sources,” he alleged.The civic chief also said that surface water treatment units were the need of the hour for Malda. “The municipal engineering department is planning to float tenders for a surface water project after the panchayat elections,” he informed.

Power cuts disrupt normal life

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April. 23: Power cut continues unabated thrice a day and at night. Residents of English Bazaar town and this district as a whole are in a very uncomfortable position during long hours of power cut due to prevailing heat wave . Considering the situation the electricity department had cut power at about 4.15 am today and started its supply before 6 am. But about 2.30 pm today the department had to cut power for an hour leaving people facing the hot weather and high humidity. Though the department is trying hard to adjust time of T20 IPL cricket match by supplying power for television watchers but some times it could not maintain uninterrupted power supply during IPL match. Yesterday, the power supply was normal during T20 match but on Monday many people could not watch second innings of the match due to power cut. The district officials of the electricity department said: “We are helpless because it is controlled by headquarters based on demand and supply of power situation”.

CPM nominates Cong rebel kin

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 22: The Malda CPI-M has finally decided to nominate the son of a rebel Congress member of Malda Zilla Parishad in panchayat polls following the resolution of the district secretariat. Though a group of CPI-M leadership had planned to nominate Mohammad Sahid, a senior congress leader but following the guideline of the state leadership the CPI-M has nominated Mr Ajmal Hossian, son of that rebel Congress leader, for ZP seat in Chanchal. The CPI-M has dropped Mrs Anjuman Ara Begum, who contested last Assembly and panchayat polls and she was also the CPI-M candidate for Kharba by poll held recently. Mrs Mehrunnesha has replaced her. The CPIM has finally decided to pull out two candidates to adjust seats with the Socialists Party today. The CPI-M fielded two ZP candidates against the socialist party where leaders of SP adamantly fielded its candidates in various seats in Habibpur block areas. The CPIM pulled out its candidates when the SP had finally bent down before the CPI-M leaders. On the other hand, there has been no seat adjustments with the SUCI and the Trinamul Congress. Only in Gazole the Trinamul has finally agreed not to field its candidate for Zilla Parishad seat.

Ire over filling of wetlands

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April. 22: The chairman of the English Bazaar municipality Mr Narendranath Tiwari today expressed unhappiness over the role of police for failing to check ‘illegal’ earth filling of wetlands near Gorail Bridge in ward no 3 which has already blocked an important drainage system. “Despite several reminders to the IC of the English Bazaar police station police have failed to stop earth filling of a wet land near the Godrail Bridge . We had lodged two FIRs with the police station mentioning specific name of promoters and their address but police have done nothing,” said Mr Tiwari, addressing a Press conference today. The chairman lastly sent a third reminder to the IC English Bazaar police station today and lastly both chairman and the IC visited the spot but failed to spot any persons there who were filling lands with the help of trucks today. Speaking to the reporters the IC Mr P Pradhan said: “We have been trying to monitor the area to check earth filling work but the promoters are doing this job secretly”.On the other hand, though the civic body chief claimed that area was under the English Bazaar Municipality but the local promoters have managed papers of the land from the land department which is belongs to the gram panchayat area. Challenging the civic body chief, the promoters claimed that character of the land is officially wetland. The civic body chief Mr Tiwari told reporters that it would excavate a particular portion of filled lands soon with the help of police to clear congestion of the drainage system of the English Bazaar municipal areas.

Madrassa board violates model code of conduct

Manas Banerjee

MALDA, April 21: The regional Madrassa board in Malda has distributed development funds to several government-aided educational institutions in north Bengal since Wednesday, violating the model code of conduct that has come into force since the notification for the rural polls. The Malda district administration is yet to learn of the development. “We do not have information about the distribution of funds or who allotted the funds and from where it was distributed,” said the additional district magistrate (general) Mr PC Sit today. Speaking on the matter, Mr J Abedin, regional officer, Madrassa board in Malda, said: “I did not receive any instruction from the headquarters (Madrassa Board) about distribution of funds or its timing. Neither did the board inform me about the model code of conduct or that it would be breached if the funds were distributed now.” After the notification of the Kharba by-poll, the additional district magistrate (general) issued an order to the district project officer of Sarba Shiksha Mission instructing funds be kept under personal custody and not to distribute funds to schools now to avoid violation of the model code of conduct. The regional officer of the madrassa board in Malda, Mr Abedin said: “We have distributed funds to 69 madrassas in Malda district on Wednesday (16 April). The authorities of other madrassas from north Bengal districts like Cooch Behar, North and South Dinajpurs and other areas collected their allotments on Thursday.” “A few madrassas in north Bengal could not collect the allotted funds on Thursday. The authorities of 72 madrassas in Murshidabad district have been asked to collect their allotment on 22 April from the Malda office,” he added. According to Mr Abedin, the funds were allotted for the construction of additional classrooms and hostel.

Ghani aide dropped

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 21: Mr Goutam Chakraborty, a senior Congress leader and Sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad, who was a trusted man in ABA Ghani Khan's family, has been dropped from the candidature list for Zilla Parishad polls finalised by the district president of Malda Congress Mrs Rubi Noor, sister of Ghani Khan. Mr PR Das Munshi, the Union minister for information and broadcasting, failed to get a ticket for Mr Goutam Chakraborty after a dialogue over phone with the district president Mrs. Noor over the issue. The Congress workers and leaders other than the district committee want to know the cause of present ‘bitter relation’ with the Malda MP Mr. AH Khan Choudhury, brother of Ghani Khan and the district president. Some Congress ZP members had told heirs of Ghani Khan about irregularities and violations of instructions to run the Malda zilla parishad in last five years. Not only Mr. Chakraborty but also 11 other Congress members including the saha sabhadhipati have been dropped from the candidature lists for zilla parishad polls. n SNS

No contest : CPM to win panchayat seats

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 21:- The CPI-M may win two panchayat samiti seats without contest at Majampur in Kaliachak- I block area. No one belonging to the Congress or other parties has been able to file nomination in the two seats of Kaliachak -I panchayat samiti.The CPI-M party sources said the last panchayat poll results were the same. Out of three panchayat samiti seats, the Congress has been able to file nomination for one. It is also learnt that the CPI-M may win nine gram panchayat seats without contest out of 12 members of Majampur GP board. Only in two seats there will be contest between the CPI-M and the Congress. The CPI-M workers and local leaders are waiting for the day of scrutiny of these nomination papers, which is scheduled to be held tomorrow, to gear up polls campaign for zilla parishad seat there. On the other hand, the CPI-M has not been able to file nomination in 17 GP seats for Naoda Jadupur G P under Kaliachak-I P S. Following protests from local people backed by the Congress the CPI-M has finally decided to stay off filing nomination to avoid confrontation with the Congress but inspired its allies to file nomination so that Congress candidates can not win 17 seats without contest.

CPM-RSP alliance complete

MALDA, April 21: The Malda CPI-M has finally managed to make a total alliance with the RSP leaders in the major parts of this district after nominating three RSP block level leaders for zilla parishad seats in this panchayat polls. The CPI-M district secretary has agreed to give up more ZP seats for the RSP if they come forward to adjust seats in panchayat samiti and gram panchayat levels. “We are ready to nominate more RSP candidates for Zilla Parishad if they withdraw their candidates in gram panchayat and panchayat samiti level,” said Mr Jiban Moitra, the district secretary of the CPI-M and district Left Front convener. The RSP had contested nine Zilla Parishad seats in the last panchayat polls here and secured a decent votes where the CPI-M had lost its three seats and could not come to power in Malda Zilla Parishad. The RSP leaders told reporters they were trying to make a total alliance with the CPI-M and other allies. The CPI-M could not finalise a few Zilla Parishad seats in the northern part of Malda, particularly in Chanchal area, where the date of nomination has been extended. But the district CPI-M leadership is hoping positive results to recapture the Zilla Parishad after nominating three RSP local leaders in Kaliachak and Ratua blocks. n SNS

Malda Cong leaves out ZP members for panchayat election

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April. 18: The Congress leadership in Malda has decided to leave out all elected Zilla Parishad members including the sabhadhipati and saha- sabhadhipati from the forthcoming panchayat polls. The fate of the sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty and three other ZP members is uncertain. Mr Mostaque Alam, the former MLA from Harischandrapur, wants to contest this year. He is the general secretary of the Malda Congress district committee. The West Bengal PCC chief Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi is looking into the matter of Mr Goutam Chakraborty so that he can contest from Harishchandrapur area, which is under the minister's parliamentary constituency. Mr Das Munshi could come to Malda soon to sort out the problem. It is learnt that the PCC chief has appointed a representative here who will give party symbol to contesting candidates for panchayat polls, particularly for the ZP, in five blocks in his parliamentary constituency.Besides, the district Congress president Mrs Rubi Noor would also allot party symbol in the southern part of the district. The frustrated saha sabhadhipati, Mrs Gul Roshan had approached the CPI-M for a ticket to contest in the panchayat polls but was refused. She finally decided to contest in favour of the Trinamul Congress. The party has decided not to re-nominate ZP members who were inactive in the past five years and have allegations against themselves on various matters, the Congress leadership, said.

Ramkrishna Mission returns donation

Statesman News Service
MALDA, April 17:- The Malda Ramkrishna Mission has urged the district inspector of schools (primary) to take back Rs. 12,000 allotted for the development of its primary school in English Bazaar.

As the local panchayat and village education committee (VEC) did not agree to hand over the money to the Ramkrishna Mission for its utilization it had taken the decision to return the money.

Sources said that the VEC members wanted to execute the work at its own responsibility but the Malda Ramkrishana Mission did not agree to their proposal.

The institution had sought the said funds from the VEC for building maintenance, study materials and construction of a ramp in Vivekananda Vidyapith junior basic school premises.

The fund was allotted from the Sarba Shiksha Mission (SSM). Suspecting misappropriation of funds the Malda Ramkrishna Mission did not agree to allow the VEC to execute the work.

Last year the Mission had returned Rs. 3.4 lakh due this problem to the government allotted for the development of Mission’s Vivekananda Vidyapith junior basic school located at Mohanpara near Amriti in English Bazaar block.

"We had to write a letter to the concerned authorities urging them to take back Rs. 3.4 lakh allotted for building construction. We demanded Rs. 2 lakh for the construction of boundary wall of the school", said Malda Ramkrishna Mission chief Swami Divyananda Maharaj.


It may be noted that there are three teachers in the concerned school, appointed by district primary school council and government pays for their salary.

The district inspector of schools (secondary), he is also in charge of district project officer of SSM, Mr. Chinmay Sarkar said: "We always disburse funds to the VEC. I will look into the matter".

"How can we take back the money", he added. #####

CPM , SP tussle over seat adjustment in polls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April. 16: After RSP, the CPM is facing a problem over adjustment of seats with another Left Front ally ~ the Socialist Party ~ in Gazole Block area, a red bastion. The CPI-M district secretary Mr Jiban Moitra and another CPI-M leader and MLA Mr Khagen Murmu have failed to pacify the Socialist Party leaders over the adjustment of seats at the grampanchayat and panchayat samiti levels. “The Socialist Party has demanded abnormally huge number of seats in Gazole without valid reasons. We are trying hard to make a ‘total unity’ among LF partners but there are few areas where unity is not possible at the moment,” said a senior CPI-M district committee leader. It may be recalled that Mr Surajit Roy, a top CPM leader in Gazole, who has joined the Socialist Party, is adamant to bargain seats form the CPI-M and has decided to field candidates according to their choice in Gazole Block .“The district Socialist Party chief Mr Milan Das is being guided by Mr Surajit Roy here. This has created problem to adjust seats with the CPI-M in Gazole” said a senior member of the LF belonging to the RSP. Till this afternoon, the CPI-M and RSP have adjusted seats amicably in Kaliachak III and English Bazaar. The CPI-M has been able to overcome the problem of seat sharing in Manikchak Block. The dialogue continues between the CPI-M and RSP for Kalichak I and II and two other blocks in Ratua. The RSP leaders have been able to adjust seats partly in Habibpur, Gazole and Old Malda. Though RSP thought that the CPI-M would accept their proposals of seat sharing in Bamongola, the CPI-M leaders asked the RSP leaders to discuss more about some disputed seats in Bamongola block this afternoon. The CPI-M party sources said that the picture of seat adjustments among the LF partners will be clear after 17 April. The CPI-M leadership is still monitoring filing of nomination papers of its junior partners in respective blocks in the three tier-polls (gram Panchayat, panchayat samiti and zilla parishad) in order to take final decision about seat adjustment issue.

Congress , BJP poll tie-up in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 15: The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have struck an alliance in certain areas of Malda district for the forthcoming rural polls. The two parties have decided to sacrifice seats for each other on the basis of their organisational strength.The Malda Congress MP, Mr A H Khan Choudhury today said: “The Congress will not contest where the BJP is strong and similarly the BJP would not field candidates where the Congress enjoys the potential to win.”“We will adjust seats in the Barind Belt like Habibpur, Old Malda, Gazole and Bamongola areas. The seat adjustment will be limited to the panchayat polls. It would not apply in the general elections,” he added. Claiming that the BJP enjoyed numerical strength in the Barind belt, BJP leader Mr Amlan Bhaduri, said: “The BJP has a strong base in the Barind Belt. We will field candidates where the BJP is strong and would support the Congress candidates where the BJP is comparatively weak to defeat the CPI-M.”According to Mr Bhaduri, the BJP also wants to adjust seats with the Trinamul Congress in particular areas where the BJP and Trinamul Congress alliance had contested in the last panchayat polls. It may be noted that the Malda zilla parishad was formed by the Congress with the support of the BJP and Trinamul Congress elected members in the last panchayat polls. The Congress also runs the English Bazaar Municipality with the support of Trinamul and BJP. Political observers here say that the Congress has sought the BJP’s help at the lower level just to confirm a few zilla parishad seats.“The Left Front will return a better result if the alliance between the Congress, BJP and Trinamul is exposed officially,” Mr Jiban Moitra, convener of the Malda Left Front and CPI-M district secretary said.

CPM negotiates with LF allies for panchayat seats

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 15: To stop the RSP from the ‘go it alone’ policy, the Malda CPI-M has offered at least three zilla parishad seats to the RSP candidates after a long interaction with them. But till this evening nothing has been finalised in a bipartite meeting for seat sharing with the RSP. When the RSP leaders were preparing to file at least 50 per cent seats in gram panchayat (GP), panchayat samiti (PS) and zilla parishad (ZP) in many blocks the top CPI-M leaders repeatedly asked the RSP leaders to submit their demands for zilla parishad seat in yesterday's meeting. They also discussed if ZP seat adjustment between the CPI-M and the RSP would be possible if the RSP would adjust seats with the CPI-M in GP and PS level. “The CPI-M workers would not approach voters to cast votes for the RSP candidate for ZP seat if there are several RSP candidates contesting against the CPI-M in GP and PS level,” a senior CPI-M leader warned the RSP leaders in the meeting yesterday. Political sources said the district CPI-M leaders discussed the performance of the RSP candidates, who had contested in nine ZP seats in last panchayat polls, finally considering three of them. “The dialogue is on to finalise three ZP seats in Kaliachak I and III and in Ratua,” RSP sources said. Sources said the CPI-M has finalised ZP seat adjustments with the CPI, Forward Block and Socialist party, offering them one each. It is learnt though the CPI demanded four ZP seats but has only been allotted one. The CPI-M has reportedly asked them to give up their winning seat in Bamongola and one ZP seat has been allotted in Chanchal area. Though the LF has allotted one ZP seat to the FB but the leaders of the FB could not finalise its candidate due to internal squabbling. The FB MLA from Harishchandrapur is playing a vital role to finalise candidate. After a long discussion with the Socialist party, seat adjustment has been finalised in Habibpur block after offering one ZP seat. In Gazole the Socialist party is still adamant to field its candidates in GP and PS ignoring the LF alliance theory.

L F convener decides to take CPM, RSP seat issue to state

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 14: The Malda Left Front convener has finally decided to forward disputed seat adjustment matter to the state Left Front for finalisation if they fail to settle seat adjustment between the CPI-M and the RSP for panchayat polls, a CPI-M party source said today. Citing an example, the CPI-M party source said that the Cooch Behar district Left Front has forwarded two such disputed cases to the state committee when the CPI-M and the RSP had failed to adjust two zilla parishad seats there.The Cooch Behar CPI-M has decided to follow the decision of the state Left Front, he said. Since last few days the Malda CPI-M in district and zonal level discussed the issue of seat adjustments among the allies but in many cases the matter was inclusive.The Malda Left Front convener and also the CPI-M district secretary Mr. Jiban Moitra, has called a final meeting for seat adjustments with the allies including the RSP leaders.Particularly in the gram panchayat level the RSP has demanded 50 percent seats from the CPI-M.Even the Forward Bloc leaders have also demanded more seats in gram panchayat in the fresh areas where they did not contest earlier, sources said. It is learnt that the CPI-M leaders, as big bothers, have failed to finalise seats among the allies in Bulbulchandi gram panchayat under Habibpur block. “25 candidates from allies have expressed their desire to contest in Bulbulchandi gram panchayat area where the total number of seats is only 18 and where the CPI-M has demanded only three", said a CPI-M source. The CPI-M party sources said the Left Front convener would offer a confirmed zilla parishad seat to the RSP, out of 34 seats, this year to settle seat adjustments in this district. Other allies may be getting one each. ##

Ghani’s Death anniversary

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 14: The Malda Congress today observed a nominal death anniversary of Late A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury at its party office today. The former Malda M P and union railway minister died on 14 April 2006. Though the party had planned to organise a colourful programme today to mark the occassion showcasing project Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Science & Technology and its future plan to set up a deemed university but due to election code of conduct the programme was cancelled.The Malda MP Mr. A H Khan Choudhury, other congress leaders including the English Bazaar MLA, and Sabhadhipati Mr. Goutam Chakraborty were present today.It is learnt that Mr. Goutam Chakraborty finally decided to contest in Harishchandrapur block for zilla parishad seat.On the other hand, the SC, ST and OBC cell of the Malda congress today observed birth anniversary of Dr. B R Ambedkar at the Congress party office and then observed the death anniversary of Ghani Khan.Other backward class organisations also observed Ambedkar's birth anniversary today in different parts of Malda district showcasing Supreme Court's decision to uphold 27 quota for OBC. ##

Pay to get promoted

MALDA, April 13:- Failed students in annual examinations may get pass mark sheet and get admission in new classes if they pay money for the development of the school! Such allegation has come up against a private school, St. Xavier's, Malda. In response to such an allegation a group of guardians have planned to seek transfer certificates of their wards from the school so that they can admit them in other schools. Unofficially it was announced that guardians would have to pay Rs. 1000 for a student if he failed in two subjects. Rs. 2000 is required for the students who failed in four subjects and Rs. 6,000 is required if a candidate fails in six to seven subjects.The matter came to light after the results of annual examination were out and some failed students got promoted to the next class.On being questioned,the secretary of the school, Mr. Tamaltaru Sinha said: “I am presently in Delhi. I will explain it in detail after returning to Malda”. The school has earlier been in news because of internal squabbling among the teachers and members of the managing committee.n SNS

7 killed , 35 injured as NBSTC bus hits truck

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 13: At least seven passengers including three women were killed and 35 others injured when a North Bengal State Transport Corporation’s bus collided with a truck at Ratanpur in Sagardighi police station in Murshidabad this afternoon. The superintendent of police, Murshidabad, Mr B Gupta said the ill-fated bus was hit by another bus immediately after the collision with the truck on the NH 34, which made the situation critical. Eyewitness said two NBSTC buses were racing with each other on the NH-34. The Rampurhat bound bus had to press brake when a heavily loaded truck came in front of it this made the bus at behind loose control and collide with the Rampurhat bus.About thirty injured passengers including women and children were admitted to Behrampore new general hospital. Five others were admitted to Sagardighi rural hospital. “Six persons including two women were killed at the spot. “We do not have confirmation of any other deaths till now. Death toll may go up”, said the superintendent of police. Unconfirmed reports said two others died on their way to hospital in Behrampore. Local residents carried out rescue operation immediately after the accident.

Campaign against Das Munshi

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 11: A day before the Kharba Assembly bypolls, hundreds of posters were circulated in Chanchal block I and II allegedly by a Congress leader criticising the WBPCC chief and the Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, the Information and Broadcasting minister , who took special initiative to nominate Mr Asif Mehebub as the Congress candidate. Hundreds of leaflets were also circulated among the voters in the name of Mr Mohammad Sahid, a local Congress leader and office bearer for food department of Malda zilla parishad. Mr Sahid, in the leaflets apparently claimed that Mr Das Munshi had ensured him the ticket to contest in the by-poll but denied him eventually. The posters and leaflets called for Congress supporters to chase out the minister.The Malda Congress leaders were embarrassed after the incident and called for an emergency meeting this afternoon to inquire into the matter before taking action against the Congress leader Mr.Sahid. “We would seek clarification from Mr Sahid about the posters and leaflets,” Congress leaders, said. It was learnt that the local Congress leadership has decided to suspend Mr Sahid. “We are waiting for an approval from Das Munshi,” said Mr Mustaque Alam, general secretary, Malda district congress. The Congress leadership also suspects that the development could be the CPI-M's handiwork. “Certain words in the leaflet are usually used in communist literature,” they said. The CPI-M leaders brushed aside such allegations. It may be noted that since announcement of the Congress candidate Mr. Asif Mehebub, son of former Congress MLA Mr Mahabubul Hoque, Mr Sahid expressed unhappiness over the nomination of the candidate. A faction of the Congress in Chanchal area had tried to heckle Mr Das Munshi on the issue.

Mamata alleges poll code violation in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 10: After campaigning in some areas in Kharba yesterday , the Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee today alleged that the model code of conduct was ‘totally violated’ in Chanchal. Speaking to reporters in Malda, Miss Banerjee said: “No body can promise or commit development work during election campaigning but some senior leaders who are against Trinamul did not bother to follow the election code of conduct there. I found it was totally violated. What is the returning officer doing there?” She mainly reacted to the comments of the PCC chief and Union information and broadcasting minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Mushi, who allegedly promised to the people that he would build a stadium in Chanchal. During an election campaign yesterday he also said that he had arranged for Rs 25 crore for the construction of a bridge over the river Mahananda at Aashapur but the CPI(M) did nothing for it. “We will not lodge any complaint with the election commission on this issue but the returning officer and the commission should take action because it is their duty”, said Miss Banerjee. The Trinamul chief also pointed out that the Congress was organising a grand feast (meat and rice) in many villages to bag votes. She urged the people not to cast votes in favour of the Congress. “If you cast vote for them it w-ould go to the CPI (M) because both are same,” she added. Talking to local journalists, she said: “It would take time to convince the people of Malda and Murshidabad that the Trinamul led Progressive Secular Democratic Front is the only alternative to the CPI-M and the Congress here”. On the other hand, the PCC chief pointed out that Miss Mamata Banerjee has come to campaign here to win the CPI-M narrowing the margin of the Congress. “There was a good relation between Mamata and Badalda (former MLA Mahabubul Hoque). We could not think that Mamata will field a candidate here against the son of former MLA, Mr Asif Mahebub”, said Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi. During election campaign Miss Banerjee did not forget to mention the name of A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury and she pointed out that she did not field candidates to pay respect to him. Till today Miss Mamata Banerjee was campaigning in Kharba Assembly areas till last hours of the prohibitory order to stop campaign.##

In Malda, Trinamul Congress chief Miss Mamata Banerjee expressed serious concern about the unrest in the Dajee-ling Hills and in Siliguri on the issue of Gorkhaland. She held the CPI-M and the Congress responsible for the unrest.On the alliance between the GJMM, Kamtapur Progressive Party and Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party and their demand for separate states, Miss Banerjee said: “The Trinamul does not believe in separatism. But there should be a peaceful dialogue.”

Rampant power cuts hit Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 10: Just after the end of the Madhymik and Higher Secondary examinations the authorities of the Electricity Distribution Company Limited has started rampant power cut in several districts including Malda from Tuesday. Yesterday, there was no electricity in English Bazaar town and other parts of Malda district over four hours. Today, the same thing happened early in the morning for an hour and there was no electricity at mid-day too. The EDCL officials said that power cut would continue but it would be executed phase wise so that people do not suffer for more than two or three hours at a time. The circle manager of the electricity distribution company Mr A Maity said: “Due to network hazards there was no electricity last night. It was not load-shedding. The technical snag has been overcome”. A senior official said that power cuts had not only started in Malda, but also in Murshidabad, Midnapore West and other districts. The officials got to know of this crisis when they contacted the zonal office. “The consumers will be getting relief when the power generation will improve,” the circle manager said. “During Madhymik and HS examination the department managed to overcome the crisis by buying electricity from other sources athigh rates”, the electricity officials added.

19 tribals converted to Hinduism

Statesman News Service
MALDA, April 10:- Nineteen tribal Christian including five women and a few children were 'reconverted' to Hinduism at Tajpur in Habibpur police station today. The conversion took place at a colourful ceremony for this programme at Hindu Milan Mandir set up by Bharat Sebashram Sangha. Six families, residents of Borgram under the same police station attended the programme called Parabartan (Homecoming) organized by the VHP. No VHP leader was present at the conversion programme though. One of the tribal Christian, Mr. Pulin Mardi, alleged that they were lured by the Christian missionaries but finally they decided to come back to their own religion. Police were present to ensure law and order.###

Probe into school financial irregularities

Statesman News Service
MALDA, April 10:- The Malda district inspector of schools has sent an inspection team to inquire into financial irregularities of A K Pandua High School in Gazole block.

It was alleged that the school authorities misappropriated a fund allotted for buying books for girls belonging to back ward classes.

More than Rs. 60,000 was allotted in the financial year 2006-07 to the school.

The Malda D I was informed that the school bought few books from the allotted funds and distributed them among the girls but allegedly forced the guardians submit a declaration that they had got all books which were not distributed.

The Malda D I , Mr. Chinmay Sarkar , is waiting for the inquiry report of the team sent to the school.

"The school authorities would be asked to attend a hearing on this issue soon based on the report before taking action against them", he said. #

Mamata stands by bandh call

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 9: The Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee said that she would never call off the state bandh on 21 April on the issue of price hike in response to an appeal fr-om the Left Front chairman Mr Biman Bose who urged to ‘keep the bandh on hold’, called by Trinamul Congress and Suci jointly, till the last date of withdrawal of candidatures for the first and second phases of panchayat poll. “We had called the bandh before notification of the election and date of nomination, scrutiny and withdrawal. Now the (state) government will decide on it. It is their duty to extend the date”, she said.Speaking to the media persons in Malda, Miss Banerjee said: “What role the CPI(M) is playing in protest against price hike of essential commodities in the country. The CPI(M) has planned to stage movement on this issue, ‘why don't they withdraw support from the UPA government on this issue’? The CPIM's movement on this issue is just a ‘drama’ to fool the people”, she added. The Trinamul chief criticised schedule of the three phase panchayat polls and asked why a part of state would be given more days for campaigning. Miss Mamata Banerjee also said the top ranking government officials are acting as machineries for panchayat polls for the CPI(M) here and violated model code of conduct. Citing an example and showing a letter of the Howrah district magistrate, Miss Mamata Banerjee said: “This top official issued a letter on 5 April to all block development officials for issuing ration card to the people just before panchayat polls. I suspect that all district magistrates have instructed to issue ration card in their respective areas so that people can show identify instead of their electoral photo identity card to cast vote”.Why are they distributing rat-ion cards now?, she asked adding “10,000 to 15,000 ration cards would be distributed to each block like Panchla, Sakrail and other blocks in Ho-wrah”.The Trinamul chief has termed the Congress and the CPI(M) as ‘two brothers’ to run the UPA government in Delhi.“We will share seats with Progressive Secular Democratic Front partners including the SUCI and CPI (ML) New Democracy in panchayat polls on the through discussion but not the Congress. We will try to nominate candidates in all seats”, she claimed.

Why government's primary school students suffer

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 8: Several students of government primary schools are losing out on the opportunity to get admitted to reputed schools of the town owing to lack of administrative decisions regarding admission tests and a fixed date of admission. Almost all reputed schools in Malda town are through with the admission tests and taken in students of private kindergartens on the basis of merit.The government primary school students are the main sufferers here since their annual examinations are still going on. The government had directed earlier that there would not be any admission test for class V. Though the order was taken to stand, it was directed that the school authorities would not admit students in April. Mr Chinmay Sarkar admitting the ongoing problem regarding admissions said that he tired to contact the director of school education over phone today seeking suggestion to take steps for the primary students but failed to contact him because he was out of state.“I have discussed the matter and the issue with the district education officials just now. I must take steps for students of primary school so that they get the opportunity to get admission in reputed schools”, the DI Mr Chinmay Sarkar told The Statesman.Mr Sarkar said if primary school students get admission now it would be difficult for the authorities to release the mark sheets and the transfer certificates so soon. “There should be a uniform system of admission for class V students with a fixed date”, he added. The district inspector of primary schools, Mr KP Singha averted all questions and told the journalists to contact the chairman of the DPSC who was also not available.

RSP likely to contest alone in Malda panchayat polls

Statesman News Service

SILIGURI/MALDA, April 8: The RSP is likely to go it alone in the forthcoming panchayat elections in the Jalpaguri and Malda districts.“The party has not yet pulled out of the Left Front regarding the approaching panchayat polls. We have set certain conditions though,” said the RSP Jalpaiguri district secretary Mr Sunil Banik.In Malda, several rounds of talks have been held between the CPI-M and RSP at Habibpur, Bamongola and Old Malda Blocks but most meetings so far has remained inconclusive. According to the RSP leadership, the party’s state leaders held a workers’ meeting in Malda on 1 April. “ We were instructed to prepare to go it alone in the panchayat elections,” the RSP leadership, said.In Jalpaiguri district, the RSP leadership said that they had demanded 15 of the 34 zilla parishad seats in the district, which the CPI-M is unlikely to accept. Mr Banik said that a bi-partite negotiation with the CPI-M was still going on. “We should be able to decide on the subject in a day or two,” he added.In Malda, the RSP had demanded 36 grampanchayat seats in Old Malda Block, which was not accepted by the CPI-M. “The seat adjustments should be made through detailed discussion based on the ground reality and present strength of the organisations,” said Mr Goutam Gupta, RSP district secretary, Malda.The Left Front in Malda would finalise seat sharing with allies on 12 April.

Mamata campaign on 9-10 April

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 7: The Trinamul Chief Miss Mamata Bannerjee along with four other political parties will campaign for Kharba Assembly bypolls on 9 and 10 April. According to the district president of Trinamul Congress, Mr Dulal Sarkar, the party has formed an alliance with Suci, Muslim League, CPI (ML) New Democracy and a faction of Forward Bloc for the Trinamul Congress candidate Mr Abdul Khaleque in Kharba bypolls. Mr Sarkar said that four political leaders will also join the four election rallies led by Miss Mamata Banerjee in Kharba Assembly segment. Miss Banerjee will address at four places such as Jalalpur and Hamatpur on 9 April and at Kharba High School and Kalambagan in Chanchal on 10 April. It may be noted that due to prohibitory order on using microphone for on going HS examination political parties could not organise big rallies. However, the prohibitory order would be relaxed from 9 April afternoon to 10 April evening and then an election code of conduct will come into force for the bypolls to be held on 12 April. On the other hand, the PCC chief Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi has been campaigning in phases since a few days just to retain the seat as it is a prestigious issue when a faction of Congress workers led by a Malda zilla parishad member are ‘dead against’ the contesting candidate Mr Asif Mehbub. Political observers say that Miss Mamata Banerjee will be trying hard to increase the percentage of vote here than the Trinamul Congress candidate had secured in last Assembly election. Trinamul candidate would bag votes from anti-Left vote banks narrowing the margin between the CPI(M)and the Congress candidates. In last Assembly the CPI(M) candidate Mr Anjumanara Begam was defeated by a margin of at least 10,000 votes. The minister for tourism and micro, cottage and small minister Mr Manab Mukherjee, the transport and sport minister Mr Subhash Chakraborty would be coming for the campaigning of Kharba by election in the last two days. At present minister for minority and madrasa, Mr Abdur Sattar and the CPI(M) leader Mrs Minati Ghosh and other leaders are campaigning in Kharba. In order to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident the district election officials have decided to deploy central forces in Kharba Assembly segment from 9 April.

Civic amenities first , bypolls later

MALDA, April 7: The residents of Singhia village in Chanchal have decided to boycott the upcoming Kharba bypolls in favour of their demand for civic amenities like drinking water, roads and electricity in the area. The area falls under the Kharba Assembly segment. While Mr Abdul Khaleque, the Trinamul Congress candidate from the area has urged the voters to reconsider their decision, Mr Dulal Sarkar, president, district Trinamul Congress claimed that his party workers have assured the agitators to extend all cooperation in the area with the assistance of Miss Banerjee’s MPLAD fund. However, The villagers, who have had a bitter experience with the Congress in the past, are far from convinced. Mr Debasish Sarkar, SDO, Chanchal today said that he did not have any official information on the matter. “If they had officially informed me about their decision to boycott the bypolls, I would have urge them not to waste their democratic rights,” Mr Sarkar said. According to him, besides Singhia, the villagers of Sreepur in Ratua Block are also reportedly contemplating a similar action. “They boycotted the pulse polio immunisation programme to stress their demand for civic amenities,” Mr Sarkar said.A large number of people yesterday, blocked the National Highway at Naldubbi under Old Malda Block in demand of civic amenities including primary education. They have decided to boycott the upcoming panchayat polls. n sns

Schools rope students

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 6:- In order to check irregularities in the admission tests for class V students in government aided schools, the Malda district inspector will summon some school authorities tomorrow. The DI of schools, Mr. Chinmay Sarkar, expressed unhappiness over the unhealthy competition of admission tests among reputed schools in Malda town despite government's recent orders. While the government issued an order the school authorities would not be allowed to take admission for class V in April, all reputed schools in Malda town have started admission in class V after publishing results of their admission tests conducted last week. Not only that the school authorities are receiving high amount of admission fees, there was no uniformity in the admission procedure. Some schools have ‘seized’ original transfer certificate of the students at the time of admission so that they can not take admission in other reputed schools after publication of results. The DI of schools has received several complaints (most of them are verbal) regarding non refundable admission fees. For example , according to the complaints, admission fees for Vivekananda Vidyamandir is Rs. 2000 for this year, A C Institution has announced Rs. 580 , Lalit Mohan has claimed Rs. 750, C C Girls’ High school has collected Rs. 850 on Saturday during admission and Malda Girls’ had already collected Rs. 500. The DI of schools have received complaints that the Malda girls’ has taken hold of transfer certificate of students who took admission in class V. On the other hand, the CC Girls did not follow reservation policy but published admission test results on merit. Yesterday, the DI has received such complaint when guardians lodged protest in front of the school.

SSC candidates with fake certificates under scanner

Manas Banerjee

MALDA, April 4: Several candidates selected as assistant teachers in a number of secondary and higher secondary schools in the district in the physically handicapped category are under scanner for allegedly producing ‘false’ certificates to the school service commission. The SSC (northern region) in Malda has found nearly 50 such candidates who are suspected to have submitted false certificates. The SSC has stopped recommending their services and has sent their documents to the state government for verification. Though the selected candidates are reportedly coaxing the SSC authorities through "connections" to issue recommendation letters, the chairman, SSC (northern region) is resolute to have the documents verified before recommending. “The matter came into light during interview and counselling session when a candidate confessed of having procured a fake physically handicapped certificate from an agency and submitted it to the SSC to get job under the quota easily,” said Mr Vivekananda Pradhanthe chairman, SSC (northern region). Most of the false certificates were issued from Lalbag in Murshidabad district, the SSC officials said. Committee members of the SSC got suspicious when he found many of the candidates registered under the quota having no sign of physical disability. The chairman, SSC (northern region) selected one of the submitted certificates issued from Alipurduar sent it to the issuing authorities for verification. “I was taken aback by the reply claiming the certificate was genuine. The authorities said the same thing about the other certificates including one that the candidate himself claimed to be fake. That explained the whole thing", said Mr Pradhan.“I informed the state authorities about the racket and they asked for the documents submitted by the suspected candidates. We have sent all the doubtful cases to the state authority and are awaiting reply,” he said.

Bus strike stirs trouble

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 4: Though the district administration had requested private bus owners and leaders of workers’ union to restore bus services and call off the on going strike in northern part of Malda district, the situation has not been restored even today ~ the third day of the strike. Commuters in this part of Malda are facing a lot of inconvenience due to the strike.The leaders of private workers’ union backed by the RSP and other unions have threatened to call a strike across the district from Saturday morning if police do not arrest the assailants who had beaten up a driver and his helpers on Wednesday. The bus owners and leaders of workers’ union alleged that some members of the Student Federation of India (SFI) beat up a driver and his helpers following an altercation regarding bus fare when the bus was broke down midway. The driver and his colleagues lodged an FIR at the Ratua police station and the RSP backed workers’ union has decided not to ply private buses in this region. The additional district magistrate (general) Mr PC Shit said: “The bus owner’s Association and workers’ union have agreed to call of their strike from Friday morning after a discussion with me and Malda SP till late in the night yesterday.” The Chanchal SDO Mr Debasish Sarkar said: “We had initiated a dialogue with the block development officer and IC of police station twice regarding the matter but failed to deter the bus workers’ union from calling a strike. The matter was then informed to the district headquarters and the leaders of the workers’ union agreed to discuss the matter with the ADM.”On the other hand, Mr Nanda Kishor Majumdar, leader of the RSP backed workers’ union said: “If the police do not arrest the SFI activists by Friday afternoon we would go on a strike from Saturday morning”. Mr Majumdar has called a Press conference regarding the matter at 8 pm in the evening today. The Malda SP, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay said: “We cannot arrest the culprits as the workers’ union had withdrawn the FIR from Ratua police station and we cannot lodge a fresh FIR on the incident according to their demand.” The union leaders and bus owners Association countered the fact by saying that they were pressurised by the police to withdraw the FIR. “I have asked them to lodge a complaint against the police officer who pressed them to withdraw the FIR. We will inquire into the case,” said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhdyay.

Measures to check malaria in Malda

MALDA, April 3: The Malda health department has identified a total of 18 migrant labourers out of the 58 who are suffering from malignant malaria in Manikchak Block over the past few days, Dr D Haldar, deputy chief medical officer ~ II, malaria department in Malda said today. “Two of the total migrant labourers have died of malignant malaria a few days ago after returning from Orrisa. At present six serious patients suffering from the disease are undergoing treatment at Manikchak health centre”, Dr Haldar said.“We are concerned about the large number of migrant labourers in Malda who are suffering from not only malaria but also kala-ajar and HIV/AIDS. We have sent a detail report to the government as they are acting as carriers of these disesaes,” Dr Haldar said. After a thorough survey it was found that a total of 58 labourers went to Orrisa in search of jobs and were taken ill with high fever on 29 March. The Malda CMOH, Dr Radha Raman Banik said: “The health workers have started collecting blood samples of the neighbours of malaria patients and family members from today in the villages of Manikchak Block.“The health workers have started disinfecting the affected villages by spraying DDT in order to check the spread of the disease in the area. “The malaria department has provided medicine to the patients whose blood samples have tested positive for malaria and those who are staying at home.”The health officials today launched a special drive to spread awareness among the people to control the disease in the affected villages in Manikchak Block. n sns

Protests stall N H 34 expansion work

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 3: The fate of the proposed project for the expansion of National Highway 34, which was scheduled to be complete by 2009 remains uncertain in the wake of protests by local people and political parties regarding land acquisition for the project. Mr Kshiti Goswami, minister in charge, PWD disclosed that one of the consultancy firms engaged in the project has threatened to pull out due to the delay in acquiring land for the project."An American consultancy firm has threatened to pull out of the project due to the delay in land acquisition", Mr Goswami said."We have changed our plan for the construction of the bypass road of NH 34 at Beldanga in Murshidabad and have decided to expand the existing road by converting it into four lanes. We have dropped the earlier plan, which was proposed by the consultancy firm, owing to protests by villagers against acquisition of fertile land for the project," Mr Goswami said in Malda recently. It may be noted that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken a project to expand NH 34 including the bypass road in many areas where the existing road passes through Santoshpur in North 24 Parganas to Dalkhola in North Dinajpur. Conceding the badcondition of NH 34 in Nadia and Murshidabad and other districts Mr Goswami said: "It needs immediate repairing". However, NHAI is not willing to repair it temporarily since big expansion project is on the cards. When asked about vulnerable bridges of the NH 34 on several rivers the minister said. "When the Sudani Bridge collapsed in North Dinajpur last year, we had to allow heavy vehicles through 'Bengal to Bengal' state highway as an alternative communication, which has damaged the road completely. We have sought a grant of atleast 32 crore to repair the routes."

Robbery near Gour

MALDA, April 2: Despite police escort, armed culprits succeeded in looting Rs 2.5 lakh from a government vehicle at Kanchantar near Gour in English Bazaar police station around 4.15 p.m. today. Employees of the sericulture department were transporting the amount to Piasbari for payment of salary in a vehicle when eight culprits blocked the road with a rickshaw van and overpowered the security forces. “The police personnel were injured and a finger of a constable was chopped off. The culprit snatched two rifles from them,” said the Malda SP Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay. He, however, added that the police recovered the two rifles near Khasimari village where the culprits had abandoned them. n sns

2 migrant labourers die of malaria in Manikchak

MALDA, April 2: Two migrant workers have died of malaria in Manikchak Block. Several migrant workers are still suffering from malaria in Manikchak villages. Eight of the victims’ blood samples have tested positive for malignant malaria. According to the chief medical officer of health, Malda, Dr R R Banik, a total of 29 workers had been to Raisanga in Orissa in search of jobs on 10 February and returned home on 29 March with high fever. One of the victims died in Malda hospital and another one died at home on Monday, the CMOH said.The dead are Sheikh Rahun (47), resident of Mirapur village and Amar Sheikh (26), resident of Sheikhpura village in Manikchak Block. According to the health officials, Amar Sheikh's relatives had been advised to admit the victim to hospital for treatment, which was ignored. The women family members of Amar Sheikh are also suffering from high fever. “Primarily officials of the malaria department tested the blood of five of the victims of which, three samples tested positive. Today, the health officials tested blood samples of five other workers and all them tested positive for malignanat malaria,” the CMOH, said.At present, five of the victims are undergoing treatment at the Manikchak rural hospital. All of the 29 migrant workers and their family members have been kept under surveillance to ensure the disease does not spread to other areas.Top health officials of the district including the deputy CMOH II, Dr D Haldar visited Mirapur and Sheikhpura villages to examine the victims today. n sns

Political parties defer bypoll campaign due to ban on microphones

MALDA, April 2: The government’s prohibitory order on using microphones to campaign for the upcoming Kharba bypolls owing to the HS examinations till 9 April has left the political parties in a lurch.The order has caused the political parties to defer their campaigning till 9 April as the administration will allow the political parties to use microphones from 9 April to 10 April. The political parties will not be allowed to use microphones beyond the stipulated period.Though the Trinamul Congress had tried to organise a rally on 9 April for Miss Mamata Banerjee it had to be scheduled for 10 April due to submission of incomplete application to the administration. Meanwhile, the Congress has planned to organise a big election rally on 9 April at Kalambagan in Chanchal where the PCC chief and Union minister for information and broadcasting Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi would be present. The BJP has not announced any rally yet. On the other hand, top district CPIM leaders are busy with work in Tamil Nadu at present but hundreds of cadres have been appointed for door to door campaigning for its candidate Mrs Anjumanara Begam, who was defeated by former MLA Mahabubul Hoque in last Kharba Assembly polls. Mr Asif Mehboob, candidate for the Kharba bypolls and son of former Kharba MLA Mahabubul Hoque is campaigning through road shows and is appealing for votes to enable him to fulfill his father’s dreams of development in the fields of health and education. n sns

Central observers for Kharba bypolls

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 2:- Following the guidelines of the election commission at least 36 micro observers will be appointed to monitor a total of 201 polling stations under the guidance of two central observers for conducting Kharba Assembly by election to be held on 12 April, district magistrate said today. “This is for the first time in West Bengal, after Tripura general elections that micro observers will be deployed experimentally to conduct free and fair election process”, said the Malda district magistrate Mr C R Das. According to him, micro observers will be appointed from middle level officer working in central government organisations. Initially 99 central government employees hadbeen enlisted for this job. Out of 99, the central observers will select at least 43 persons for the job and train them as micro observers. 20 per cent of them will be in reserve. “These micro observers will report to the central observers from polling stations independently based on the questionairs prepared by the election commission, said Mr CR Das. According to Mr CR Das, the Malda superintendent of police, Mr Satyajit Bandyopadhayay has sought 10 company central forces to deploy armed forces at each polling station considering all 201 booths as ‘sensitive'. “We expect that we will be getting at least 6 company central forces for this by poll”, the district magistrate said. State police will also be deployed at the link roads connecting all polling stations to maintain law and order. Besides polling personnel, another government official will be posted at each polling station to communicate information, related to any problem or any untoward incident occurring at the booths, over phone to the sector office for immediate actions. The election department has requisitioned more than 1700 government and semi government employees for election training to select at least 1200 polling personnel to conduct the bypoll. On 6 April the central observers will finalise the posting of the polling personnel randomely. The polling personnel will be informed about their posting when the polling team will move to their venue, just a day before the poll. The district administrative officials are also receiving applications from requisitioned employees, who are medically unfit, to delete their name from election duty. The election officials asked them to submit reasonable reply against a show cause notice who can not attend election the training before applying for striking off of their names from the list. ####

Row over expulsion of school students

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 1: Teachers and members of staff council and academic council of Badnagra High School in Gazole are facing the wrath of guardians and local residents after the expulsion of five students of class VII and VIII for using unfair means in their annual examinations.The school authorities today informed the matter to the sub-inspector of the schools Mr Abdul Moim and sought his suggestion to handle the agitation of the local people.The head master of the school has sought police help to prevent any untoward incident during the demonstration to be staged tomorrow by the guardians in front of the school.The local residents including the guardians of the students led by a local club, backed by the local CPI-M and SFI leaders have complained against the teachers who belong to the CPI-M backed organisation ABTA.They are Mr Harun Al Rashid, Mr Pinaki Ranjan Sarkar, Mr Banshi Mohan Singh Sardar and Mr Abhijit Bagchi . It may be noted that a group of young teachers, recently appointed on the recommendation of the School Service Commission (SSC), some of whom are the members of academic and staff council, unanimously decided to take steps to check the usage of unfair means in school examinations in order to discourage the students from using unfair means in Madhyamik examinations.The school authorities cancelled the answerscript of a student after he was found using unfair means in school examinations and warned the other students that the school would expel them if they were found using unfair means in the examinations.Later the teachers identified five students of class VII and VIII during invigilation using unfair means in the examinations and expelled them according to the resolution of the school. Trouble broke out after the annual examinations got over a few days ago.The SI of school, Mr Abdul Moim reportedly suggested the school authorities to stand by their decision to expel the students.The district inspector of schools, Mr Chinmoy Sarkar said: “The decision of the school authorities is appreciable. The school authorities should gradually implement the decision through a process. The school authorities will have to face trouble if they take such drastic steps suddenly.”

Congress worker's murder before bypolls sparks tension

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 1: Tension looms large over Rampur area just ahead of the Kharba Assembly elections scheduled to be held on 12 April after a Congress worker Mubarak Ali (50) was murdered in Rampur under Chanchal police station last night.Mubarak Ali, a Congress worker, was killed last night by an opponent group allegedly led by a CPI-M supporter in Rampur village. The victim’s wife also sustained severe injuries in the clash while saving him. Since the opponent group was led by a CPI-M supporter the incident has created a huge sensation in the area prior to the bypolls.“The incident is not political but it tends to take a political colour as Mubarak was a CPI-M worker earlier. There was a clash between two anti-social groups over rights of an area. Police have been posted in the area to defuse the tension,” said Mr Satyajit Bandyopadh-ayay, SP Malda.There was a continuous fight between the two villages of Rampur and Ajitpur under Chan-drapara grampanchayat in Chanchal. A group of ass-ailants attacked Mubarak Ali with choppers around 8 pm last night. His wife’s fingers were chopped off in the attack.Mr Saidur Rahman, son of Mubarak Ali, has lodged a complaint with the police against three assailants Imran, Ismail and Nazrul.Police have stepped up vigilance there to control the situation before the bypolls. The Congress leader Mr Goutam Chakraborty demanded immediate arrest of the culprits named in the FIR.“It is CPI-M’s plan to terrorise people, before any poll”, Congress leaders alleged.“It was a clash between two anti-social groups. The CPI-M is not involved in this incident”, Mr Tushar Bhattacharya, a senior member of the district CPI-M said.

Union directive to cull stray chickens

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 31: - The joint commissioner of Central Animal Husbandry department Dr. A B Negi visited the Bird Flu affected area in English Bazaar yesterday and instructed officials of animal resources in Malda to pick up all stray chickens and cull them as soon as possible.

The decision was taken when police seized 23 chickens from three traders who were selling them in the market yesterday.

Dr. Negi also instructed officials to carry out the standing order of prohibiting rearing and selling of chickens for the next three months in the affected zone from the epicenter of fresh Bird Flu out break at state run poultry farm in English Bazaar town.


"All 23 chickens have been culled yesterday. We will continue such monitoring and police patrolling up to three months. There will be no relaxation on selling of chicken and its product within a radius of three km from the epicentre – state run poultry farm ", said N K Shit, deputy director, ARD in Malda.

The ARD department today planned to put up hoarding and banners urging the people not to ear or sell chickens.


The civic body chief, block development officials and other concerned officials have been instructed to monitor their respect areas so that no one can rear or indulge in poultry business trading ", administrative officials said.


"We have discussed the matter with the district secretary of the Malda Merchants' Chamber of Commerce Mr. Jayanta Kundu to convince the chicken traders to follow government's direction", said Malda SDO Arunima De.

It may be noted that the Malda administration has culled 23,572 poultry in English Bazaar and parts of Old Malda during culling and moping up drive and made a compensation of Rs. 2,14,448 to the victims.

The administration has also enlisted 1242 families as beneficiaries to provide compensation. The ARD officials had culled chicken at two private poultry farm in English Bazaar and one at Old Malda area and destroyed huge quantity of chicken feed. #