Malda sabhadhipati seeks magistrate's intervention

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Sept. 10: Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, has sought intervention of the district magistrate Mr CR Das to stop the making of a fresh panel for the appointment of helpers in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centres in Kaliachak. In a letter to the district magistrate on 5 September, the sabhadhipati alleged that the panel was prepared under the chairmanship of local MLA Rubi Noor but in her absence the panel was held up and some ICDS officials and ‘ruling’ political party leaders have planned to make another panel afresh. Mrs Yeasmin also requested the Malda DM to stop such political initiative until new MLA is elected from Sujapur through by-election. In the meantime, following political pressure for preparing a fresh panel to appoint helper in ICDS centres two CDPOs (Child Development Project Officer) had to abstain from the decision and went on leave. The CDPO Kaliachak-I had left the place to avoid the political pressure first. When the CDPO Kaliachak III was directed to take charge of Kaliachak-I, he also decided to leave his block. Finally the additional district magistrate directed CDPO English Bazaar to assume the charge of Kaliachak I. It may be recalled that the interviews for recruitment of the helpers in Kaliachak were held back on 22 July and 2 August last year. The six-member interview board comprised of the late Congress MLA of Sujapur Rubi Noor, the then Panchayat Samiti Sabhapati of Kaliachak-1, and MLA of Kaliachak Mr . Biswanath Ghosh apart from govt officials of Social Welfare department and BDO. As per govt guideline Noor herself was the Chairman of the committee.Now after the demise of Noor this July and the absence of Panchayat Samiti Sabhapati after the Panchayat election, a process began to manipulate the panel. It may be noted that as per govt guideline, any panel is valid for two years, which can be extended if needed, but none from the panel could be replaced. Sources said, the move to change the panel began with the individual score sheet of Noor itself gone missing. The pressure of CPI (M), local RSP along with a section of govt officials became so heavy that Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Kaliachak-I went to leave to eschew of the responsibility of publishing the panel. Now the onus fell on CDPO of English Bazaar who has already began to face the heat. (END)