Trinamul confused over seat sharing

Graffiti displayed on a wall shows the names of two Trinamul candidates , who are going to contest the elections for Ward no five from the Old Malda Municipality. Pic: Sudip Roy Choudhury. 

Statesman News Service 

MALDA, 28 APRIL: Still to forge an alliance with the Congress either in Old Malda or English Bazaar, the two civic bodies of Malda that go to poll next month, the Trinamul has landed up in an internal problem it can ill afford at this juncture.

Claiming each was the official party candidate for the forthcoming polls from ward number 5 of Old Malda Municipality, two Trinamul supporters have started campaigning for themselves much to the embarrassment of the Trinamul leadership. Unfazed, the two have pitted against each other with graffiti effecting an in house competition.

The Trinamul Congress in Malda is divided into two camps wit one loyal to former district president, Mr Dulal Sarkar and the other to the sitting district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

Though the two leaders on the instruction of the party state leaders on the instruction of the party state leadership have apparently arrived at an understanding for candidate selection for the two civic body elections in the district, their followers are still at loggerheads.

Meanwhile, one Mr Baishistha Tribedi, who is a Dulal Sarkar loyalist , is projecting himself as the Trinamul candidate for ward number 5 of Old Malda Municipality.

Contradicting Mr Tibedi’s claim, Mr Srikanta Agarwal alias Chhatu, a known Goutam Chakraborty follower has started campaigning for himself as the official Trinamul candidate for the same ward.

Although Mr Goutam Chakraborty has admitted the problem, Mr Sarkar was not available for comments. “The problem would be sorted out soon and only one Trinamul Congress candidate would contest from ward number 5”, said Mr Chakraborty.

Meanwhile, the Congress has started campaigning for its candidates in more than 14 wards including the controversial ward number 5.

In another development, revising its earlier decision to allot party symbol to only two sitting party councillors in the English Bazaar municipality, the Trinamul Congress state leadership has finally agreed to allot symbol to four sitting councillors, complicating the seat adjustment issue with the Congress at the EBM further. The Congress has already selected candidates for two of the four wards that Trinamul Congress wants. “Everything is dependent on seat adjustment between the two parties. We will continue our dialogue with the Congress for seat adjustment till the last date of filing nomination. But if the Congress does not agree to give up at least 12 out of 25 seats in the EBM, we will have to go ahead without their support”, said the Trinamul district president, Mr Goutam Chakraborty.

The English Bazaar Congress, MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury is, however, resolute. “I shall contest from ward no 10 of the EBM. If the Trinamul does not sacrifice the seat they will face the consequence”, Mr Choudhury said today.

Two killed as brick kiln wall collapses 

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 28 APRIL: Two women workers were killed and two others injured when a wall collapsed in a brick kiln at Noonbahi in English Bazaar this morning.

Marjita Bibi died on the spot while three other workers were buried under the rubbles. After being rescued, they were rushed to Malda district hospital where one worker, identified as Shila Mandal, was declared dead brought dead. Another worker, Jhallu Sheikh is fighting for his life.

The incident took place when the labourers were arranging raw bricks on floor of the kiln and a wall, unable to bear the weight of the bricks, collapsed on them.

The additional district magistrate of land reforms, Mr K N Dew ordered an inquiry into incident. “The assistant labour commissioner will take action against the brick kiln owner and if the employer does not agree to pay proper compensation to the next of kin, I will personally look into the matter”, he said.

According to the ADM (LR), the kiln was registered under the name of Mrs Sabita Chatterjee.

Mr Soumyanil Sarkar, the assistant labour commissioner in Malda said: “We have already started an inquiry and we will see if there was any violation in implementation of the provisions of labour laws. For now, it is very difficult to say where the labourers were registered. We will take action against the employer if no compensation is provided to the kin of the victims”.

ASI 'refused to help take colleague to hospital'

Statesman News Service 

MALDA, 27 APRIL: Home guards posted at the Chanchal police station today agitated to protest against an assistant sub inspector who was allegedly reluctant to arrange a vehicle to take a colleague to a hospital when he fell seriously ill.  

A group of constables had extended support to them and allegedly threatened not to carry our duty this morning.

On being informed of this development senior police officers managed to bring the situation under control immediately and even request the Press not to publish the story.

Mr Jamshed Ali- a home guard – fell ill suddenly as he was suffering from diarrhea. His colleagues immediately informed their duty officer, Mr Buddehswar Das, ASI, and asked him to arrange for a police vehicle to take Mr Ali to a hospital. However, Mr Das allegedly took no initiative to admit Mr Ali to a hospital.

Some colleagues of Mr Ali had to carry the victim on their shoulders and admitted him to the Chanchal hospital around 2.20 a.m.

Family members of Mr Ali expressed anger at the police station this morning criticizing the inhuman attitude of the ASI.

Surprisingly, no senior police officer- including the Malda SP- was ready to talk about the matter.

The ASI, Mr Buddheshwar Das, latter spoke to journalists: “Nobody had informed me about the situation. I was extremely tired last as I had been on night duty for the past three days”.

The Chanchal SDPO could not be reached for comments.

“Nobody has informed me about the incident. You can ask the Chanchal SDPO whether I has asked him to inquire into the matter to manage the situation”, the Malda SP said.  

ABTA general secy criticises education policy

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 APRIL: Criticizing the Central government’s new education policy which has been implemented from 1 April this year the general secretary of the ABTA ( All Bengal Teachers' Association) , Mr Utpal Roy, said that recognition of many government aided schools in Kolkata would be cancelled because of the government’s education policy.

Addressing a convention on Central government’s education policy held in Malda yesterday evening Mr Roy said: “In Kolkata there are many reported schools but they do not have play grounds. Owing to the absence of a play ground a school’s recognition will be cancelled on the basis of lack of infrastructure if we follow the Central government’s education policy. Is it possible to provide a play ground for each school in Kolkata?”

The convention was arranged by the Left Front backed organizations comprising teaching and non teaching staff of college, secondary and primary schools in this district.

Mr Roy also said that to provide compulsory and free education to children between 6-14 years of age the Central government should allot 100 percent funds to the state rather than 55 per cent.

The ABTA general secretary criticized the policy of public private partnership (PPP) in the education system based on the policy of right to compulsory and free education.

“ The Union human resources development minister Mr Kapil Sibal , does not want to control capitation fees in private schools to promote PPP model and to commercialize the education system”, he added.

The West Bengal government has implemented many policies adopted by the Centre in advance to provide free and compulsory primary and secondary education to children.

The ABTA general secretary, Mr Utpal Roy, admitted that the Centre had planned to dissolve the concept of managing committee which controls schools in the state and teachers’ participation in the MC.

He also disclosed that except for West Bengal more than 95 percent schools in other states are run by the state government. The concept of the government aided schools in West Bengal is different from that in other states.  

“The state has requested the Centre to allot funds for government aided schools from the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhijan. We hope that funds will be allotted to the government aided schools in this state form RMSA”, he added. (END)

Statesman, Dainik agent attacked; copies burnt

MALDA, 27 APRIL: A group of 20 bandh supporters belonging to the CPI-ML (Liberation) allegedly assaulted a newspaper agent and damaged today's news papers including over 200 copies of The Statesman and Dainik Statesman at Gazole bus stand this morning. 

According to The Statesman agent Mr Dipak Saha, a group of CPI-ML (Liberation) workers led by Mr Emanuel Hembram (Baidya) and others threatened to wind up his newspaper stall and damaged almost all copies of both dailies. “The CPI-ML (Liberation) supporters were picketing for the bandh and forcing the small traders to close down their establishments to show solidarity towards the bandh. They raided my stall in the process and tore up copies of both newspapers,” the agent claimed. 

According to eyewitnesses, locals intervened to save the newspaper agent and protested against the persecution. The Liberation supporters on their part claimed that had not stopped the agent from selling newspapers but had asked him not to sell other commercial publications including various magazines. 

Responding to the charge, the CPI-ML (Liberation) district secretary Mr Nabakumar Biswas said: “The local traders are spinning a yarn to malign the party. Picketers of our party had asked some traders to close their stalls in the area. Not a single newspaper was damaged.” ;SNS

CM seeks report on Ganga islets

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 26 APRIL: The chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, has sought report on several islets in the Ganga which figure in the West Bengal land records but are under the administrative control of Jharkhand.

It is learnt that several Left Front leaders had drawn the chief minister’s attention on the matter following which, Mr Bhattacharjee asked the commissioner, Jalpaiguri division,  Mr AK Singh to find out the status of the islets in question and the problem of the people residing in those areas. The divisional commissioner has started a survey accordingly.

According to the Malda District Magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh: “The Jharkhand government has initiated several development works in the islets. They have constructed roads, school buildings and formed more than seven gram panchayats in the islets”, the DM said.

According to the DM, the land according to the revenue moujas belongs to West Bengal, but the residents get facilities from the Jharkhand government.

“They are, however, dependent on West Bengal on land matters as all records are maintained in the Mothabari registration office under Kaliachak-II block”, the DM informed.

The DM added that the islet residents were, however, facing a major identity crisis. “The Jharkhand government has asked them to show land records since 1932 to claim permanent resident status but they cannot show such records”, he said. (END)

Project to make Malda cataract-free-zone

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 25 APRIL: New Century Lions Club in Malda has decided to start cataract-free-zone projects in this district.  It has made a map to organise free eye operation camps across the district for poor people suffering from cataract.

Yesterday evening, the organisers ended the first phase of this project by presenting a cultural programme to spread awareness among the people.

Bengali singer Subhomita performed at the ceremony at the Malda College auditorium. She was also a resident of Malda.

President of the club Mr Prasenjit Saha said that the first phase of this project was completed with the help of the Dr Pinaki Ranjan Ray Foundation in Malda. The project was launched in December 2009 and more than 500 patients got their eye sight back after a microsurgery operation.

Dr DP Ray, member of the Foundation, sought help from the people attending the functio so that they could continue the project to make the district a cataract-free-zone.

“We will take full responsibility of the poor people who suffer from cataract but can  not avail treatment due to poverty. No body will be left out”, Dr Ray said. 

      

Malda traders seek security after kidnapping attempt

MALDA, 25 APRIL: The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce has sought security from the district police administration after KLO militants’ attempt to kidnap the son of a trader within Gazole police station area.

The MMCC leader yesterday met Malda SP and submitted a list of more than 28 traders seeking security for them.

Four KLO activists tried to kidnap Mr Navin Agarwal, the son of an automobile trader, riding his car from a village at Raniganj in Malda on 22 April evening. But the trader’s driver saved the situation by causing an accident.

“We do not have infrastructure to provide security to each businessman. But we have made security arrangement for the traders as a preventive measure and have given guidelines to them for their security arrangements. Anti-crime patrolling has been intensified not only in Malda but also in other business hubs across the district”, said the Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal.

“Policemen in plain cloths will keep a watch on business establishments for the security of traders”, Mr Mandal said.

One of the KLO activists, Mr Gopal Barman, alias Maran Singh, who was arrested after the road accident, is police custody for 14 days.

Top police officials are interrogating Maran Singh, resident of Khanpur village, to get more information about his association and their network in this region.

Though police have started raiding certain suspected areas where Kamtapuri organisations has a strong hold but no one has been arrested yet.

“It would be difficult to arrest three KLO activists, who fled the spot after accident, if they left for Assam on that night. Police have asked locals to inform them if they notice any unknown person, who has taking shelter in the village”, Malda SP said.

Police managed more information about three KLO activists who fled the spot. SNS 

No brick kilns in mango growing areas

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 APRIL: The Malda district administration could finally act against the brick kilns operating in the mango growing areas of the district.

The development comes after six mango growers from Bangitola in Kaliachak II block met the district horticulture officials and the ADM (land reforms) to inform them how smoke from kilns was affecting the mango crop.

“We have lost the battle against the brick kilns. We failed to protect the mangoes and are now suffering a major financial crisis having lost over 200 quintal mangoes to brick kiln smoke this season”, said Mr Dharamdas Mandal, a mango farmer from Meghutola village.

Demonstrating black tipped mangoes, allegedly affected by brick kilns smoke the victims said: “ Though the Kaliachak II BDO had instructed the Mothabari police outpost to stop the burning of bricks in the kilns during the mango season, the police have not taken any action against it”, they said.

Lamenting the situation, the assistant director horticulture department in Malda Mr Rahul Chakraborty said: “We had requested the ADM (LR) to take action on the matter and he had instructed the concerned BDOs and BLL&RO to look into it, but the problem is yet unresolved”.

Commenting on the matter, the Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “The land and land reforms department gives permission to the brick kilns. The police does not provide license to the brick kilns. I do not know whether the BDO had instructed the Mothabari police outpost to take action. The BDO should have sent a copy of the letter to me”.

The ADM (LR) Mr K N Dew, however, said that the police were reluctant to take action. “The police cannot avoid responsibility. The BDO would not send a copy of the letter to the SP, the Mothabari outpost should have informed him, which they did not”, the ADM said.

According to him, the BDO had instructed the police on the basis of the pollution control board’s norms. “The BLL&RO has been instructed against giving permission to the brick kiln owners to fire the kilns during the mango season”, Mr Dew said. 

KLO militants behind abduction attempt

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 23 APRIL: Four persons, who tried to kidnap Mr Navin Agarwal, the son of a trader from a village at Raniganj in Gazole police station, here last evening, were KLO militants, said the Malda SP today.

Posing as customers they won the confidence of the victims, Mr Navin Agarwal, who is an automobile trader. They took a ride in his vehicle and then tried to kidnap him at gunpoint yesterday. But their luck ran out and the vehicle turned turtle leaving one of he kidnappers injured. The three others, however, managed to flee.

The injured KLO militant, Gopal Barman alias Maran Singh, is a resident of Khanpur village under Habibpur police station in Malda. According to the police, Barman has confessed they were KLO activists and had arrived from Assam to coerce funds from traders in Malda.

He was trained in a militant camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh in 2005. “The camp he and 42 others were trained in , close to Tripura. They came to Assam after being trained to extort money from local traders. We are trying to find the names of the three militants who managed to escape yesterday”, the SP said.

These four KLO militants were armed with sophisticated foreign pistols of 9 mm caliber. The police seized one pistol from Maran Singh and are trying to trace its manazine, which fell of at the accident site.

The police said that the four KLO militant gathered information from the local Kamtapuri supporters. They were aware that the victim’s father had recently sold a plot of land for major sum.

Acting as would-be customers, the KLO activists proposed Mr Agarwal that they wanted to purchase a tractor from his showroom and summoned him to a spot at Raniganj in Gazole.

The victim agreed to meet them and arrived at the designated spot where the four persons were waiting for him. “When the potential buyers turned out to be kidnappers, the trader’s driver masterminded the accident, which probably saved the situation. Villagers rushed to spot where the vehicle had overturned and intercepted one of the criminals”, said the SP. 

SP wants fresh list of KLOs

MALDA, 22 APRIL: The Malda SP, Mr Bhuban Mandal, has asked the district Intelligence branch to submit a fresh list of surrendered KLO activists to prepare a rehabilitation plan for them.

It is learnt three surrendered KLO activists have submitted applications to the Malda administration demanding rehabilitation. The surrendered activists yesterday urged the Malda district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, to absorb them as home guards in the district.

Mr Mandal today said the he has sought permission from his higher authorities to appoint the former militants as home guards in the district. “I have urged the IG traffic and the state civil defence minister, Mr Srikumar Mukherjee to engage the surrendered KLO activities as permanent home guards in the police. We are awaiting their permission”, the SP said.

According to the SP, English Bazaar town requires at least an additional 50 traffic home guards to regulate traffic. The SP, however, did not divulge the contents of the discussion he had with the chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on the rehabilitation issue. SNS  

3 KLO activists meet the DM

"they are now demanding jobs as home guard in the police department"

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 APRIL: Contrary to what has been going on in Jalpaiguri for the last two days on the issue of rehabilitation of the surrendered KLO ( Kamtapur Liberation Organisation ) militant, three surrendered KLO activists today met the Malda District Magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh, and sought rehabilitation.

Demanding jobs instead of monetary doles, a batch of 50 surrendered KLO activists boycotted a rehabilitation programme in Jalpaiguri on Tuesday and left the training camp yesterday.

In Malda, three former KLO members Mr Bhim Mandal, Mr Paritosh Mandal and Mr Harimohan Mandal met the DM today and expressed their unhappiness over the role of the local banks in sanctioning them loan for starting a business.

“Although chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had ensured that the state government would rehabilitate the surrendered KLO activists, the local banks are not sanctioning loans to us to start a business”, they said.

“The surrendered KLO activists told me that they wanted to start some business with the loan obtained from banks. They, claimed they had tried to purchase tractors but could not due to financial disability”, the DM said.

According to him, they are now demanding jobs as home guard in the police department. “I would discuss the matter with the Malda SP”, he added.

It is learnt that officials at the block level in Bamongola had tried to arrange bank loans for the surrendered KLO activists but had failed, as some of the bank authorities were circumspect in sanctioning loans to the ex-KLO militants considering their background.

The three KLO activists were asked to submit applications to the district administration about their business plans, which they did today.

The district administration has decided to send a proposal to the member secretary of the Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad to sanction funds from the chief minister’s fund so that they can set up a business of their own.

Six Bangladeshi inmates go on fast in Malda jail

“You will have to stay here until report from Bangladesh reaches us” 

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 20 APRIL: Six Bangladeshis went on a fast in Malda jail from today pretesting against jail authorities who are not allowing them to go back home even after their imprisonment period is over.

According to the superintendent of Malda jail, Mr C R Gharai, a total of 15 Bangladeshis were still behind bars for the past five months, though their imprisonment period had ended.

“Five months ago the court has issued an order to release them after the end of their imprisonment period. Though the repatriation process had begun, the verification report from Bangladesh government was yet to come. Due to this technical problem we cannot release the prisoners unofficially”, said Mr Gharai.

The Malda jail officials tried to convince the six Bangladeshis to call off their strike and eat but the prisoners decided to stick to their stand.

Malda jail officials even informed them that as soon as the Bangladesh government acknowledged their identity and sent the verification report of their citizenship they will be able to release all the 15 inmates.

“You will have to stay here until report from Bangladesh reaches us”, jail officials informed the agitators.

Mr Gharai has reported the matter to the district magistrate, superintendent of police, chief judicial magistrate and inspector general of prison.  

Jail officials said that many Bangladeshis were languishing in jails in north and south Bengal but their imprisonment period was over.

“Due to lack of verification report from the Bangladesh government, the Border Security Force is not interested in pushing them back”, the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said.

Jail officials said government would not allow the push back system and it was very risky if the Bangladesh Rifles resisted them and opening fire along the border.

Without the verification report from the Bangladesh government police are not interested in handing over the prisoners to the BSF and BDR, they added.  

Private BEd colleges to hike capitation fees

 GOUR BANGA UNIVERSITY TO CONTROL ADMISSIONS 

Statesman News Service 

MALDA, 19 APRIL: The authorities of private B Ed colleges affiliated to Gour Banga University in Malda, North and South Dinajpur districts want an increase in capitation fees for admitting the students which is above the amount fixed by the university authority. The university authority has opposed this demand if increasing fees and has decided not to allow the private colleges to charge more than Rs 45,000 as capitation fee per student.

The Gour Banga University had initially fixed Rs 41,000 capitation fee per student but the university executive council decided on 17 April to let the fee increase to Rs 45,000. The private college authorities are demanding that the fee be increased further more up to Rs 71,000 per student.

The GBU, which has decided to control admission to B Ed colleges – both private and government, though a central admission system henceforth and has already published an advertisement seeking application from the interested students for admission to B Ed.

The University will prepare a merit list of students on the basis of marks obtained and recommend students to take admissions in various colleges. Toppers of the merit lists would get the scope to enroll in government B Ed colleges where the admission fee is about Rs 2,000 per student. The GBU authority is under pressure from the private B Ed colleges on this issue. Several proprietors of the private B Ed colleges met the university authority recently asking the reason for such a decision was that taken without consulting the secretary of the private B Ed colleges. The university authority has agreed to allow the management of the private B Ed institutions to admit a specific number of students in quota.  “The management of a private B Ed college would enjoy the discretion to admit only 10 students from the merit list”, a GBU EC member said.

“We have told the proprietors of the private B Ed College that we were ready to discuss and settle all matters, but the capitation fee would not be allowed to increase”, said Mr Apurba Chakrabarty.

While the officer in charge, Malda government B ED College, Prof. Sakti Pada Patra, lauded the GBU decision and said: “The University has taken a good decision by introducing the central admission system. The decision would help many aspiring students”.  The private B Ed college authorities refused to speak on the matter. 

Hail damages mango crop

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 16 APRIL: Hailstorm damaged 10 to 15 per cent of the mango crop in some blocks of Malda district last evening. The storm lasted for about 20 minutes, wreaking havoc on the mango orchards and dislodging the young fruits from the trees.

The destruction was more prominent in English Bazaar, Old Malda, Ratua I&II, Kaliachak , Manikchak, and Harishchandrapur blocks,. The storm also damaged a number of dwellings in those areas.

The district horticulture officer, Mr Goutam Roy, said: “The hail struck mangoes would either turn black or rot. It would take sometime to assess the exact percentage of the loss”.

Despite the destruction, the horticulture department officials are optimistic the district would produce more than 3 lakh metric tones of mango this year. The trader, who had invested money and had bought orchards are, however, worried. “First it was the heat wave and now the hailstorm. Another natural calamity and we would be ruined”, a businessman said. 

Tribals write to Malda SP seeking protection

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 APRIL: Two tribal women – Mrs Sajli Kisku and Mrs Talamoyee Soren, residents of Old Malda, had written to the Malda SP on 12 April seeking police protection due to alleged threats from local touts.

They had written to the Malda police station on 10 April and when local police did take any action they decided to write to the Malda SP.

Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said: “At present I can not recall any such application. If it comes to my table I will surely take action”. It may be mentioned here that two tribal women had filed a case in Malda court in first week of February against a private agency who allegedly bought their1.55 acres of land fraudulently.   

The Malda court has set the date of next hearing as 17 April as the representative of the private agency was absent at the hearing on 7 April.

The court issued an injunction order on the plot of land and summoned the private agency. But the private agency did not appear before the court.

A private agency had been appointed by family members of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury for procurement of land for setting up of the Institute of Engineering and Technology with the help of Union human resources development.

The private agency procured nearly 100 acres of land and gave it to the Trustee board of Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology.

The district land and reforms department had detected that the agency had bought land from more than twenty persons out of which 10 tribal families and 64 tribal sharecroppers might have been deprived of their proper compensations.

The agency had not taken permission from the administration before procuring lands from tribals. Mrs Kisku and Mrs Soren were amongst the victims.

The land and land reforms department had to record the lands in the name of two tribal women on 30 March.

The district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “I have received a complaint regarding land dispute from a political party and have forwarded it to the ADM (Land Reforms) to look into the matter”.

“I am keeping a vigil on the matter. The Union HRD department has not asked for any clarification from me. Earlier I informed the HRD about system of procurement of tribal land”, said Mr Ghosh.

The CPI-ML (Liberation) had lodged a complaint with the DM on 9 April demanding protection of tribal lands which were allegedly procured by a private agency without the permission of the state government.

“We can not do anything to protect the rights of tribal people. The tribal welfare department is a competent authority to protect the tribals’ rights. I will discuss the matter with the district magistrate”, said Mr K N Dew, ADM (LR).

The chief communication manager of the private agency (Sun Plant Agro Finance Ltd) in Kolkata, Mrs Paramita Mishra,   admitted about procurement of land in Old Malda for setting up central government institution but she denied any fraudulent practice in buying the lands. “Your information is wrong” she said.

The lawyer of the two tribal women Mr Amitava Maitra said: “We will appeal to the court seeking police protection for them and take up new steps for protection tribals’ land there after the judgment of the court on 17 April”. (END)

Mausam wants railway upgrade

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 APRIL: North Malda MP, Mrs Mausam Noor, today submitted a series of proposals and demands to the divisional railway manager in Katihar (Bihar) for the development of railway services in her constituency.

Mrs Noor demanded stoppage of Tebhaga Express, from Kolkata to Balurghat, at Gazole in Malda. The Left leaders and even the Congress and Chhatra Parishad leaders have been demanding its stoppage at Gazole since a long time.  

Mrs Noor has also demanded stoppage of three more trains in different places in North Malda parliamentary constituency. According to her proposals, Kanchenjangha express should stop at Harishchandrapur railway station. Railway authorities should stop Radhikapur express at Bhaluka and Kumedpur railway stations in Malda for the local residents who can board the train from their areas.

The MP pointed out that work at Samsi railway station declared as Adarsha Station by the railway minister in 2009-10 Budget, is yet to begin.

Gazole railway station was given the status of Adarsha Station in railway Budget 2010-11. Besides she demanded another station Harishchandrapur to be declared as Adarsha Station.

Mrs Noor also proposed to build an over bridge at level crossing, near Samsi Railway station, on NH 81. “A fly over is needed there to ease traffic congestion in the area”,she said.  

A sub way was demanded at Raghabpur between Kumedpur and Harishchandrapur in North Malda.

The North Malda MP has also demanded a new railway link between Chanchal, sub divisional headquarter, to Dalkhola in North Dinajpur and proposed DRM in Katihar to begin a survey.  

In her letter to DRM in Katihar, she proposed to set up PRS (passenger reservation system) Centre at Kumedpur and Malahar railway stations.

Chanchal residents boycott Census, demand basics

MALDA, 14 APRIL: Demanding basic facilities, a large number of Chanchal residents in Malda district has boycotted the ongoing Census. The agitators said they would not allow enumerators to conduct Census works in their area if the administration does not develop basic infrastructure in the locality.

Under the circumstances, the enumerators have not been able to begin the work in Jagannathpur and Bhairabpur villages in Harishchandrapur-II block and at Chandrapara in Chanchal-I block. Despite their best efforts, the block development officers could not pacify the angry villagers.

The Chanchal SDO, Mr Subho Mukherjee, went to Jagannathpur village on Monday and met the agitators but they are resolute and have demanded a 15 km road for their village and the completion of the Madna Bridge, beside other measures.

The agitators also locked up primary schools and high madrassas in their respective localities.

The administration has assured the agitators that they would send a proposal to the government to build the road under rural infrastructure development fund-XVI and has requested them to allow the government officials to conduct Census work. The Chanchal SDO has reported to the district administration that nearly 1,200 families of Jagannathpur village have boycotted the Census. According to the report, most of the agitators belong to the Shershah Badia community. Most of the villagers are migrant labourers and not very well off. SNS  

MGNREGS not enforced in 7 panchayats

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 APRIL: Seven gram panchayats of Kaliachak-I block of Malda have failed to implement the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in last financial year.

Administrative officials and political leaders, including the sabhadhipati of the Malda zilla parishad, who resides in Kaliachak, have been disappointed reviewing the performance report of the seven gram panchayats in this district.

The officers can not understand why the rural employment scheme has not been implemented.

The block development officer had recently asked the nodal officer of MGNREGS not to allot funds to those gram panchayats apprehending that the funds will be misappropriated by some people.

In the last financial year, pradhan of Jalalpur gram panchayat in Kaliachak-I has returned Rs 1, 13,456.50, which was allotted for the scheme. The gram panchayat officers have also informed the administration that they are not interested to implement the scheme.

Like Jalalpur, other gram panchayats of Alipur-I & II, Alinagar-I, Majampur, Silampur I and II have fared badly in that regard.

“There are many reasons behind this hapless performance. The office bearers do not bother to follow the government’s guidelines and system. They do what they think is right. No body can control them”, said Mr Tanay Deb Sarkar, nodal officer of the MGNREGS in Malda.

He said, the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh held a special meeting with the officer bearers of seven gram panchayats in Kaliachak-I to implement 100-days job guarantee scheme.  The DM had threatened to withdraw funds from those civic bodies. After the meeting, gram panchayat officials acted busy for some days just for the sake of formalities.

In Malda, out of 146 gram panchayats, 49 ones have been identified as poor performers. But out of 49, the seven gram panchayats in Kaliachak-I are worst.

“We have been able to utilise 92.75 percent funds allotted for this district in last financial year. Had those seven gram panchayat performed well, the district would have spent more funds”, said Mr Sridhar Ghosh, Malda district magistrate.

Many people in those areas are migrant labourers and always prefer to work outside of the state. Many women in these areas are engaged in making bidi at home. A section of labourers work in the sericulture sector, while some other groups are engaged in harvesting including magoes and litchi.

Smuggling is rampant along India and Bangladesh border.  Recently poppy cultivation in Kaliachak-I has gone up, which pays much better than the government schemes.

Pest menace affects bodo crop in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 APRIL: The absence of rainfall, coupled with pest attack, has caused disaster for the bodo paddy cultivation in Malda. The farmers in Chanchal block –I, suffered a major loss at the beginning of this year. The attack has come in the form stem-borer and the farmers are apparently clueless about how to tackle it.

While the affected farmers allege that agriculture department officials have not visited the affected areas to inspect the extent of damage and suggest remedial measures, the agriculture department officials said that using pesticide at this juncture would be unwise.

“The menace is acute in areas where the farmers did not use pesticide before transplantation. We need to measure extent of economic threshold level before applying pesticide at this stage”, said the assistant director, technical agriculture department, Mr Soumendranath Das.

For the farmers, it is matter of staving off the loss. “Lack of rain and irrigation facilities affected the bodo crop in the first stage and now the pest attack threatens to destroy the plants before flowering”, a farmer lamented. According to them , they cannot make up for the lack of rain by irrigating the fields using shallow pumps as the ground water level has gone down unusually due to the ongoing dry spell in the district.

Under the circumstances, the agriculture departments’ target of cultivating bodo paddy in 42,000 hectares of land in Chanchal sub-division alone looks unachievable.

The agriculture department officials admit they have received information about the pest attack. According to them water scarcity has caused the pest to proliferate.

Mr Das said the department has dispatched ‘krishi projukti sahayaks’ to the affected areas to help the farmers in this regard. 

Malda administration seeks help of Census board

MALDA, 12 APRIL: Confused with the jurisdiction of two moujas- Pearpur and Palashgachhi- identified as islets of the Ganga in Kaliachak –II block, the Malda district administration has asked the director of Census in West Bengal to instruct who would conduct the survey in the two spots.

According to the Malda SDO, Mr Prakash Pal, both the West Bengal and Jharkhand had conducted Census at Palashgachhi and Pearpur moujas in 2001.

“We have sought guidance from the director of Census as the land is disputed between the two states”, the SDO said.

The commissioner of Jalpaiguri division, Mr AK Singh, and other district officials visited the islets today to interact with the residents. The commissioner examined papers and records of land in the local registry office and held a meeting with the district administration on the matter. The block officials are yet to start Census work in the two maujas because of dispute.

The islet residents are, however, unhappy with the delay in Census work.

According to a member of the local citizens’ forum for erosion victims Mr Khidir Baksh, the Malda administration had conducted Census in the two moujas in 2001. “There is no reason why they should not do it this year. The delay is causing frustration among residents”, he said.

The Census in charge in the district, Mr Tanmay Deb Sarkar, said: “We are confused with the jurisdiction of the two maujas and have sought clarification from the Census directorate on the matter. The reply is yet to reach us”. SNS 

CM powerless on power cuts

Statesman News Service

MALDA/KOLKATA, 11 APRIL:  Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today virtually admitted his helplessness in resolving the power crisis currently facing the state, saying people will have to face daily power cuts for some more time.

The power shortfall across the state today was around 400 MW, which resulted in prolonged power cuts throughout the day in most of the districts and in Kolkata, ranging from one and a half to two hours at a time. The weather remained hot and uncomfortable, added to people's distress. Although the maximum temperature today came down to 38.9 degree Celsius from 40.1 degree Celsius that was recorded yesterday, the maximum relative humidity remained as high as 96 per cent.

Speaking at a function at Hapania in Habibpur block of Malda district, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “Loadshedding would continue for a few days more. Units in Bakreshwar and Kolaghat have failed to generate power. At present, the shortfall of power in Kolaghat unit is 200 to 600 mega watts. It would take time to overcome the problem”.

He was responding to questions raised in this regard by North Malda MP, Mrs Mausam Noor at the inauguration function of the new Industrial Training Institute at Hapania. Mrs Noor had brought up the three urgent issues of local drinking water crisis; frequent power cuts and the need for preventive measures for flood protection in her address at the gathering.

While Mrs Noor urged the chief 

minister to allow Central agencies to take up flood protection work in the areas under Mahananda embankment division in north Malda, Mr Bhattacharjee said that he would discuss the matter later. 

The chief minister also pointed out that he held a meeting with the Malda district administrative officials yesterday and reviewed all programmes including the drinking water crisis in the district due to the prevailing dry spell. “I have instructed the concerned officials to sort out the problem of drinking water by repairing and re-sinking tube wells”, he said. “Due to scarcity of rain production of mango has been hampered in this district”, he acknowledged.

Mr Chakradhar Maikap, technical education and training minister, said: “The state government has sanctioned one more polytechnic and ITI in Malda. Though we are facing land problems in setting up institutes here, hopefully we will be able to start construction after Durga Puja. Besides, 16 polytechnics and more than 30 ITIs will be set up across the state in this financial year.”

“We have approached the electricity department for placement of at least 250 electricians each year from ITIs in north Bengal”, Mr Maikaf said.

Alert for CM visit in Malda

MALDA, 9 APRIL: The police in Malda are on high alert concerning chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s proposed visit here on 10 April. According to Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal, additional forces have been requisitioned from Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur districts to enhance security cover. The police administration has beefed up security in the tribal dominated Habibpur areas, which had observed KPP and KLO movement in the past. The police area also keeping a touch to ensure nobody waves black flags at the chief minister. Mr Bhattacharjee will inaugurate a housing project. He will also inaugurate an Industrial Training Institute of the state technical education and training department at Habibpur on 11 April. He will meet the administrative officials tomorrow. Minority affairs minister, Mr Abdus Sattar, the secretary of minority affairs and madrassa education, Mr BP Gopalika and Mr Prathapran Datta, secretary, housing department would be present. SNS 

CPI-ML wants protection of tribals

MALDA, 9 APRIL: The CPI-ML  (Liberation) leadership in Malda today lodged a complaint with the district magistrate demanding protection of tribal rights. The tribals’ land in Old Malda was allegedly procured by a private agency through fraudulent means. CPI-ML district secretary, Mr Nabakumar Biswas, alleged that a private agency grabbed the patch of land to set up the proposed Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology without seeking the sate government’s permission and violating the laws related to tribal land. Demanding an inquiry into the mater, Mr Biswas said: “We shall visit the area and interact with the affected tribal families”. The land and land reforms department had reported to the district magistrate that a private agency had procured land from 10 tribal families in Sukandighi and Maligram villages in Old Malda in contravention with the prevailing rules. The CPI-ML, which is the first political organisation to take the issue, further added that most tribal residents of Sukandighi and Maligram do not know how and where to lodge complaints to protect land.  SNS 

Chief Minister's visit in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 APRIL: The dismal power situation in Malda has left the district administration worried as chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, is to visit the town on 10 and 11 April. So concerned is the administration that the District Magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has sent a formal request to the state electricity department to supply uninterrupted power on the two days of the CM’s visit.

Although Malda has been suffering from power cuts for seven hours daily in average, the divisional manager, electricity department in Malda Mr Dilip Mondal could not assure a steady power supply even during the CM’s visit. “I have received the DM’s letter and have forwarded it to the zonal manager at Berhampur. I do not know how the higher authorities would be able to supply uninterrupted power as urged by the DM. We can supply power to Malda town for two days during the CM’s visit but for that we have to deny power to other areas”, he said.

The CM is expected to reach here on 10 April by train and hold a meeting with the administrative officials and people’s representatives to review the development works including implementation of minority development programmes in the district.

The power cuts have also affected drinking water supply by the PHE. According to the PHE executive engineer, Mr Debashish Banerjee, more than 30 water supply units have been affected due to power cuts. “The problem is acute in places where we do not have dedicated power supply. We are also facing problem ti run a water treatment plant at Gour in English Bazaar because the electricity department could not provide adequate power”, said Mr Banerjee.

Students to spread awareness about employment

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 APRIL: The Malda district administration will appoint students to spread awareness among people regarding seeking employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The decision has been taken following the annual report on MGNREGS of this district in 2009-10. The district administrative officials informed that registered labourers hold job cards but do not ask the government for jobs.

According to annual report, the number of job card holders is 5, 65,383 but only 1, 38,930 registered labourers have demanded for 100-days job from the government in last financial year. Interestingly, 3, 18,370 accounts have been opened in banks and post offices for the payment of registered labourers till 31 March 2010.  

The district nodal officer (DNO), MRNREGS in Malda, Mr Tanay Deb Sarkar said: “We want to train students in upper primary and secondary classes about MGNREGS. We shall then request trained students to campaign and spread awareness about 100-days job through their family members to increase demand of employment”.

“We will also organise interactive session in colleges where students will take part. Students will be able to motivate needy villagers to demand for jobs”, Mr Deb Sarkar said.  

The idea was conceived here under Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme  following the idea of Orissa and Karnataka state governments where ‘Labour Movement Group’ has been formed to spread awareness among  people for demanding  jobs.

The group members are being paid for this job. The Centre has drafted a plan to form Lok Sebak Group to educate people about their right to work under the MRNREGA.

The annual report on MRNREGS in Malda shows that the district has been able to create 55, 01,130 ‘person-days’ after completing 2464 schemes. It has also been able to provide 39.60 average ‘person-days’ per household. In 2008-09 the average person-days provided per household was 16.65 out of 100-days.  The district claimed average wage rate per Man-days was Rs. 84.36 in 2009-10.

Total availability of fund was Rs 75.74 crore in 2009-10 and out of which the district had incurred expenses of Rs. 70.25 crore, i.e. 92.75 per cent of total funds allotted. The state has allotted a fresh fund of Rs 5 crore in April for implementing MRNREGS.

To achieve better position in state level ranking the district has started to execute ‘individual beneficiary scheme’ through the ‘self help group’ members with a plan to increase women participation.

Development of burning ghats and graveyards through MRNREGS is another plan of this district to increase ‘average person days’. 

Robbers burnt alive in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 7 APRIL: Three men who were trying to rob a trader were caught by the public this afternoon at Gazole in Malda district and two of them burnt to death. The third is fighting for his life in hospital.

The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. when the three men tried to rob a rice trader, Mr Pradip Roy, at gunpoint while he was coming out of a bank after withdrawing Rs 6 lakh. 

The robbers, who came on a two-wheeler,  assaulted the trader, but he clung to them and shouted for help. Alerted, the locals managed to catch the three criminals and lynched them. 

The locals took petrol from the fuel tank of the two-wheeler and set the vehicle and the criminals on fire. While one died on the spot, a second robber died in 

hospital.

According to the OC, Gazole police station, Mr M Rahman, police have identified the surviving criminal as Miraj Sheikh, a resident of Jalalpur in Kaliachak. 

He has been admitted in Malda hospital. According to the doctors, his condition is critical. The police are yet to identify the two dead robbers. The victim trader had to be administered first aid. According to the police, he and his money is safe.

The incident has once again raised the matter of security in banks. “We are concerned about the lack of security in the banks. Most banks seem more interested in beautification projects in the branches but nothing is being done to increase security,” alleged the district secretary of the Bank Employees’ Federation Mr Barun Chakraborty.;SNS

Malda's drive against superstition

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 6 APRIL:  In order to banish superstition such as the “evil eye” among tribals administrative officials of the Chanchal sub-division yesterday took an initiative to launch a special awareness campaign with a difference.

The Chanchal SDO, Mr Subho Mukherjee, the ACMOH, Dr Swapan Biswas, and other officials rushed to Anandaganj village within Gourhant gram panchayat in Chanchal-II block when they were informed that members of a tribal family had contacted a witch-doctor for the treatment of a one-year-old. The family was of the opinion that the child was under the influence of the “evil eye”.

The ACMOH examined the child at their home and brought him and his mother to Malatipur block primary health centre for medical treatment. Finally the mother and her baby were admitted to the hospital for treatment at least for five days.

Mrs Mania Orano, grand mother of the child, said: “My daughter’s son was suffering due to negative effects of the “evil eye”. Due to the negative effects medicines failed to bring any changes in his health. We contacted an Ojha, who was a resident of Katihar (Bihar). He too told us about the “evil eye”. He assured us that he would cure my grand son and said he would charge us Rs 1,400 for the treatment”. The Ojha was scheduled to visit their village yesterday evening.

According to health officials the child was not administered proper medicine. The family members used some local medicines and a tabij-kabaj (superstitious locket).

The ACMOH, Dr Biswas, said the baby was suffering from anemia, pneumonia, malnutrition and other skin diseases due to lack of vitamins. “His condition could have deteriorated at home without treatment”, he said.

The BMOH, Dr Sangita Das has been asked to take special care of the baby and his mother at the Malatipur block primary health centre so that the child could be cured quickly.

The hospital authorities have been asked to provide them with medicines availing the rugee kalyan samiti fund.

“If we can discharge the baby with good health after five days we will be able to establish that there was no presence of ‘evil eye”. We have planned to revisit the area after some day for an awareness campaign”, Dr Biswas said.

The Chanchal sub-divisional administrative officials have planned to launch such awareness campaigning in 100 backward villages in six blocks.