Cold storage collapse claims 1 life, 19 hurt

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 13: The rooftop of a cold storage collapsed at Chakchaka in Cooch Behar today leaving one dead and 19 injured.

 

It was learnt that downsizing of the height of the 62-feet high Chakchaka Samabay Himghar (cold storage) run by a co-operative society was going on since 1 August following a notice served by the administrative authorities of the district. The work was going on under supervision of public works department to decrease the height by 18-and-half feet. The demolition work was undertaken to pave the way to resume the air service using the nearby Cooch Behar Airport.

 

Today, at about 11-30 a.m. the rooftop fell down suddenly when the workers were busy in dismantling it. Soon after the incident 20 injured workers were sent to MJN Hospital where one person died. Some injured were released after first aid and eleven persons are under medical care. The killed one was identified as Suleman Mian (35). The condition of another one is serious, hospital sources said.

 

On getting the information Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar and a large contingent of police from Kotowali police station rushed to the spot. Arriving quickly there, the fire service personnel started rescue operation and sent the injured to the hospital. Cooch Behar-II Panchayat Samity sabhapati Mr Dhaneswar Roy, Chakchaka Gram Panchayat pradhan Mr Abani Das and other officials visited the place of occurrence.

 

Cooch Behar (North) MLA Mr Dipak Sarkar inquired the condition of the injured workers at MJN Hospital. He demanded Rs 5-lakh as compensation for the death and Rs 1-lakh for each injured. Demanding an inquiry he opined that more safety measures should have to be taken during the dismantling of the roof. Alleging lack of proper safety measures for the workers the Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh and district BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi demanded a high level probe into the incident and adequate compensation for the victims. []

Speculation over FB secretary's chair in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 13: High speculation is going on over the general secretary's chair of Forward Bloc in Cooch Behar. A heavyweight leader like Kamal Guha was the general secretary till his death. Now the party is suffering from indecision to elect a leader for that post. Will a new one ever be able to retain the image of the late leader in that post? The general secretary should have to take the responsibility to strengthen the organisation by retaining the its leftist attitude and at the same time he have to earn confidence of the grass root level supporters by continuing fight against the CPI-M. One should not forget that in Cooch Behar almost all FB supporters dislike the CPI-M's "big brotherly attitude" and the party enjoys support from the people for its anti-CPIM stance.

 

After recent demise of Kamal Guha some names are coming up as probable candidates for the post of general secretary of the party. Mr Akshoy Thakur is on the top of the list. Among others there are Mr Udayan Guha and Mr Paresh Adhikary. All-India general secretary Mr Debarata Biswas is to take the final decision, party sources said. He reportedly discussed the matter with senior leaders in state and district level. Not only the state secretary of the party Mr Ashok Ghosh but also some other state secretariat members are keeping regular contact with the local leaders to feel the pulse over the issue.

 

Mr Akshoy Thakur is the MLA from Cooch Behar (West) Assembly constituency. He had served the All India Youth League as its district unit general secretary and he has adequate experience to run an organisation. Though he is a follower of late Kamal Guha he has his own personality too. He has the ability to make his presence felt everywhere. Like Kamal Guha he also never spares any issue to criticise the CPI-M. District AIYL sources said they would be happy if Mr Thakur become the party's general secretary because he is acceptable to all in the party.

 

Mr Udayan Guha of Dinhata is also a candidate for the post. He is the son of late Kamal Guha and a state committee member. His father left the Dinhata seat in favour of him in the last Assembly election but he failed to retain it. A senior leader said mere sentiment couldn't be a qualification for Mr Guha to get the post. He has little influence over party supporters in the entire district. He preferred to confine himself in Dinhata and so he is not acceptable for the whole district, another leader said.

 

A staunch follower of Kamal Guha, Mr Paresh Adhikary is the food and supply minister. He is a resident of Mekhliganj. But he is not a leader acceptable to all sections of the party. At the same time following the existing norm in the party a man cannot hold two responsible posts – in party and in ministry – both at a time, FB sources said. And in this perspective the possibility of Mr Akshoy Thakur is bright. []

 

PHOTO : Mr Akshoy Thakur, Mr Udayan Guha and Mr Paresh Adhikary.

Speculation over FB's unity with CPM in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 12: State CPI-M secretary cum Left Front chairman Mr Biman Bose believes left unity (read unity with Forward Bloc) is a must in all districts of this state even in Cooch Behar in the ensuing three-tier Panchayat elections. He said this yesterday while he was replying a question from media persons at Rabindra Bhavan at Cooch Behar. His opinion is significant because soon after the last Assembly elections the Cooch Behar district committee of Forward Bloc under leadership of late Kamal Guha had declared that they would not participate in any programme or movement jointly with CPI-M in this district. And they are still following that decision.

 

It may be recalled here that Forward Bloc lost its two seats in this district in the last Assembly elections. Trinamul Congress candidate Mr Ashok Mandal defeated the Forward Bloc candidate Mr Udayan Guha at Dinhata and Congress candidate Dr Md Fozle Haque defeated the sitting Forward Bloc MLA Mr Nripen Roy at Sitai. Forward Bloc alleged that some local CPI-M leaders were behind the game and demanded measures against them. Later, displeased with the CPI-M's role they declared boycotting of all Left Front programmes jointly with CPI-M. After recent demise of Kamal Guha the CPI-M is expecting a change in Forward Bloc's attitude. As the main decision maker of the party Guha was known for his anti-CPIM stance. He was the chairman of the party's Bangla committee and general secretary of Cooch Behar district committee.

 

Meanwhile, district CPI-M secretary and Left Front convenor Mr Chandi Pal called the Forward Bloc to get back to the main platform of Left Front by leaving all disputes behind. He said Forward Bloc is a leftist party. It has basic difference with BJP or Trinamul Congress. "We should organise movements jointly everywhere as we did on earlier occasions." Only a few days' of difference between the CPI-M and the Forward Bloc should not be considered as a permanent one, he opined. He even hinted that they might invite the Forward Bloc to participate in the next meetings of District Left Front by sending letters to their (FB's) leadership.

 

When asked, a senior member of Forward Bloc's Cooch Behar district committee said that they are not considering anything over the matter at this moment. At the same time he said that the party leadership might adopt the right decision when time will come for that. He however reminded that Forward Bloc workers should follow the path shown by their passed away leader (Kamal Guha). Echoing him another FB leader said, as the elder partner of the Left Front it is the CPI-M's responsibility to make both ends meet. Political observers believe that if things go well both the Left Front parties may join hands before the next Panchayat polls. []

 

PHOTO : Traffic jam is a daily problem at the Railway level crossing along Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road in Jalpaiguri.

Plea to Divisional Commissioner

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Divisional Commissioner, Jalpaiguri, Mr BL Meena heard the arguments for creation of a separate district carved out of Jalpaiguri district. Submitting a memorandum to the DC at Alipurduar Circuit House today, the Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das mentioned that it is a popular demand for a long. He pointed out all aspects of the proposal to upgrade Alipurduar sub-division as a district.

 

Mr Das also urged the DC to consider the proposal to constitute a Jaigaon-Alipurduar Development Authority (JADA) following the model of Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA). With formation of JADA the socio-economic condition of Jaigaon and Alipurduar will be better, he said. He also requested Mr Meena to intervene into the stalemate over establishment of a women's college in Alipurduar.

 

The Jalpaiguri DC, Mr Meena heard his points and assured that he would took up these with proper authorities, Mr Das said. []

ABN Seal College wins

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Acharya Brajendra Nath Seal College of Cooch Behar secured the first position in the state level Youth Parliament Quiz Contest for Colleges (2006-2007) that was held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata yesterday. Two other colleges of north Bengal – Sonada College (Darjeeling) and Malda College (Malda) were ranked second and third positions. The winners received their prizes from state parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar.

 

The Youth Parliament Quiz Contest for Colleges was organised by state parliamentary affairs department. Almost all colleges of the state participated in the contest. There were 27 teams. The subject matter of the contest was Freedom Movement, Parliamentary System and Constitution. The ABN Seal College team consisting of Dipankar Sarkar and Khokan Das of department of History guided by Prof Dhananjay Bhattacharya became topper by defeating other teams.

 

ABN Seal College sources said that the district level contest was held at Rambhola High School premises in Cooch Behar on 30 July where 22 teams from almost all colleges of Cooch Behar district participated. Qualifying in the district level contest the ABN Seal College team participated in the state level contest and bagged the first position in the final round that was held at Kolkata yesterday.

 

Principal of ABN Seal College Dr Bijay Krishna Roy congratulated the winners. He will receive them personally alongwith others when they arrive at New Cooch Behar railway station tomorrow. The teachers and students of the college are also getting ready to offer "heroes' welcome" to the wining team. A felicitation ceremony will be held to honour them, college sources said. []

Blood donation camp

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Pashchimbanga Group-D Sarkari Karmachari Samiti organised a blood donation camp at Karmachari Bhavan in Cooch Behar today where 44 persons donated blood. Earlier, another camp was held at Mathabhanga where 38 persons donated blood according to district PGDSKS secretary Mr Shekhar Pal. []

 

Outbreak of enteric disease

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: As post-flood effect outbreak of enteric disease came up at Taurakuthi village under Angarkuthi Paradubi Gram Panchayat area under Mathabhanga-II block. Already a woman (30) died of the disease there on Wednesday. Her husband and son were also admitted to a health centre. A medical team was sent to the village today. Mathabhanga ACMOH Md Rabiul Islam Gain said all health workers of the area were alerted. He admitted that 16 persons are affected of the disease. The outbreak may have originated from local water sources and so halogen tablets are being distributed to get pure and disinfected drinking water, he said today. []

 

AIYF's demand

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 10: Cooch Behar unit of All India Youth Federation (AIYF) demanded renovation and regular maintenance of the embankment of Torsa that is guarding Cooch Behar town since 1954. Submitting a memorandum they urged the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO to look into the matter immediately.

 

Secretary of Cooch Behar AIYF unit Mr Ramen Pal said they submitted a memorandum containing 15-point charter of demands. They demanded rehabilitation of footpath hawkers and cleaning of all age-old ponds of the town. They also demanded abolition of the middleman system in employment exchanges and offices of motor vehicles department and food and supply department in Cooch Behar, Mr Pal said. []

 

PHOTO : Traffic jam is a daily problem at the Railway level crossing along Jalpaiguri-Siliguri road. In Jalpaiguri on Friday.

PHOTO : UTUC leaders address at the gathering of tea workers. In Jalpaiguri on Thursday.

 

PHOTO : UTUC leader Mr Nirmal Das hands over a memorandum to the divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri, Mr BL Meena. In Jalpaiguri on Thursday.

Tea-march ends at Jalpaiguri

 

 

The ten-day Sankosh to Teesta padayatra (march) organised by United Trade Union Congress and Dooars Cha Bagan Workers' Union ended at Jalpaiguri today. The participants submitted a memorandum to the divisional commissioner (Jalpaiguri) Mr Behari Lal Meena. Prior to that a massive mass gathering was also organised at the ground adjacent to the office of the DC today.

 

TUCC sources said that though the padayatra was planned for 310-kilometre it actually covered 377-kilometre. Following demands from tea workers the padayatra had to go through the closed tea gardens of the region. It may be mentioned here that the padayatra started from Sankosh Tea Estate in Dooars on 31 July demanding reopening of 14 closed tea gardens.

 

In today's gathering state social welfare minister Mr Biswanath Chaudhury was the chief speaker. State UTUC secretary Mr Ashok Ghosh, Jalpaiguri district UTUC president Mr Manohar Tirkey (minister) and secretary Mr Nirmal Das (MLA), Ms Kumari Kujur (MLA) and Mr Biplab Siddhanta were also spoke on the occasion. DCBWU secretary and also Jalpaiguri district RSP secretary Mr Rana Sen presided over the programme.

 

Submitting a memorandum to the divisional commissioner, the UTUC leaders pointed out that tea industry is the second largest industry in India. Since 2002 an artificial crisis has been created on the pretext of diminishing demand in the international market but in reality the planters taking bank loan hypothecating the tea gardens are investigating in other industries elsewhere.

 

Citing some facts they claimed that tea industry is still profitable. 79 bought leaf factories are running with prospective turnover and so the question of want of viability is not based on fact. But the unfortunate aspect of the industry is utter neglect of the interest and welfare of the labourers. Since 1977 the tea companies were not making provident fund deposit and became perpetual defaulters. In Jalpaiguri district 14 tea gardens are already closed and the number of affected labourers is 30,000. The supply of drinking water, electricity and medical facilities has been withdrawn. The arrear wages have risen to an astounding figure of Rs 366-crore. In 2004 the Sen Commission report proposing various measures to allay the crisis of tea industry was submitted to the state government but the required measures were not implemented.

 

The TUCC leaders said, recently the Union minister of industries declared that the locked out tea gardens would be reopened within July and a financial package of Rs 4,700-crore was granted. But the package was to protect the interest of the owners of the tea gardens with scant provision for protection of financial interest and rights of the workers. No effective steps have been taken both by the state and Union governments to ameliorate the condition of the workers and to save them from the jaws of starvation and death, the leaders alleged. They demanded that statutory obligations of the management towards the workers be made effective as early as possible without making pious declaration only.

 

The aim behind organising the padayatra was to demand opening of closed and abandoned tea gardens of north Bengal, setting up of an office of Tea Board at Alipurduar, state government to take up the responsibility of the students of closed tea gardens, withdrawing of lease agreement of the closed and abandoned tea estates and punitive measures against the owners of the tea gardens who failed to extend basic amenities and all other facilities to their workers. []

  

Ramkrishna Math's initiative

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 9: Cooch Behar Ramkrishna Math, in association with Tufanganj Ramkrishna Sevashram is conducting regular relief drive for the flood-affected peoples of Tufanganj and Mathabhanga sub-divisions everyday since 3 August. President of Cooch Behar Ramkrishna Math Swami Ajarananda said they are distributing rice, pulses and halogen tablets to the affected residents of Daspara, Jaldhowa, Barujibipara, Biswaspara and Mahishkuchi under Fulbari, Rampur-I and Mahishkuchi-I Gram Panchayat areas. He made an appeal to all to come forward with financial assistance to help to continue the relief drive. []

Strike peaceful

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 8: The CITU sponsored strike in unorganised sector passed off peacefully in Cooch Behar district today. Except a few no passenger vehicle of private operators were found plying though buses of North Bengal State Transport Corporation were pressed into service as usual. Rickshaws were also off the roads. As there were few vehicles the offices, courts and other regular crowded places were found with fewer visitors. Attendance was also affected in the offices due to the strike. Some shops were also found with shutters pulled down. Police said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. []

 

Hostel facility planned for dropouts

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 8: A residential bridge course under Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) is planned in Cooch Behar district to minimise the number of dropouts. District SSM project officer Mr Dipankar Pal said they asked the Village Education Committees (VEC) to submit proposals for implementation of the plan.

 

According to an estimate Rs 6,000 will be needed annually per dropout child to keep them in hostels for continuation of their studies. A survey also started in this district for the project. But it is yet to be ascertained whether it may be possible to do the job with Rs 6,000 only per child annually. The plan behind it is to bring back the dropout children to their classrooms. The VECs were asked to conduct survey to identify the dropouts and prepare a list of them in the villages concerned. After reviewing the reports submitted by the VECs the centres for the proposed residential bridge course will be launched.

 

As the number of dropouts in primary and upper primary levels is increasing the SSM adopted the plan in a recent meeting after considering all aspects. Mentionworthy, the number of dropouts in upper primary level is more than that in primary level in this district.

 

The DPO (SSM) Mr Pal said the enrolment drive to bring back the dropouts to primary and upper primary schools will continue till September and after completion of the enrolment the proposals of the VECs will be reviewed.

 

SSM sources said that the reason behind increasing number of dropouts is dependent on the economic condition of the students' families. In a bid to help the poverty stricken families the children have to work at different workplaces to earn as little as the can. In this perspective it is next to impossible for these children to continue their studies in regular schools. It is a sort of luxury to many. The proposed plan may help them. According to the plan residential bridge course will be offered to the dropout students keeping them in places like school buildings, club rooms or in rented houses. After completion of the course they will be able to get admission at Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras.

 

The dropout students will be offered two options – fulltime and part-time. They can be able to continue their study by residing in the hostels or in their own residences. The DPO (SSM) Mr Pal hoped that the proposed scheme might be a great help in minimising dropout problem in Cooch Behar district. []

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