Local small newspapers demand

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 8: Cooch Behar District Small Newspapers Society (DSNS) raised a demand to increase the rate of government advertisements in local periodicals. In an appeal submitted recently to the District Information and Cultural Officer they demanded the rate to be increased to Rs 50 per column-centimetre instead of Rs 12 per column-centimetre.

 

President of DSNS Mr Ranajit Deb said the rate of government advertisement released to the local small newspapers was not maintained comparing to that of other dailies during the past fifteen years. The owners of such small newspapers are facing immense problems to continue publishing their periodicals regularly. These periodicals are receiving the same advertisement rate for a long. It was increased only once by Rs 2 only. He admitted that the government has many restrictions. But it should consider the poor condition of the local newspapers too, he opined.

 

Mr Deb claimed that it is mandatory for different government departments to release advertisements like tender notices and employment notices to the local weeklies. The District Information and Cultural Affairs department should act following this norm, he suggested.

 

The DSNS president mentioned that the small newspapers are engaged in promoting and maintaining communal harmony and solidarity among different sections of people. It also plays a praiseworthy role in highlighting rural development and rural problems to alert the government to extend the necessary measures. He hoped that the government would also come forward to help the local periodicals for their survival. []

 

Minister admits tiger's death

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 8: A female Royal Bengal Tiger named Teesta died at the Circus Animal Rescue Centre at Dakshin Khayerbari in Dooars on last Friday. Admitting the news state forest minister Mr Ananta Roy said today at Cooch Behar that the tiger was rescued from a circus and it was at the Circus Animal Rehabilitation Centre at Dakshin Khayerbari. It died of Tuberculosis, the minister said.

 

It was learnt that there were eighteen Royal Bengal Tigers at the Circus Animal Rescue Centre at Dakshin Khayerbari rescued from different circuses. Among those four were shifted to Darjeeling Zoo and one was died of Tuberculosis at the CARC in February. The tiger (Teesta) that died on Friday was brought from a circus in Dunlop to Hollong and later it was shifted to the CARC at Dakshin Khayerbari.

 

The CARC was established near the Leopard Rehabilitation Centre of Dakshin Khayerbari to rehabilitate circus animals seized from circuses. The then forest minister Mr Jogesh Chandra Barman inaugurated it on 5 November 2005. The aim to establish the CARC was to provide natural environment to the Royal Bengal Tigers rescued from circuses. There is a ban in using of some scheduled animals like Royal Bengal Tigers and lions in circuses.  

 

The forest minister Mr Roy said he would draw the attention of the state chief minister to the tiger death incident. He opined that the tigers rescued from circuses suffer from TB because the circus owners offer the animals poor and low diet to survive. He assured that the forest department would try to extend better medical care for the sick tigers of the CARC from now on to prevent death incidents. []

 

Trinamul calls 'trade bandh'

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 8: Trinamul Congress called a 12-hour trade bandh in Cooch Behar on Wednesday against Congress-run Cooch Behar Municipality's hawker eviction drive. The bandh was called demanding compensation and rehabilitation to the affected poor hawkers, according to the president of District Trinamul Congress Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh.

 

Today, at a press conference held in presence of senior Trinamul leaders like Mr Mihir Goswami, Mr Niranjan Dutta and Mr Ranajit Gupta Choudhury, Mr Ghosh alleged that the eviction drive was initiated to evict the poor footpath hawkers in the name of beautification of the town. Indiscriminate eviction will bring no good to the town. It will invite newer problems, he opined. One evicted person already died of cardiac failure out of frustration and two hawkers tried to commit suicide, he said. Trinamul Congress will continue its fight to safeguard the interests of the poor hawkers, Mr Ghosh said. []

 

Seminar at Alipurduar

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 8: A seminar on women and child welfare, education, healthcare, trafficking and child marriage was held at Panchkelguri in Alipurduar today. The programme was organised by the social welfare department. Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das, Alipurduar-I BDO Mr Amal Acharya, CDPO Ms Pramila Ray and saha-savapati of Alipurduar-I Panchayat Samity Mr Subrata Ray were present among the speakers on the occasion.

 

In his address Mr Nirmal Das said economic self-sufficiency, proper education and awareness were needed to eradicate the evil systems from the society. He opined that one should not depend on the police alone to stop girl trafficking and child marriage. Social awareness is the main weapon to fight against these, he said. He called upon all to organise social resistance to draw an end to girl trafficking so that no one can lure local girls to outside in the name of good marriage or jobs. Social awareness can stop superstitions too, he opined. He made it clear that the women empowerment can be achieved when they become self-sufficient. Only providing with relief one cannot be uplifted as a responsible social being, he opined. []