DIG-BSF Mr PJ Rao and other donors at the blood donation camp at Gopalpur in Cooch Behar on Friday.

Demand for action against corruption in PDS system

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 30: Seizure of huge quantity of unaccounted foodgrains from two godowns and four trucks in Tufanganj on Wednesday offered an opportunity to the opposition parties to come down heavily on the corrupt practice in the public distribution system. On the otherhand, the police are seeking two godown owners and five others engaged in transporting the foodgrains but no one was arrested till today.

 

Submitting a memorandum to the district magistrate today, the Trinamul Congress demanded stern action against the persons involved in the racket. Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said the corruption in the public distribution system created unrest among the common people. He alleged that the number of ghost ration cards in this district is much more than the number of actual cardholders. In association with a section of government officials the modified ration dealers are engaged in selling off huge quantity of essential commodities in clandestine market for a long. Their practice of corruption is affecting the poor people. The MR dealers deprived the Above Poverty Line (APL) cardholders too from receiving rice and wheat for many years. Mr Ghosh demanded CBI inquiry into the matter.

 

Mr Ghosh alleged that foodgrains meant for different schemes including Midday Meal, Annapurna Antyodaya Yojana and Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders are being sold in black-market. It became a regular practice in this district. He demanded immediate legal action against the corrupt people engaged with the PDS system. Referring the seizure of huge quantity of foodgrains from Tufanganj on Wednesday Mr Ghosh demanded exemplary punishment of the persons involved with the crime.

 

The BJP too came down heavily on the corrupt practice in the PDS system. The district unit president of BJP Mr Nityananda Munsi alleged that the owners of the two godowns in Tufanganj are CPI-M sheltered men. Submitting a memorandum to the district magistrate he demanded immediate arrest of the persons involved in the scam and a thorough CID inquiry into the matter. He recalled that in past no action was taken against anyone involved in stealing of huge quantity of rice meant for midday meal scheme.

 

Following the lodging of FIR against seven persons involved in foodgrain scam in Tufanganj, the District Youth Congress president Mr Avijit De Bhaumik said they will discuss the course of movement against corruption in public distribution system on 8 December in a meeting in presence of Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munsi and state YC president Mr Amitava Chakraborty in Cooch Behar. []     

 

BSF Raising Day

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 30: Border Security Force will observe its 43rd Raising Day tomorrow. The day will be celebrated with fervour and honour by jawans of all battalions of the BSF in Cooch Behar Sector area. Prior to that a blood donation camp was organised today at Gopalpur camp in association with MJN Hospital Blood Bank. DIG-BSF (Cooch Behar Sector) Mr PJ Rao inaugurated the camp and donated blood. Total sixty-six persons donated blood at the camp.

 

Mr Rao said the BSF was raised on 1 December in 1965. Since then Raising Day is being celebrated on 1 December every year. Different BSF battalions are organising free medical camps, civic action programmes like Shramdan in rural areas on the occasion of Raising Day since 28 November in Cooch Behar, the DIG-BSF said. []

Children's library

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 28: The much-awaited children's section of North Bengal State Library will be inaugurated in Cooch Behar tomorrow. The children's section came up with financial assistance from Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation. State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy will inaugurate the section in presence of Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda, district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha and Cooch Behar Sadar SDO Mr Jayanta Kumar Maiti, according to the NBSL librarian Mr Ranu Dey. []

 

Medical camp

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 28: The 13 Bn BSF organised a free medical camp at Gachhtala Primary School premises in Sitalkuchi of Mathabhanga sub-division near Indo-Bangladesh border today. The camp was held to mark the 43rd Raising Day of BSF. Mr PJ Rao, DIG-BSF, Cooch Behar Sector inaugurated the camp. About 3,000 local people were examined at the camp by a team of doctors. They were also provided with medicines free of cost. []

 

PHOTO : Villagers of Gachhtala at a free medical camp organised by Border Security Force. At Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar on Wednesday.

 

Huge PDS food grains seized from Tufanganj

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 28: Huge quantity of unaccounted food grains allegedly meant for public distribution system (PDS) was seized from two godowns in Tufanganj town. Though no one was arrested a probe was initiated into the matter. District magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha declared that legal steps would be taken against the persons involved in the matter.

 

It was learnt that four truckload of rice and wheat were being unloaded in two godowns in Tufanganj town on yesterday evening. On getting secret information senior officials led by Tufanganj SDO Mr Sudip Mitra and Tufanganj OC Mr Sanjay Dutta raided the places with a large contingent of police force. They sealed both the godowns and seized the four trucks. From this morning the officials started counting and weighing the food grains. It was found that there were 628 bags of rice and 628 bags of wheat in the first gowdown. Weighting and counting in the second godown is still continuing.

 

During primary investigation it was learnt that the huge quantity of food grains was brought in from a warehouse in Baburhat. It is interesting that none of the godown owners, identified as Swapan Basak and Ranjit Shil, connected with public distribution system. Both the godown owners are however absconding. Police are searching for them. They are also trying to reveal from which distributor the food grains were collected.

 

Tufanganj SDO, Mr Sudip Mitra suspected that the huge quantity of food grains was meant for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Annapurna Antyodaya Yojana (AAY) schemes. The actual picture will be clear after completion of the probe and taking stock of the commodities, he opined. During investigation they will try to reveal the source of the food grains and for what reason those were brought in Tufanganj, Mr Mitra said. Tufanganj OC Mr Dutta too believes that the food grains meant for distribution through modified ration shops were brought illegally for selling in clandestine market.

 

Cooch Behar district Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh alleged that the food grains were being hoarded at the two godowns to smuggle out to Assam. It is a regular practice, he alleged. District BJP president Mr Nityananda Munsi declared that they will organise demonstrations at Tufanganj and Cooch Behar tomorrow demanding strict measures against the persons involved in stealing of PDS food grains. []

Cluster development programme for Shital Paati weavers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 28: The much awaited Small Industries' Cluster Development Programme (SICDP) for Shital Paati weavers in Cooch Behar district is going to take a shape very soon. The Centre and state governments are to borne the financial responsibility jointly for the programme. The objective of the programme is to ensure increase of earnings of Shital Paati artisans within three years. Cultivation of Paati plants, quality of produces, enhancing of marketing potential, diversification of the trade and problems of this particular trade – all are included in the SICDP plan to deal with.

 

Under the plan a cluster co-ordinating committee will be entrusted to identify the beneficiaries. This committee will also decide the way of action for developing the SICDP plan for the Paati artisans. The District Industries Centre (DIC) is to co-ordinate with the beneficiaries or act to facilitate the programme as a liaison official only, said the DIC manager (credit) Mr Sanjib Sen. There is also a plan under consideration to engage non-government organisations with the programme, Mr Sen added.

 

It may be mentioned here that the Paati artisans of Cooch Behar district have to face a lot of constraints to market their product - Sital Paati. District Industries Centre (DIC) had declared launching of Rs one-crore Cluster Development Programme for the benefit of the poor Paati artisans. During study it was revealed that Paati needs new designs and attractive finishing to catch the market.

 

DIC sources said the SICDP under process might help about four thousand families of paati artisans in terms of marketing and designing and also to rescue them from the clutches of the brokers and middlemen. Sital Paati may do a brisk business in local and foreign markets if designing of the product can be improved. A few months ago state cottage and small-scale industries minister had also declared launching of cluster development plans for the poor Paati artisans of Cooch Behar.

 

Cultivation of Paati plants and weaving of Shital Paati is a renowned cottage industry of Cooch Behar district. More or less twelve thousand people are associated with this industry. Villages like Ghughumari, Dhaluabari, Gangaler Kuthi, Hawagari, Pushnadanga, Gheghirghat, Panigram Baishguri, Pestarjhar and Nishiganj are famous for manufacturing of Paati. In 1990, Ms Tagar Rani Dey of Ghughumari won National award for her well-weaved beautiful Paati.

 

There are a number of varieties of Paati. Among these the Shital Paati is the famous and popular variety. The price range of Shital Pati spreads from Rs 50 to Rs 1500 or more according to its quality and craftsmanship.

 

Though Shital Paati is well known in India and abroad it is still to earn commercial success. Lack of proper marketing infrastructure makes the situation worse. The artisans are too suffering from different problems. The condition of those artisans is worse who has no farmland to cultivate the Paati plants. The wage of poor artisans should be increased to save this traditional craft. Lack of adequate advertisement and poor marketing policy followed so far dragged this special type of mat backward. Once the SICDP plan implemented the situation would turn better, DIC sources hoped. []

 

PHOTO : Artisans busy in making Shital Paati. 

Demonstration

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 26: Trinamul Congress supporters observed a daylong sit-in in front of the office of the Tufanganj SDO today. They demonstrated against Nandigram violence and corrupt rationing system. Later, they submitted a memorandum containing 16-point charter of demands to the SDO. District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh, vice-president Mr Niranjan Dutta and other leaders spoke on the occasion. []

 

Siddiqullah in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 26: The Jamait Ulema-e-Hind supremo Md Siddiqullah Choudhury believes that the Nandigram issue brought an opportunity to make an alliance of Congress and Trinamul Congress. "If invited we are also ready to join the proposed alliance", he said. It is the high time to pull down the CPI-M from power in this state, he opined. A strong alliance of opposition forces can do the job successfully, he said. He also opined that presidential rule should be clamped in this state following the violent incidents of Nandigram and Singur.

 

The Jamait Ulema-e-Hind supremo came to Cooch Behar today to address a gathering at Nishiganj. Prior to that he addressed at an organisational workers' meet at a hotel in Cooch Behar town. In the gathering he came down heavily on the CPI-M and its autocratic role in this state.

 

Md Siddiqullah said that the recent violence that occurred in Kolkata over controversial writer Mrs Taslima Nasreen was public uproar against her anti-Islamic utterances. Without expressing his personal opinion over the issue he said that the governments at the Centre and also in this state should decide whether they would prefer a foreigner or the well being of the countrymen. []

 

2 BD infiltrators gunned down

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 26: Border Security Force jawans gunned down two Bangdeshis at BS Bari border outpost area in Mekhliganj sub-division if Cooch Behar on yesterday night.

 

Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar said a gang of about twenty-five Bangladeshi nationals was trying to cross the international border through the barbed wire fencing at the area. BSF jawans on patrolling duty tried to stop them from entering into this side of the border but they denied going back. At last BSF had to open fire to disperse them. Two members of the gang including a teenaged boy were killed in the incident while others escaped. The killed two are yet to be identified. On behalf of the BSF their counterparts in Bangladesh were conveyed of the incident. The SP said an investigation was initiated into the incident. []  

 

PHOTO : A policeman guards age-old idols that displayed on the occasion of Raas Yatra. At Madan Mohan Temple complex in Cooch Behar.

 

Raas Mela

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 26: The 195-year old Raas Mela of Cooch Behar began on Saturday but it is still to gain momentum. Many stalls are yet to be completed and furnished. As there is no arrangement of circus show this year at the fortnight long fair, the organisers are trying to compensate it by staging cultural extravaganza on every evening. The main attraction for the devotees and visitors is the Madan Mohan Temple. At the temple complex it is their sacred duty to whirl the Raas Chakra – at least once. The huge clay made statue of Putana Rakshashi is also attracting kids as it did in previous years. []

 

Silent rally

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 26: Members of Progressive Students' Union organised a silent rally at Kalchini in Dooars today. They were protesting against the atrocities done on tribal students in Guwahati recently. After the rally they submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the officer-in-charge of Kalchini police station. They demanded security of tribal people in Assam, compensation to the victims and punishment of the persons involved in the atrocities done on the tribal people. Mr Ramkumar Lama, Mr Sudarshan Chhetry and Mr Bishnu Brahman led today's protest rally. A similar rally was also held at Hasimara today. []

 

Health training

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 26: Indian Institute of Complementary Medicines observed its seventeenth anniversary at Bani Niketan Girls' High School premises at Harinchawra in Cooch Behar yesterday. A training programme on 'complementary health service' and a blood donation camp were also organised on the occasion. About two hundred rural practitioners participated in the training programme. Chief medical officer of health, Cooch Behar, Dr SK Shil inaugurated the programme. Dr Arunlal Sen, Dr Ujjwal Acharya, Dr Dayal Dey, Dr Jogen Mandal and Dr MK Baidya were present among the distinguished guests at the inaugural ceremony. []

Cooch Behar Raas Mela begins

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 25: State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy inaugurated the 195-year old Raas Mela yesterday. The festival will continue for fifteen days. State food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary, Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar, Cooch Behar Municipality chairman Mr Biren Kundu and other dignitaries were present at the inaugural ceremony at Raas Mela Ground on yesterday evening. Prior to this event, Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha inaugurated the Raas Yatra of Lord Madan Mohan by whirling the Raas Chakra after performing puja, yajna and other religious rituals at the Madan Mohan temple complex.

 

            The Raas-mela is the biggest and oldest fair in north Bengal. During this fortnight the Debottar Trust Board will organise cultural programmes including Bhajan, Padavali Kirtan, recitation of Shrimad-Bhagabat, Bhawaiya, folk songs and religious lectures on every evening at the Madan Mohan temple premises. The fair may be a less attractive event to many because there is no circus tent in the mela premises this year.

 

The first Raas Mela was organised in the regime of Maharaja Harendra Narayan in 1812. The Maharaja moved into a new palace on Raas Purnima in that year and a Raas Mela was organised there on that occasion. In 1889, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan established the new Madan Mohan temple on the north bank of Bairagi Dighi. The austodhatoo-made idol of Lord Madan Mohan was shifted from the temple in palace complex to the new temple. From then on the Raas Mela is organised surrounding the Madan Mohan temple, Bairagi Dighi and Raas Melar Ground.

 

For the Raas Yatra the age-old temple took a new look by a fresh coat of paints. The security arrangements were also beefed up. Metal detector doorframe and close-circuit cameras were also fitted for security reasons.

 

On the occasion of Raas Yatra special puja was held at the Thakurbari of Kumar Gajendra Narayan Estate at Bangchatra Road near the Raas Mela Ground. []

 

District Industries Centre suffers from staff shortage

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 25: District Industries Centre (DIC) has to shoulder the responsibility of progress of industrialisation in the district but it is suffering from shortage of personnel. It is like a vessel without adequate sailors.

 

There are six sanctioned posts of Industrial Development Officer (IDO) at the Cooch Behar office of the DIC but actually there is one IDO only. He has to work as the head clerk of the office. Out of twelve IDOs for twelve blocks in this district two posts are lying vacant at Tufanganj-I and Mathabhanga-II for a long. In the six municipal towns in this district there is no IDO at all.

 

The total staff strength at the DIC should be thirty-three. Among these sanctioned posts there are only eighteen persons. Among the officials there should be eight managers but here one can find out three of them only (including the general manager). There are nine other staff (like upper division clerk and lower division clerk) in sixteen posts. There are two personal assistants and one record supplier only.

 

Though the DIC is suffering from shortage of personnel its performance is good enough especially in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), claimed the manager (credit) Mr Sanjib Sen. The DIC has to keep contact with sixty-four bank branches in this district to maintain liaison between entrepreneurs of new units and banks. The situation may have improved for better if there were adequate personnel, admitted Mr Sen.

 

Appeals were made to the director of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises several times but no one came forward yet to take the initiative to send some staff here to fill up the vacant posts, DIC sources said in Cooch Behar. []

 

Conference

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 25: 41st biennial Cooch Behar district conference of Pashchimbanga Group-D Sarkari Karmachari Samiti was held at Karmachari Bhavan in Cooch Behar yesterday. District unit secretary Mr Shekhar Pal tabled the secretarial report at the conference. Not only resolutions on organisational demands but also demands were adopted to strengthen movement for all-out development of Cooch Behar district. []

 

Anniversary

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 25: Indian Institute of Complementary Medicines observed its seventeenth anniversary at Bani Niketan Girls' High School premises at Harinchawra in Cooch Behar today. Health orientation training programme and blood donation camp were also organised on the occasion. []

 

Challengers' Cup

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 25: The inter-district (north Bengal) cricket tournament (Challengers' Cup) started at Cooch Behar Stadium yesterday. Eight teams are to participate in this tournament this year. They are : Cooch Behar, Islampur, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Alipurduar, Dakshin Dinajpur and Siliguri. The final match will be held on 22 December. Cooch Behar Collectorate Recreation Club is the organiser of the tournament this year.

 

State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy inaugurated the tournament yesterday. The district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar and others were present at the inaugural programme. []

 

Road mishap, 2 killed

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 25: A Maruti van collided with a maxi-taxi passenger vehicle at Amtala near Saatmile in Cooch Behar at about 9-30 a.m. today. Sandwiched between the two speeding vehicles a motorbike rider was killed. He was identified as Tapan Sarkar (37), an insurance agent. Total seventeen persons were wounded in the incident, police said. Among the serious ones of the Maruti van, Noor Mohammed (40), a teacher of Suktabari High School died at MJN Hospital at about 12-noon. The passengers of the Maruti van were going to attend a programme at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district. []

Governor sanctions relief to rape victim

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 23: Ms Runu Roy (Das), a victim of gang rape and resident of Chheramari village under Ghoksadanga police station got a relief of Rs 50,000 today. Deputy magistrate and deputy collector, Mr Narayan Chnadra Biswas handed over the sum to the woman in presence of her lawyer Mr Shibendra Nath Roy. The Governor sanctioned the relief following her appeal to him, Mr Roy said.

 

Recalling the incident Mr Roy said that six miscreants including a CPI-M leader Samiruddin Mian alias Kelsa sneaked into the housewife's room on the night of 22 February 2003 in absence of her husband and forcefully raped her. The incident had rocked the whole state. On 22 March 2005 the Additional District and Sessions Judge of Cooch Behar convicted the accused six and sentenced them with ten-years rigorous imprisonment and also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 to each of the six. On 29 March of this year a division bench of the High Court too maintained the order passed by the lower court, Mr Roy said.

 

As the incident created tremor in the political scenario in this state, the authorities had offered a job to the victim as an Anganwadi worker under social welfare department. She accepted the job for survival, Mr Roy said. Meanwhile she made an appeal to the state Governor for some relief. In his letter to the Accountant General (A&E), the joint commissioner for reservation and ex-officio joint secretary Mr M Pandit stated that the Governor sanctioned Rs 50,000 to Ms Runu Roy (Das) who belongs to Scheduled Caste (Rajbanshi) Community as relief for the offence committed on her.

 

Receiving the compensation the victim Ms Roy expressed her satisfaction and thanked the Governor for his generosity. The money may help her to lead a healthy life in the society, her layer Mr Roy opined.  []

Altaf Mian busy in making Raas Chakra

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 23: Md Altaf Mian of Harinchawra near Cooch Behar town is now very busy in making the Raas Chakra at the courtyard of his cottage. His wife and daughter are also helping him to complete the work. He will have to complete it by tomorrow for the Raas Yatra. He is doing this annual job for the last 28 years. It is his hereditary duty.

 

Landless Md Altaf Mian had to work as a daily wage labourer till his appointment as a night watchman at Keshav Ashram. The Debottar Trust Board appointed him a few months back against Rs 1000 per month. After much persuasion the DTB added Rs 500 two months ago.

 

Before the Raas Yatra Altaf has to engage himself in making the Raas Chakra. Last year the Debottar Trust Board paid him Rs 5,000 only for this particular job. This year he appealed for a hike because he has to buy bamboos, paints, coloured papers, glue and other materials for making the Raas Chakra. The poverty stricken man failed to marry off his daughter. In earlier years his son used to help him in making the Raas Chakra but for the past few years he is keeping himself away from the work. It is not clear whether he will take up the hereditary job in future.

 

The devoted man said that he appealed to the authorities on several occasions to give him a permanent job and a plot of land to survive but no one paid any heed to his requests. After fruitless appeals for years the Debottar Trust Board offered him the job of watchman. He still resides on the bank of Torsa and the river is approaching rapidly to grab their homestead. But, "I will have to continue to do this job as did my father and grandfather", he said.

 

The 22-feet high, six-angled Raas Chakra, and a look-alike of Muharram Tazia, is the main attraction of the fortnight-long Raas Mela for devotees and all other visitors. It is decorated with ornamental paper cuts and pictures of mythological Gods and Goddesses. The Raas Yatra is inaugurated by whirling the Raas Chakra. It reminds visitors of the Buddhist sacred prayer wheels. Every devotee and visitor at the Madan Mohan temple is supposed to rotate it at least one-round as homage to the Lord Madan Mohan.

 

The making of the Raas Chakra by a Muslim family for a Hindu festival is considered by many as a perfect example of communal harmony and religious co-existence. More significantly, it embodies an act of love among three religions - Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. []

Police raid in hotel for ultras

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 21: Acting on a tip-off a large contingent of police raided a luxurious hotel on Biswa Singha Road in the midst of the town this afternoon. The raid that continued for a few hours created curiosity and panic among citizens who gathered in a large number in the vicinity. But no suspected person was found during the search operation.

 

Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar said they got secret information that a group of youths from Assam took shelter in that hotel. As the Raas Mela is on the corner and militant outfits of northeast region like ULFA are active in this region the police are not ready to take any chance and so he ordered a thorough search in that hotel, the SP said. During the raid a large contingent of police cordoned the hotel and sealed all exit and entrance points so that no one can escape.

 

The SP mentioned that recently they had received information from their counterparts in Assam that a few ULFA militants arrived in Cooch Behar for medical treatment. Following that tip-off they conducted raids in several nursing homes in the town but no suspected one found till now. Searching is still going on for the suspected persons that are believed sneaked into Cooch Behar for treatment. Plainclothesmen are keeping watch on the nursing homes and hospitals round-the-clock.

 

Though the police failed to nab any man today from the hotel they seized seven LPG cylinders meant for domestic use that are being used illegally in that hotel for commercial purposes. A separate case will be initiated in connection with unauthorised use of domestic gas cylinders, the Cooch Behar SP, Mr Kumar said. On the otherhand, additional police personnel including senior officials are to arrive Cooch Behar tomorrow to help District Police in maintaining peace during the fortnight long Raas Mela that is going to start on Saturday. []

Nandigram : Kshiti predicts poor result in panchayat poll

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 21: The Nandigram issue may affect the result of the ensuing three-tier panchayat elections if voters can exercise their franchise without any fear. If they are allowed to cast their votes on their free will it will surely affect the result, believes senior RSP leader and state public works department minister Mr Kshiti Goswami. He came to Cooch Behar today to attend some party programmes.

 

When asked about the probable influence of Nandigram issue on the panchayat polls Mr Goswami predicted that he has no doubt about the influence that may be exerted on the polling pattern. He said, "On earlier occasions too we observed occurrence of clashes during the rural polls. Incidents of death also happened. We do not want clashes between supporters of Left Front constituent parties. One cannot welcome such incidents." If such things come up that should be unfortunate for us, and also for all, he added.

 

Mr Goswami mentioned that there are many factors that affect the voting pattern and result. The party in power uses money power, muscle power, administrative power, misuse of police force and other things freely. It will be unfortunate if these are used against Left Front partners like RSP, he said.

 

Commenting on the recent initiative of formation of volunteer force by the CPI-M, the senior RSP leader said such plan can never be able to iron out all problems. The clubmen may be able to suppress the voice of common people by club-law for a certain period, not forever. It can yield temporary success only. Hitler and Stalin too experienced it. The oppressed people have the right to say the last word. The CPI-M is also trying to retain the power that it is enjoining for a long by forming the force of clubmen in the name of volunteers, he observed.

 

The senior RSP leader said he has no idea when peace restore at Nandigram. The state government got about ten months but failed to restore normalcy. Thousands of people are still suffering there. The women are the worst sufferers. At last the CPI-M state secretary, Mr Biman Bose admitted that their cadres exercised tit-for-tat policy to recapture Nandigram. The Prime Minister too said about bringing back confidence among people but "I don't know when this will happen", Mr Goswami said. Criticising the role of Congress he said they failed to follow the ideals of Gandhiji and Nehru. In the AICC session too they said little about the violence in Nandigram, the RSP leader said. []

 

RSP to discuss Kshiti's decision on 29-th

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 21: The state PWD minister and also a senior RSP leader said that his decisions to stay off the Writers' Building and not use government vehicles were his own. "I had informed our party leadership about my decision and it was discussed in the secretariat meeting". Another meeting is convened on 29 November to discuss the issue, he said. At the same time he mentioned that one has to obey party's decision though there may be differences over ideals. "I will have to abide by the party's decision if I want to stay in the party". He said he is yet not ready to change his decision about going to Writers' Building and using of government vehicles. But the security men are still following him everywhere without asking for his consent, he said. []

Reflect convention

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 20: State Reflect Resource Centre (SRRC) organised the first two-day state reflect convention at Rabindra Bhavan in Cooch Behar that ended today. About two hundred participants from seventeen organisations of this state and even from Bangladesh came to attend the convention. Representatives from Action Aid India and Action Aid Bangladesh too attended the convention.

 

Additional district magistrate (development) of Cooch Behar, Mr Pannalal Mahapatra inaugurated the programme. Cooch Behar Municipality chairman Mr Biren Kundu, Mr Debabrata Chaki and other distinguished persons attended the inaugural session. On behalf of SRRC Mr Subrata Kar hoped that the reflect process may be able to unite all downtrodden and oppressed people. The left behind people will be armed with empowerment by the reflect process, he claimed. []

 

GCDP demonstration

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 20: Supporters of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) demonstrated in front of the office of district magistrate on the west bank of Sagardighi in Cooch Behar today. They submitted memorandums to the additional district magistrate and the additional superintendent of police. They were demanding introduction of Kamtapuri language as the medium of study in schools, inclusion of the actual history of Cooch Behar in the syllabi and naming of Cooch Behar Airport after the great hero of Cooch Behar royal dynasty – Chilarai.

 

Submitting a memorandum addressed to the state school education and higher education ministers through the Cooch Behar ADM the GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma argued that the majority of people in the proposed Greater Cooch Behar state speak in Kamtapuri and so it should be used as the language of study medium in the schools.

 

Mr Barma said the students of this generation should study biographies of social reformers like Roysaheb Thakur Panchanan Barma, legendary Bhawaiya artiste Abbasuddin, great hero of Cooch Behar royal dynasty Chilarai (Shukladhwaj) and also the heroic lives of the Maharajas of Cooch Behar State who were very popular among their subjects. The government should include their biographies in school curriculum, he opined.

 

In the GCDP memorandum setting up of the proposed Central university in Cooch Behar was also demanded to pave the way for higher education for the students of this region. In another memorandum addressed to the state chief minister they demanded appointment of a senior living member of Cooch Behar royal dynasty as the president of Debottar Trust Board, the guardian body of age-old temples and other religious places.

 

Cooch Behar Airport was established in the regime of Maharajas. The air service that was lying defunct for a long is now going to be resumed. In the GCDP memorandum they demanded naming of the airport after the great hero of Cooch Behar royal dynasty - Chilarai. Chilarai was the chief general of Maharaja Naranarayan. He was famous for his bravery. By naming the airport in the name of Chilarai the present generation of people of Cooch Behar should pay respect to the great hero, Mr Barma said. [] (370)

 

Consumer court fines insurance company

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 20: Mr Ranjit Kumar Pincha, a citizen of Cooch Behar town had lodged a complaint at District Consumers' Redressal Forum on 22 November 2005 against New India Assurance Company demanding Rs 1,00,108 against his Mediclaim policy. He claimed the sum to cover the expenses he had to bear during his illness. He tried his best to recover the claimed sum but failed. At last, being annoyed he had to lodge the complaint.

 

Yesterday, considering all aspects the DCRF president Mr Sukumar Chakraborty and judge Mr Ashok Chanda ordered the insurance company to pay Rs 45,053 to the claimant within two months. They also ordered the company to pay Rs 5,000 for the mental agony suffered by the claimant. In the DCRF order it was mentioned that failure in paying of the money within the stipulated period the insurance company would have to extend an additional ten-percent interest on the total amount. []   

Nandigram violence defended at left conference

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 17: The Nandigarm violence issue came up at the 15-th Cooch Behar district conference of State Co-ordination Committee today. The leaders defended the CPI-M's role in recapturing of Nandigram. Was capturing the right step if recapturing is considered wrong, they questioned. The two-day district conference started at Cooch Behar Rabindra Bhavan today.

 

Cooch Behar MP (Rajya Sabha) and CITU leader Mr Tarini Roy alleged that BJP is trying to foil the functioning of the Parliament over Nandigram issue. He said a large number of people of Nandigram were rendered homeless for more than eleven months. The administration did nothing to send back them to their abode. At last the CPI-M had to take up the matter in the interest of the people. He recalled that in Cooch Behar too the administration had failed to lift the supporters of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) who staged a roadblock at Bhetaguri a few years back. The CPI-M had to intervene to clean the road, he claimed. In Nandigram issue the CPI-M is engaged in organising public opinion by highlighting the actual situation, he said.

 

In his inaugural address the assistant secretary of State Co-ordination Committee Mr Manoj Kanti Guha said the Land Acquisition Act was not framed by the Left Front government, it was framed during British rule. Under this Act the government may acquire land if required and no one has any right to lodge any case against the acquisition. One may merely demand for more compensation against the acquired land. If this Act is bad why the Centre or the earlier Congress-led state governments never tried to abolish or amend it, he questioned.

 

Mr Guha claimed that some other state governments already implemented this Act but violence is being occurred here. He opined that if big entrepreneurs come here to set up industrial units the economic situation of this state would turn better. Defending setting up of Tata's low-cost automobile unit Mr Guha said there was no such industry in this state except Hindustan Motors. Other similar companies are spending a lot of money to stop the initiative, he alleged. On setting up of proposed chemical hub he mentioned that seventy-eight percent of such units are in other states but hue and cry started when such an initiative was taken in this state.

 

Referring Nandigram issue Mr Guha alleged that 28 persons were killed since 3 January but no one said anything against that. Now all are blaming the CPI-M for recapturing the area from where they were driven out. Was capturing right if recapturing is considered wrong, he questioned. []

Row over circus v cultural performance in Raas Mela

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 16: In a bid to maintain the environment clean thin plastic carry bags will not be allowed in Cooch Behar Raas Mela that is going to start on 24 November. No one will be allowed to use LPG cylinders in any eatery or shop inside the fortnight long fair premises to ensure security. Declaring the taboos the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO Mr Jayanta Kumar Maiti said no shops would be allowed to sit in front of the Madan Mohan temple during the mela days. The number of close circuit cameras is to be raised from three to four inside the temple complex.

 

The preparatory meeting of the 195-year old Raas Mela was held yesterday. In that meeting representatives of Cooch Behar Municipality placed a proposal to increase the rent of stalls in the fair. But the representatives of business community opposed the move. At last it was decided that the rent per square-feet will be increased by five-paise. Till last year it was 75-paise only. Mentionworthy, Cooch Behar Municipality is the organiser of the Raas Mela while Debottar Trust Board organises the Raas Utsav at Madan Mohan temple complex. There will be about 1,500 stalls and the estimated budget for the mela is Rs 15-lakh.

 

Presence of a circus tent is the main attraction of the Raas Mela but this time no circus will come. This may dishearten visitors especially from the rural areas. The SDO, Mr Maiti believes that without a circus the mela may lose its charm to many. When asked, the chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality, Mr Biren Kundu said as no circus came to north Bengal till now the Raas Mela will not get one.

 

As a compensation for circus the civic body will organise cultural programmes daily. Renowned singers, dancers and performers from Kolkata and Assam are to come to entertain mela visitors. Mr Kundu said two state ministers - Mr Ananta Roy and Mr Paresh Adhikary - would attend the inaugural ceremony while Union minister Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi will come to attend the closing ceremony.

 

Cooch Behar Sadar SDO, Mr Maiti feared that stampede might occur if famous artistes come to perform in the mela premises. He opined that to maintain the healthy cultural tradition of Raas Mela the folk culture of this region like Bhawaiya should be given priority. On the otherhand the chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality, Mr Kundu questioned the definition of healthy culture. He assured that renowned artistes are to come and adequate security measures will be taken to maintain peace. The civic body will not do anything that affects law and order situation, he declared. []

SDO orders Bengali stock boards at MR shops

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 16: Modified ration dealers were directed to display blackboards depicting the position of stock and rate of commodities available in their shops in Bengali so that common people can know the actual situation. According to government guideline such boards are to be displayed in English but the MR dealers under Cooch Behar Sadar sub-division were asked to write the stock position in Bengali for convenience of commoners. Cooch Behar Sadar SDO Mr Jayanta Kumar Maiti issued this instruction at a meeting that was held yesterday. Chief inspector, inspectors and sub-inspectors of food and supply department, pradhans of Gram Panchayats and BDOs were present at the meeting. The SDO asked the officials of food and supply department, panchayat functionaries and civic bodies to ensure displaying of the boards. It should be done before 26 November. On that day the situation will be reviewed in another meeting.

 

Mr Maiti said he already visited several areas to study the functioning of public distribution system and modified ration shops. From now on inspection will be done regularly to see whether the informative blackboards were displayed or not. If necessary offending MR dealers will be suspended on the spot, he said. Moreover, no dealer will be allowed to keep ration card of any beneficiary at the shop, he added.

 

There was no effective Shop Level Monitoring Committee till now anywhere in Cooch Behar. The SDO issued instruction to form such committees comprising of civic body chairman or gram panchayat pradhan, food sub-inspector, a BPL woman and a respectable person of the area concerned. He asked officials to invite representatives of political parties to attend SLMC meetings to ensure transparency and avoid unrest. The SDO asked all concerned to form SLMCs before 26 November. Mr Maiti said meetings of these committees are to be done once in a month but it was never happened. From now on it will occur regularly, he assured.

 

It was observed that some dealers lift commodities against the ration cards of dead persons. As no family surrenders the cards of dead members the dealers get the opportunity to practice corruption. To ensure transparency it will be mandatory to surrender the cards of dead persons to the chairman of civic body or pradhan of gram panchayat concerned at the time of receiving death certificate. Mentionworthy, there are 180 MR dealers in 28 gram panchayats and 20 municipality wards under Cooch Behar Sadar sub-division. []

Bomb squad at Raas Mela

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 15: This is the first time an unit of bomb disposal squad will be kept ready at the traditional Cooch Behar Raas Mela that is going to start on 24 November. If situation arises the BDS personnel will be deployed to check anti-militant activities. They will examine unclaimed articles left anywhere in the town during the fortnight-long fair. Cooch Behar District Police will distribute pamphlets to aware people against subversive activities, said Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar.

 

The SP said they like to offer maximum convenience to the visitors and devotees during the Raas Mela. Checking of vehicles coming from neighbouring districts and Assam will be intensified on security ground. There will be seven no-entry zones for vehicles. Two separate VIP car-parking places will be set up. No stalls will be allowed to make the roads narrow inside the Mela. Police are not ready to leave any opportunity for the militant outfits of this region to take advantage of the mammoth crowd, Mr Kumar said.

 

A permanent metal detector doorframe was placed at the main entrance of Madan Mohan temple complex. Close circuit TV was also introduced inside the temple complex. CCTV will be set up in and around the Raas Mela Ground to keep vigil on troublemakers. There will be six close-circuit cameras to keep eye on the crowd. An inspector will be posted as Mela OC to supervise the police deployment and functioning of CCTV.

 

Not only this, additional forces were asked from outside to assist their local counterparts. The Cooch Behar SP said they made an appeal to the state Police Directorate to send two DSPs, three inspectors, 30 SIs or ASIs, five lady SIs or ASIs, 200 constables and 50 lady constables.

 

Mr Kumar said they would insist the fire services department to issue no-objection certificates to stall holders and eateries in the Mela site after examining the fire fighting facilities arranged in those stalls. Policemen will also check the sweetmeat shops, eateries and fast food stalls to prevent illegal use of LPG cylinders and inflammable things. []

 

Minister ill behaved with trainee teachers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 15: Members of All Bengal Primary Teachers' Trainee Association (ABPTTA) met the state school education minister Mr Partha Dey at Circuit House and submitted a memorandum demanding appointment of unemployed trained teachers in primary schools. ABPTTA president Mr Bhajan Barman alleged that the minister ill behaved with them and asked them to seek job elsewhere. Mr Dey reportedly told them that till settlement of cases running in High Court the government is not able to do anything for them. Condemning the education minister's unsympathetic attitude Mr Barman declared that they will gherao the district primary school education council office in Cooch Behar on 23 November.

 

The minister Mr Dey inaugurated the three-day workshop on school health programme at District Institute for Education and Training in Cooch Behar today. This district is going to enter into the third phase of the programme. Cooch Behar district primary school council organised the workshop in association with state primary school council and health department. The minister also inaugurated another three-day workshop on academic calendar, total and continuous valuation and grading system at Vivekanda Vidyapith in this town today.

 

The school education minister declared that they are going to set up more primary schools in this state to ensure primary education for all children. All guardians should come out to send their children to schools. To ensure school education for all children the existing infrastructure will be developed. The minister hoped that the experienced teachers would take the initiative to make the effort successful. He declared that inspection system will be improved and in the new system the school inspectors will have to act properly. []

Two educational workshops began

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 15: State school education minister Mr Partha Dey inaugurated the three-day workshop on school health programme at District Institute for Education and Training in Cooch Behar today. This district is going to enter into the third phase of the programme. Cooch Behar district primary school council organised the workshop in association with state primary school council and health department.

 

The minister also inaugurated another three-day workshop on academic calendar, total and continuous valuation and grading system at Vivekanda Vidyapith in this town today.

 

The school education minister declared that they are going to set up more primary schools in this state to ensure primary education for all children. All guardians should come out to send their children to schools. To ensure school education for all children the existing infrastructure will be developed. The minister hoped that the experienced teachers would take the initiative to make the effort successful. He declared that inspection system will be improved and in the new system the school inspectors will have to act properly.

 

The minister Mr Dey said healthcare awareness was included in the primary school curriculum. Emphasis is being given on physical activity and sports. National Rural Health Mission too came up for health awareness among students. Studying is not enough for all-out development of children. They should be encouraged to be associated with physical activities for physical and mental growth. Regular health check-up facilities should be there for the children. They should get nutritious food supplement too, the minister said.

 

Not only personal cleanliness the students should also learn to keep their schools and environment clean. They must have to use the sanitary facilities. Healthcare awareness is needed more than keeping contact with doctors, the minister said. It can prevent spreading of contagious diseases.

 

Prof Debarshi Mandal, secretary of state primary school education council admitted that though the school health programme was introduced in 2003 a number of districts are yet to complete the first phase of the scheme. He emphasised on the need of preventive and curative methods and clean environment for healthy growth of children.

 

Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, CMOH Dr SK Shil and district primary school council president Md Nuruddin Miah too spoke at the inauguration ceremony. []

DIC suffers from staff shortage

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 15: District Industries Centre (DIC) has to shoulder the responsibility of progress of industrialisation in the district but it is suffering from shortage of personnel. It is like a vessel without adequate sailors.

 

There are six sanctioned posts of Industrial Development Officer (IDO) at the Cooch Behar office of the DIC but actually there is one IDO only. He has to work as the head clerk of the office. Out of twelve IDOs for twelve blocks in this district two posts are lying vacant at Tufanganj-I and Mathabhanga-II for a long. In the six municipal towns in this district there is no IDO at all.

 

The total staff strength at the DIC should be thirty-three. Among these sanctioned posts there are only eighteen persons. Among the officials there should be eight managers but here one can find out three of them only (including the general manager). There are nine other staff (like upper division clerk and lower division clerk) in sixteen posts. There are two personal assistants and one record supplier only.

 

Though the DIC is suffering from shortage of personnel its performance is good enough especially in implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), claimed the manager (credit) Mr Sanjib Sen. The DIC has to keep contact with sixty-four bank branches in this district to maintain liaison between entrepreneurs of new units and banks. The situation may have improved for better if there were adequate personnel, admitted Mr Sen.

 

Appeals were made to the director of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises several times but no one came forward yet to take the initiative to send some staff here to fill up the vacant posts, DIC sources said in Cooch Behar. []

 

GCDP to start stir for language on 20 Nov

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 13: Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) is preparing for launching an intensive stir demanding Kamtapuri language as the medium of study in educational institutions. Since the majority of people in the proposed Greater Cooch Behar state speak in Kamtapuri it should be used as the language of study medium in the schools, GCDP leaders argue. The decision for commencement of the proposed movement was adopted in an executive meeting of the GCDP a few days ago.

 

GCDP president and the secretary of Greater Kamta United Forum (GKUF) Mr Ashutosh Barma told The Statesman that the executive meeting of GCDP was held on Sunday. In that meeting the leaders decided to start the movement on 20 November. On that day they will submit a memorandum to the state school education minister through the district magistrate of Cooch Behar. In that memorandum they will urge the minister to make arrangement to introduce Kamtapuri language as the medium of study in the proposed Greater Cooch Behar state territory. They will also urge for inclusion of life sketches of renowned personalities of this region in the school curriculum.

 

Mr Barma said the students of this generation should learn about the life and teachings of social reformers like Roysaheb Thakur Panchanan Barma and also the heroic lives of the Maharajas of Cooch Behar State who were very popular among their subjects. The government should include the biographies of Thakur Panchanan Barma and popular Maharajas in the school syllabus, he opined.

 

After submission of the memorandum on 20 November the GCDP will organise demonstrations and rallies in different areas of Cooch Behar to press their demands. They have a plan to spread out the agitation in other districts of north Bengal and lower Assam too.

 

The GCDP president alleged that they are termed as secessionists since they are fighting for recognition of their mother tongue. GCDP activists have to suffer behind the bars for their demands. "But, we will carry on our movement to get recognition of our mother tongue", he vowed. At the first phase they will submit memorandums and organise rallies in Cooch Behar. Later they will spread the agitation in other areas, Mr Barma said. []