Civil Defence Day

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 6: Civil Defence Day was observed in Cooch Behar today. The volunteers showed their skills over rescuing people in trouble like incidents of fire and drowning at the north bank of Sagar Dighi. A disciplined and colourful parade was also held. Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra, Civil Defence OC Mr NC Biswas, Mr Srichand Jain and others were present on the occasion. []

 

Swimmer

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 6: Renowned swimmer Mr Masudur Rahman Baidya came to Cooch Behar today. He attended a programme organised by Sarva Shiksha Mission at Police Line Ground and distributed prizes among the successful students who participated in the sports meet that was held recently on the occasion of World Disable Day. CZP sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda, Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra and SSM's District Project Officer Mr Dipankar Pal were present on the occasion. Later, the great swimmer got down into the water of Sagar Dighi to amuse the tiny-tots who gathered in large number to see him. []

 

GCDP stir plan to better health services

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 6: Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) came out against the poor health service facilities offered at the government hospitals in Cooch Behar district. They started mobilising public opinion against the irregularities and poor health services.

 

GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma alleged that the authorities concerned are depriving the people of Cooch Behar from their legitimate rights in receiving health services. It is nothing but violation of the agreement by which the erstwhile Cooch Behar State was merged with Union of India in 1949, he said.

 

The GCDP president recalled that the then chief of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and 53 others were arrested following the violent incident of 20 September 2005. They were provided with the status of political prisoner but they are not receiving proper medical care inside the jail. Two of the arrested GCPA men who were shifted to MJN Hospital had to die at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital without adequate medical care. The authorities of the MJN Hospital have a habit to refer all GCPA prisoners to NBMC without trying to heal them here. Not only the GCPA people but also others of this district are suffering from this problem. Dinhata Hospital authorities too are practising this, he alleged.

 

Mr Barma also alleged that a section of the government hospital doctors compel poor patients to go to private nursing homes though there are adequate medicines for treatment and instruments for operations in the hospitals. They never care for the well being of the rural poor people. "We are not in a position to tolerate this situation anymore", he said.

 

Prior to launching their movement over health issue the GCDP submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the state health minister Mr Surya Kanta Mishar through additional district magistrate (general) Mr Pijush Kanti Pal today. They made it clear that they will organise an intensive movement if the authorities fail to improve the situation immediately. By making no comment over the demands the ADM (G) said he would send the memorandum to the authorities concerned. []