RURAL POLITICS

Raas Mela : Formation of Village Development Committees postponed

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 18: Following large-scale violence over formation of Gram Unnayan Samitis (village development committees) the district magistrate of Cooch Behar issued an order to postpone the process. The DM, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha however said that the formation of the GUSs have been postponed merely as a temporary measure.

 

Since the three-tier rural polls several political clashes occurred at different places in Cooch Behar district and it became a regular feature. When the formation of Gram Unnayan Samitis began the number of clashes rose. It became a headache to the administration to maintain peace during the process. As the district suffers from lack of adequate number of policemen it is hard to deploy police force at all the villages during the GUS formation.

 

A Gram Unnayan Samiti is formed at booth level with the candidate who won the gram panchayat seat concerned as chairman. The opposition candidate turns into a member. A few other members also join in the committee. The GUS is instrumental in adopting decisions about development works in the area concerned. As the rival political parties cannot reach into a consensus over formation of such committees and electing the members, clashes occur. Till now Mathabhanga sub-division is on the top of the list from where reports of violence arrived at district headquarters. Clashes also occurred in Dinhata and Tufanganj sub-divisions.

 

When asked, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said the process to constitute the GUSs have been differed temporarily as Raas Mela is going on in Cooch Behar. At this moment it is hard to send police forces to the villages to maintain peace during the GUS formation. The state government too advised the district administration to suspend the GUS formation process at the places where disturbances may occur, he admitted.

 

Reacting to the order, district CPI-M secretariat sources said it was against the state government's policy. The party termed it as an undemocratic move and opined that it may damage the development process. Secretary of the state committee of the Trinamul Congress, Md Abdul Jalil Ahmed too termed the order as undemocratic and anti-development. He declared that the Trinamul Congress would organise movement against it.