State asks school teachers to undergo training

28 April 2012

biswabrata goswami 
TAMLUK, 28 APRIL: The state government has instructed teachers who are not professionally trained to undergo teachers’ training through open distance learning (ODL) system within the period of two years.
Accordingly, a total of 2700 school teachers in East Midnapore alone will have to undergo teacher’s training through ODL system, said Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of zilla-parishad. The state government has already selected 80 schools across the state from where the essential teacher’s training will be given to all untrained teachers. In East Midnapore, 20 schools have been earmarked for this purpose.
The initiative has come after it was learnt that a high percentage of teachers failed in the National Teacher Eligibility Test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education in 2010-11. According to a survey studied by non-government organisations, 21 per cent of teachers in schools were not professionally trained.

All blocks to have godowns

27 April 2012

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TAMLUK, 27 APRIL: The state government plans to build storage godowns in all blocks in the state within five years. This is meant to help with increased procurements of foodgrains, and to reduce the storage of grains in piles of sacks covered with waterproof materials.
 The state government has sent a circular to the district administrations, including East Midnapore's, asking them to locate sites. According to the circular, the godowns will be designed to ensure safe storage of grains for at least four months.
 "Identification of khas lands for setting up godowns in 10 out of 25 blocks in the district has already started," said Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of East Midnapore Zilla Parishad. "Blocks with high production of foodgrains and inadequate storage facilities are at the top of the priority list for godowns."
 According to the circular, the central government will provide financial assistance to the state governments for construction of new foodgrain storage facilities in rural areas. "Along with the agriculture ministry, the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution will extend monetary support for storage and maintenance of buffer stocks in the states," a senior administrative official said.
 Mr Sisir Adhikari, a Trinamul Congress leader and Union minister of state for rural development, said: "According to the ministry, if the plan is implemented properly, new godowns in rural areas will take extra storage burdens from food-producing blocks in the state. Our government has started mitigating the storage burden of food-producing districts across the state."
 Under the scheme, the Food Corporation of India will now give private entrepreneurs a guarantee of 10 years of assured hiring. A capacity of about 151 lakh tonnes is to be created in 19 states under the scheme, through private entrepreneurs and central and state warehousing corporations.
The government has finalised a plan for the construction of a storage capacity of 1.5 lakh tonnes in West bengal, said Mr Adhikari.

Eye on rural poll, CPM revs up

26 April 2012

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MIDNAPORE, 26 APRIL: With an eye on the panchayat polls, CPI-M leaders in West Midnapore are planning to build a new foundation for the party, to transform it to meet the needs of the times.
The CPI-M leadership is all set to work with local parties such as the Jharkhand Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to defeat the ruling Trinamul Congress.
Party leaders have the tough task of motivating activists when 95.6 per cent joined the party while the CPI-M was in government. They need to adapt.
In the 2003 panchayat polls the opposition Trinamul Congress and Congress was unable to field candidates in many panchayat areas. Now, it is the CPI-M that is facing this challenge ~ especially in the Junglemahal, Keshpur and Garbeta areas of the district.
In West Midnapore, the CPI-M has a majority in the zilla parishad, panchayat samitis and the gram panchayats. Yet the scene at the grassroots has gone through a sea-change since the 2011 Assembly elections. A senior district secretariat member of the party said elected CPI-M gram pradhans are being "coerced" into signing important financial proposals on rural development that they don't even support.
Party leaders allege that many block development officers are taking sides and pursuing the projects, ignoring the pradhans. They fear the Trinamul Congress might implicate the pradhans for corruption because the pradhans do not have control over expenditures.
Some party leaders want these pradhans to put in their papers and go on the offensive against the Mamata Banerjee government, well ahead of the panchayat polls. They are waiting for Alimuddin Street to take a decision on this issue.
The CPI-M won the polls in the last panchayat election in Jhargram subdivision, which is largely forested.    But, now most of the panchayats are virtually defunct due to the long absence of panchayat functionaries.  Hundreds of party members have had criminal charges slapped on them or are unable to return to their homes, a situation the Marxists didn’t face during their long stint in government.
"We have remained vigilant on the day-to-day developments in Junglemahal," said a CPI-M district secretariat member. "If the situation requires it, we will either support or make arrangements with the Jharkahand Party and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to defeat the Trinamul Congress in the coming panchayat polls."
Party insiders said the party is going to hold extended panchayat sub-committee meeting within a few months to frame a strategy to win back the hearts of rural residents ahead of the crucial panchayat polls scheduled for next year.
Party insiders consider the meeting very important, as the party leadership is likely to adopt policies to stop the Trinamul Congress from gaining any further ground in the rural parts of the district.

Development of Digha, Sankarpur gets boost

20 April 2012

biswabrata goswami
DIGHA, 20 APRIL: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee's plan to transform the state's popular sea resort ~ Digha ~ into a more popular tourist destination, like Goa, seems to be moving at a good pace. The Digha-Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) is planning to set up an ethnic spa and health club on 3.5 acres of land near the beach at Digha.
The DSDA has already floated a tender inviting applications from single entities, joint ventures or consortiums having technical expertise, financial capability and operational experience in a related sector on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer basis for a period of 30 years.
The state government, meanwhile, has asked Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) to prepare a "pre-feasibility study" for setting up of a ropeway from Old Digha to New Digha. "We have requested the IL&FS to start a pre-feasibility study in this regard. The study is to examine things starting from availability of land to safety measures,” said Mr Soumen Pal, executive officer of the DSDA. Mr Pal said that the 7.5-km long proposed ropeway will not only attract tourist but also serve as an urban transportation facility, which will eventually ease the load on the roads.
Talking about the development plans, Mr Pal said: "Survey works on a sewerage and drainage system in Digha have already been completed by the state public health engineering and urban development departments. A proposal to build an advanced sewerage and drainage system in Digha has also been sent to the state government.” “With the rise in the numbers of tourists, the pollution level has also risen. Digha, which was once called the 'Brighton of the East', has turned into a garbage-filled spot with plastic littered everywhere. But, this will no longer be the scene of Digha when the sewerage and drainage system is introduced," said Mr Ashok Bishal, a Trinamul Congress zilla parishad member.
Following the chief minister's recent visit to Digha, the administration has taken steps to develop infrastructure and include Tajpur within the DSDA in an attempt to develop the Digha-Mandarmani-Tajpur area as a tourism circuit like Goa. In addition, the state government is taking steps to renovate and widen at least three roads in the area. “Works for transforming the existing Digha bypass road into double lane have already been started and a fund of Rs 60 lakh for lighting the beach with LED lamps has been sanctioned,” said Mr Pal. The state government has also set up a separate police station at Digha railway station to look after law-and-order situation of 11 railway stations falling under its jurisdiction. This apart, the Digha Science Centre, one of the satellite units of the National Council of Science Museums, Union ministry of culture, has recently opened two new galleries to attract more tourists.

Maoists plan to re-launch movement

16 April 2012

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MIDNAPORE, 16 APRIL: Maoists plan to re-launch their movement with “renewed vigour” as a part of their regrouping process in Junglemahal.
The rebels recently held a secret meeting at Kanimohuli village in Jamboni in Jhargram which borders neighbouring Jharkhand. The meeting was held on Saturday when the rebels had called a 48-hour bandh in districts along the inter-state borders of Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha demanding a hike in prices of kendu leaves, a source of livelihood for tribals in summer. According to sources close to the organisation, those present included Maoist central committee leader Prasanta Bose alias Kishanda; Sabyasachi Panda, a newly-appointed leader for West Bengal; the party's state secretary of Odisha, Ashim Mondol alias Akash; and Jayanta, a resident of a village which is near  Kanimohuli. This apart, many other leaders who are active in Jharkhand had attended the meeting, a Central Intelligence agency officer said.
As Maoists are now on the defensive in West Bengal following the death of their Politburo leader Kishenji in an encounter with the security forces in November last, they have now consolidated themselves in Jharkhand and Odisha. To reactivate their movements in Junglemahal, the rebels had earlier held a similar meeting at Laboni forest in Belpahari in West Midnapore where senior leader Kishenji had led the meeting.
Sources in the Intelligence agencies said: “The rebels in Saturday's meeting had mainly concentrated their discussion on the re-establishment of their bases among the tribal populace in Junglemahal. They have come to a point that they will not launch any individual killing, if there is no need to do it.”
Admitting this decision, a Maoist leader said: “We will now give priority on vital issues which mainly concern poor people, farmers and tribals. This time, we will launch movement for the sake of Junglemahal people and obviously the movement will be carried out peacefully.” The rebels are demanding a 20 per cent hike in the prices of kendu leaves, which are used for manufacturing bidi. Two types of kendu leaves are sold: dry and raw.
At present, raw kendu leaves are priced at Rs 60 per bundle and the dry leaf at Rs 120. Each bundle contains 2,000 leaves. Sources said Maoists are demanding that the government pay Rs 70 and Rs 140, respectively, for every bundle of raw and dry kendu leaves.
Meanwhile, as Maoist-hit states like Jharkhand and Odisha have stressed the need for a coordinated action against the rebels, the West Bengal government has already sent the elite CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) force, especially trained for jungle warfare, from Junglemahal.
The decision to assist the neighbouring states was taken recently based on the fact that Maoist activitiy in Junglemahal is not so strong now as it was in the past three years.

Govt set to recruit panchayat workers

15 April 2012

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TAMLUK, 15 APRIL: With an eye on the panchayat poll, the state government is all set to recruit 7,000 panchayat workers across the state. This comes days after the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee, lavished more sops on the minority community, including new loan schemes, monthly honorarium and housing subsidy for imams in the state and an employment bank.
Outlining plans undertaken for filling up vacant posts in almost every panchayat across the state, Trinamul leader and Union minister of state for rural development, Mr Sisir Adhikari, said: “Thousands of posts in panchayats are lying vacant for years and because of this work at the panchayat level is being hampered. To speed up the work, we will recruit 7,000 panchayat workers across the state and the recruitment will be completed within two months.”
Mr Adhikari said the erstwhile Left Front government bungled while recruiting panchayat workers. “As a result, an unprecedented number of cases against various recruitment were lodged and our government is now facing a problem. This time, all district magistrates have been asked to deal all recruitment process with utmost sincerity,” said Mr Adhikari.
In a letter (memo no 58(40)/C dated 13.3.2012), Mr Parwez Ahmad Siddiqui, district magistrate of East Midnapore, has given an instruction to all officials to maintain some vital criterion so that the recruitment process is done with utmost care. “It has been seen in the past couple of years that there has been a huge number of recruitment done in ASHA, GP Sahayak, ANM and ICDS and it has been seen that most of these recruitment process has drawn several court cases….It has been seen in many cases that the court cases have arisen because of certain gaps or lack of transparency in the process of recruitment wherein the more deserving candidates somehow could not get an opportunity,” it read.
Mr Siddiqui has also mentioned in the letter that there were many court cases on the grounds that essential eligibility, qualification certificates or documents were either not received or deliberately removed from the application form thus paving the way for selection of lesser eligible candidates.
He has warned that proper departmental action would be taken if any officer is found negligent while dealing with the recruitment process.
Mr Adhikari said: “Our government always wants fair selection in any recruitment process and, accordingly, the recruitment of 7,000 panchayat workers would be fair.”
The panchayat poll, due in May next year, is being seen as the first trial of strength for the Trinamul Congress since it assumed office.

Monsoon victims see ray of hope

13 April 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 13 APRIL: Residents of Kolaghat, Tamluk and Mahisadal blocks in Midnapore East district who spend their days with bated breath every year during the monsoon may heave a sigh of relief at least this year as the state irrigation department has geared up to repair embankments of Rupnarayan river.
 “The department has already allotted Rs 3 crore for this and work is likely to start soon. We hope that we will be able to check erosion of Rupnarayan river which has already engulfed vast areas in Tamluk,” said Mr Soumen Mahapatra, state water resources irrigation and development minister.
  While the river has been eating into its embankment at Natunbazar in Kolaghat, it continues to erode its embankment along three kilometers from Pyratungi to Dakshin Chara Sankarara in Tamluk and Bar Amritberia and adjoining villages in Mahisadal over the past months. Some stop-gap measures were undertaken by the irrigation department to check erosion and subsidence, but these were of no use.  Last year, most of the blocks were severely affected by the floods because the state irrigation department had not taken any proper steps to check the problem. According to the Midnapore East district Flood Control Committee leaders, vast areas in about 200 mouzas of Kolaghat, Panskura, Tamluk and Sahid Matangini blocks remained submerged in water for over three months when the region was flooded in late monsoon.
The farmers had failed to grow paddy and cultivation of boro crops had suffered drastically affecting farmers. Those into betel cultivating and pisciculture had also been affected by the storms.  The reason for stagnation of accumulated water is that the only two water outlets in the area ~ the Soadighi khal and the Gangakhali khal ~ remain choked every year owing to lack of de-siltation over the years, the affected farmers said.
 Originating from Narayan-Pakuria-Murail, the 19-km stretch of Soadighi khal flows into the Rupnarayan at Saira.  The 21-km Gangakhali khal, emanating from Panskura, also flows into Rupnarayan but at the Radhaballavpur point.
A senior irrigation department official said: “The state government has already taken up the matter and work will start soon”.  A senior irrigation department officer said: “The long-pending drainage basin project involving the Keleghai, Kapaleswari and Baghai rivers in the flood-prone East and West Midnapore districts has already got the green light.
The Rs 650.38-crore project for the two districts, which are struck by calamity almost every monsoon, was recently inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee who had taken a keen interest in its implementation.”
 Apart from the three rivers, two other rivers ~ Chandia and Deuli ~ also featured in the scheme for excavation up to 141 km and strengthening their embankments, the officer added.  Meanwhile, the state government has received an assurance from the World Bank for financial assistance in minor irrigation projects in the state. “The World Bank will provide aid for Rs 1,250-crore minor irrigation project in the state,” Mr Mahapatra said.

Arms seem to matter for Maoist rehab plan

12 April 2012

biswabrata goswami 
 JHARGRAM, 12 APRIL: The West Bengal government seems to be completely unresponsive in moving forward with its own rehabilitation and financial package for Maoists who wish to surrender without arms.
 This has apparently come true as many youths who have claimed themselves as Maoists in Junglemahal are willing to surrender before the state government, but police are virtually not responding to them.
  Frustrated with the local police and security forces, around 22 Maoists had recently shot off a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee saying they were willing to surrender before the state government.
 “But, we've received no response from the chief minister so far. Fifty youths who had worked for Maoist squads in Junglemahal are willing to return to the mainstream. But as they do not possess any arms now, police are not interested in them,” a Maoist squad member in Belpahari said.
 To encourage Maoists to surrender arms and join the mainstream, the state government had revamped the surrender and rehabilitation package for Maoists in August last year just after the new government took charge.
 The state government had also enhanced the rehabilitation package to Rs 50,000 to former Maoist cadres at the time of surrender. Moreover, they will get a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 for two years. Earlier, the stipend was given for three years. The state government will also give another Rs 2 lakh as fixed deposit which they will be entitled to withdraw after two years. In the earlier package, the rebels were given only Rs 1.5 lakh as fixed deposit which they could withdraw after a period of three years.
 The state government has even decided to set up separate transit camps to house the surrendered Maoists and revamp the surrender and rehabilitation package in order make it more attractive.
A senior police officer, who is not willing to be named, said: “At present, we are looking for Maoist leaders Akash and Bikash. Most Maoist leaders wanted by police in Junglemahal have either been arrested or surrendered before the state government. A few of them are hiding in other states. Those who worked as Maoist linkmen are now willing to surrender to avoid arrest. So, we are not interested in them as they do not possess arms.”
 During the announcement of special rehabilitation package for Maoists, Miss Banerjee had said: “Those surrendering could join the state government in its efforts to develop areas like Jangalmahal…We assure them of a life of total security on grounds of humanity and are welcoming anyone who comes forward to work towards development, peace and progress by laying down their arms and joining the mainstream.”

KoPT passes the buck for project failures

11 April 2012

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HALDIA, 11 APRIL: The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) authority has apparently misled the West Bengal government on the Farakka water discharge issue to cover up its failures in implementing major development projects which were taken up in the past few years at an estimated cost of Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 crore.
The issue came to light when the port's hydraulic study department revealed disclosed that the Farakka water has little impact on the Hooghly Estuary below Shalukkhali, Haldia and Diamond Harbour. They also said that the water from  the Farakka is insignificant in relation to the total amount of sea water which enters into the river during the high tide.
The matter escalated when Miss Mamata Banerjee, allegedly influenced by the KoPT chairman ML Meena, said that the ports of Haldia and Kolkata are drying up because of the flow of excess water to Bangladesh through  Farakka Barrage.
The Centre had also ordered a probe into Miss Banerjee's allegations of a conspiracy behind the breaches in the two gates of the Farakka Barrage. However, officials said that there is no question of sabotage and the damage was accidental.  River transport companies revealed that the available draft in the river beyond Nabadwip had dropped by one metre to 1.5 metres against the minimum requirement of 2.5 metres and the KoPT authorities were apprehensive of shoaling of the river at Hooghly point from March end.  “The water level in the Hooghly goes up by four to five metres and vessel movements take place during high tide." said a senior port official. "  " It is just a conspiracy to put the blame on the Farakka water discharge system in order to cover up the failed implementation of projects which were conceived by KoPT chairman Mr Meena," he added. The projects are estimated to be worth Rs 6000 to 7000 crore. The KoPT had planned several major projects, including setting up Haldia dock-II at Shalukkhali, a deep-drafted port at Sagar Island and a container terminal at Diamond Harbour.  It also wanted the initiation of trans-loading facilities connecting cargo handling at Konika Sands in Odisha with outer terminal-I at Haldia. A senior port official said that these projects were abandoned either because of techno-economic reasons or because they are entangled in legal battles with Odisha.  He also said that the KoPT chairman had furnished improper statements on the Farakka water discharge issue before the chief minister to cover up his failures. Mr Meena, however, was not available for his comment.

Techno-economic reasons block KoPT’s new projects

9 April 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 9 APRIL: The Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has failed to implement any major project planned in the past few years, allegedly for techno-economic reasons.
This has come at a time when the UPA government is all set to chart a road map to ensure the timely implementation of existing projects and enhance investments in the languishing port sector.
In the past few years, the KoPT had envisaged several major projects, including setting up Haldia dock-II at Shalukkhali, a deep-drafted port at Sagar Island and a container terminal at Diamond Harbour. It also wanted the  initiation of trans-loading facilities connecting cargo handling at Konika Sands in Odisha with outer terminal-I at Haldia. But none of these projects have been implemented.
In February 2011, Miss Mamata Banerjee, the then Union railways minister, laid a foundation stone for Haldia dock-II at Shalukkhali at an estimated investment of several thousand crores. It was then said there was a draft of 9 to 9.5 metres at Shalukkhali and the water-level would be consistent throughout the year, which was ideal for setting up a new port with a better draft.  The contract for a feasibility study for the port at Shalukkhali  was given to Rites Ltd. Proposals were also invited to construct the port on a private partnership model. But, in reality the water level at Shalukkhali is much lower than what was announced before the Assembly elections. The maximum draft at Shalukkhali is 8.2 metres, against the initially declared draft of 9 to 9.5 metres. The project, accordingly, may not see the light of the day. According to port officials, at about the same time, Miss Banerjee had laid the foundation stone for a deep-drafted port at Sagar Island at an estimated investment of several thousand crores. Construction of a container terminal at Diamond Harbour was also envisaged. The contract for the feasibility study for the deep-drafted port at Sagar Island and container terminal at Diamond harbour was also given to Rites. But, RITES in its report has clearly indicated that a deep-drafted port at the identified location is not possible for technical and economic reasons. Finally, this project was put on hold by the board members of KoPT.  The KoPT had planned to extend its port limits up to Konika Sands in Odisha, to set up trans-loading facilities, connecting cargo handling at Kanika Sands in Odisha with Outer Terminal-1 at Haldia. But, extension of KoPT limits up to Konika Sands has been scrapped by the Odisha High Court. The KoPT then moved the Supreme Court for stay of the Odisha High Court order and it has decided not to proceed with the mid-stream trans-loading project tendering process, despite receiving a breather from the Supreme Court. Thus, transloading of cargo at Konika Sands is also in doldrums.
All major port development projects envisaged at a total investment of Rs 6,000-Rs 7,000 crore are either not possible because of techno-economic reasons or entangled in legal battles with neighbouring Odisha, according to a senior port official. 

Seth in fresh trouble

6 April 2012

Bank asks Lakshman’s NGO to clear dues within 60 days
biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 6 APRIL: Lakshman Seth, who is now in judicial custody after being arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with the Nandigram violence, is now in fresh trouble after his non-governmental organisation (NGO) ~ ICARE ~ received a notice by Syndicate Bank asking it to repay its Rs 10.16 crore debt within two months.
The bank's branch at Rashbehari Avenue, Kolkata, had extended ICARE a credit facility of Rs 22.40 crore after the NGO gave away 61.60 acres in Haldia's Hateberia Mouja as mortgage. The land was given in two installments ~ 24.62 acres initially and 36.98 later.
Since its inception, the NGO of the former member of Parliament from Tamluk and CPI-M party strongman in Haldia built several educational institutions ~ Haldia Institute of Technology, Haldia Law College, Haldia Maritime Institute and 16 other educational institutions ~ on the two plots. However, ICARE defaulted in repaying some installments in the recent past.
“As you have defaulted in repayment of your liabilities, we have classified your accounts as non-performing assets as on 30.12.2011, in accordance with the directions or guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India," said the bank notice.
It also said: “We hereby call upon all of you to discharge in full your liabilities to us within a period of 60 days from the date of this notice, failing which we will be exercising the powers under section 13 of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Asset and Enforcement of Security Interest Act against the secured asset mentioned above. The powers available to us under section 13 of the Act, inter alia includes: (i) power to take possession of the secured assets of the borrower including the rights of transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale for realising secured assets and (ii) take over the management of the business, including the right to transfer by way of lease, assignment or sale and realise the secured debit, and any transfer of secured asset by us shall vest in the transferee all rights in relation to the secured asset transferred as if the transfer had been made by you”.
Mr Anjan Sen, chief executive of ICARE, said: “This type of notice to an organisation is nothing new. We have paid some installments to the bank, but could not repay a few recently. We have reached this situation as a good number of students have dropped from courses and, thereby, costs have increased. We have written to the bank urging it to hold a meeting with us because we are capable of repaying the debt.” However, the notice has triggered sensation among the students of various ICARE-run institutions. Some have alleged that they have been victimised by  the ICARE authorities as no campus interview was held this year.

Absconding CPM men get security

4 April 2012

Intelligence report puts cops in dock
biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 4 APRIL: Some CPI-M leaders who are at large after being accused in various crimes in West Midnapore district are enjoying police security.
A report of the Union Intelligence agency which has revealed the fact has put the district administration in trouble. In a letter written on 30 March this year to the district superintendent of police, the Union intelligence agency has asked the district police whether the leaders who were given police security in the last financial year in West Midnapore need security this year.
According to intelligence agency report, 14 persons, including some CPI-M leaders, are enjoying police security for the past few years owing to the threat given by Maoists. Of the CPI-M leaders, Sheikh Khaliluddin, a CPI-M local committee member in Lalgarh who is wanted in the Netai carnage case, is enjoying police security while police have repeatedly informed the court that he was absconding.
On 7 January 2011, nine villagers were gunned down and 22 persons injured allegedly by the CPI-M armed cadres at Netai village. The CBI has accused 20 CPI-M leaders in connection with the case. Among the accused, six CPI-M leaders, including Khaliluddin, Anuj Pande, Chandi Karan, Phullara Mondol, Tapan Dey and Joydev Giri, are still at large.
Similarly, Anil Mahato, a CPI-M Banspahari local committee secretary who is also an accused in a murder case, is being provided police security. Police security is being given to Tarun Roy, a district secretariat member who is absconding after being accused in the Benachapra skeleton recovery case.
As Maoists had threatened Trinamul leaders over the demand of withdrawal of security forces from Junglemahal, a wary district administration had strengthened security of all MLAs and senior political leaders in the Maoist-hit areas last year.
The administration had decided to provide four security personnel each to all four Trinamul MLAs from the area. Earlier, two security personnel used to guard an MLA from the area.
The administration had also decided to provide security cover to an MLA whenever he/she visits areas in Junglemahal. Other political leaders on Maoist hit-list, too, were provided security. Sources in the Central Intelligence agencies said Maoists had prepared a list of 22 Trinamul leaders who would be attacked last year. Four Trinamul Congress MLAs were on top of the list. The hit-list was prepared at a meeting in the jungles of Jharkhand.
"But, after the death of the rebels’ top leader Kishenji, security provision to the leaders should be checked further and hence the letter was written to the district police,” sources close to the Union intelligence agency said.
Mr Sukumar Hansda, a Trinamul Congress MP from Jhargram, said: “How is it possible. I will talk to the district police and civil administration about it." Mr Praveen Tripathi, superintendent of police, was not available for comments.

Human trafficking on the rise in Junglemahal

3 April 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 3 APRIL: The number of people missing from Maoist-hit Junglemahal in West Midnapore has increased manifold in the past three years, triggering fears that more persons are being trafficked from the region than before.
Social activists have blamed poverty, lack of job opportunities and political instability for the rise in the number of “missing” persons. According to figures available with the district administration, the number of “missing” people in eight blocks of Jhargram sub-division in West Midnapore has gone up to 184 between 2009 and 2011 while it was 73 between 2006 and 2008. The most alarming figure the report has thrown up is not the increase in “missing” people in the whole district but the rise in the number in the eight blocks of Maoist-hit tribal area in Jhargram.
“The situation is alarming in Sankrail, Binpur-II, Gopiballavpur-I and Nayagram blocks of Jhargram and with the political instability for the past four years, acute poverty, lack of job opportunities and unprecedented violence, these figures are bound to rise. It is time a proactive intervention programme is devised for the region,” said Ms Swathi Dutta, a social activist associated with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Asked if the increase in the number of “missing” cases was actually a sign that people were becoming more aware and were filing complaints in various police stations on the slightest suspicion, the activist replied in the negative. “The figures are only the tip of the iceberg and the number of complaints has increased because the number of trafficked people in every place has increased,” said Ms Dutta. According to reports submitted by various agencies before the district administration, most of these people are trafficked by middlemen locally known as agent or dalal, some are by their near relatives or even family members. The situation is alarming as there is no trace of where about 10 per cent of these people are.
“These people, mostly girls between 15 to 18 years and their parents, become easy prey of agents who lure them with attractive packages and lifestyle. These trafficked girls are subjected to worst kind of economic and physical exploitation at various metros in our country. It is strange that the administration has no proper information or data bank for these trafficked girls,” said an officer of the district social welfare department.
“During the tough periods when political clashes often occurred in tribal villages in the past three years, many earning members of the tribal families were forced to join the armed camps.
Police are also responsible for increased trafficking as this issue is not prioritised enough. The geographic condition of Jhargram is such that it forms an easy transit point for trafficking, said a social welfare officer.

People bracing up for drinking water crisis

30 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 30 MARCH: With temperature soaring each passing day, an acute drinking water crisis is looming large in rural areas of East Midnapore district. Thousands of people across the district are facing a shortage of drinking water as most of the water supply schemes is yet to be implemented due to financial crisis.
Around 5,000 tube-wells spread across 25 blocks of the district have gone dry as the groundwater levels have receded. The water that can be drawn from the remaining 4,000-odd tube-wells is insufficient, local residents said.
Places like Chandipur, Nandigram and Sutahata have been witnessing frequent altercations and even fisticuffs between villagers queuing up for water from private sources like tube-wells and submersible pumps.
Meanwhile, indiscriminate pumping of water by various means has taken a toll on the groundwater level in the coastal areas of the district. The situation in blocks like Moyna, Patashpur-I and II, Bhagawanpur-I and II, Khejuri, Contai, Chandipur, Nandigram-I and II, Tamluk, Haldia, Panskura and Kolaghat is alarming since lakhs of farmers in these blocks, cut off from surface water sources, are relying heavily on groundwater for irrigation. As growers drilled more ~ and deeper ~ wells without seeking permission from the administration, experts say there is a danger that more water will be drawn from aquifers. Groundwater pumping to irrigate crops is a normal practice, but in dry months without supplementation of surface water supplies, it is a must.
Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of zilla-parishad said: “Some blocks are facing an acute drinking water shortage because we are unable to install new tube-wells at all places. We have sought Rs 10 crore from the state public health engineering department. If the minister sanctions the fund, we can combat the situation during the summer.”
Mr Hossain said 15 water supply schemes at various blocks  have been put on hold as power connection has not yet been established in the project areas.
District magistrate Parvez Ahmed Siddiqui said: “We have taken measures to contain the situation by implementing schemes under the Sajaldhara and other PHE projects across the district.”