Ex-BSF jawan from Nadia tests positive for Covid-19

Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

KRISHNAGAR, 16 APRIL: An ex-BSF jawan, who is currently attached with Khidirpur dock as a security person, tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cumulative cases in the apparently 'non containment zone' district to six.

This time, the 55-year-old man, a resident of Charatal under Chapra police station area in Nadia, has been taken to the Kalyani S N R Carnival COVID-19 hospital, while his five family members including two minors have been sent to isolation center in the Covid hospital for observation, a senior district health official said.

Earlier, five persons including three children of a family at Srikrishnapur in Burnia under Tehatta police station area were tested positive for Covid-19. They were all sent to Beleghata ID hospital while eight other family members were sent to Rajarhat quarantine center in Kolkata on 28 March. The health department later identified 71 persons who came in contact with the afflicted persons and they were all taken in quarantine centers. Finally, these infected five persons were released from the hospital as they tested negative for Covid-19.

Within a few days, a new positive case has been found which triggered a fresh panic among the local residents.

As the panic gripped in the locality soon after the news spread, the district health department has begun tracking the persons who came in contact with the afflicted person. “We are collecting data from the locality about the movements of the infected person in the locality and their interaction with the neighbourers or relatives during his stay. For precautionary measures, we will keep the person who came in contact with the infected persons either in quarantine center or in home quarantine,” said a health official.

Meanwhile, the district administration and police have sealed the village and urged the villagers not to go out from their houses.

“We have sealed Charatala village for preventive measures asking villagers not to go out from their houses. We have also put up posters mentioning help line numbers across the area and asked the villagers to call at the helpline numbers for any type of help starting from food items, groceries to medical help. All help will be given to them by our panchayat levels workers and district police will also help them from round the clock till lock down is over,” a senior administrative official said adding “All roads connecting with the village have been sealed so that no one will either enter or go out from the village. Basically, we have put the entire village in quarantine.”

The local police have also swung into action to prevent any assembly in the locality. “We have started relaying our information to the villagers about do’s and don’ts. As the area is minority class dominated, we have pressed our vigil in the locality”, a police officer said.

According to a health official, the infected man came to Chapra from Khidirpur on 8 March after hiring a vehicle when he started feeling feverish. The health official was informed about his appearance in the locality on 10 March. He was then taken to Chapra hospital from where he was admitted in the Saktinagar district hospital. He was later taken to the isolation center in the Glocal hospital. During his stay in the Glocal hospital, his sample was sent to Kolkata and his report came to the district authority yesterday.

A local resident who did not wish to be named said the man at first was examined in a Kolkata hospital when he started feeling uneasiness. The Kolkata hospital suggested him to go to Rajarhat quarantine center for quarantine, but he fled from the quarantine center and reached his house at Charatala a few days ago. During his stay, he interacted with several people for at least two days and finally when he could not get rid from his ailments, he went to the Chapra hospital.

Kurukshetra university hosts South Asian Universities 

Festival (SAUFEST)

Biswabrata Goswami

KURUKSHETRA : The South Asian Universities Festivals, known as SAUFEST, an international cultural festival of the South-Asian Universities was recently held at Kurukshetra University in Haryana. The 13th version of the fest witnessed around 600 participants from 28 universities where six countries – Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mauritius and India took part in the grand fest from 24 to 28 February.  

Students from different universities across these six countries of the South-Asian region showcased their talent and respective cultures through music, theatre, fine arts, folk art, heritage, quiz, poetical symposium, debates, dances and paintings during the fest.

The students from various cultural backgrounds, customs and ethnicities that follow different beliefs and social values united at the Kurukshetra varsity auditorium and got a chance to interact with the bond of fraternity between different diversities in the Indian society.

The fest was combination of culture, a meld of social value, a symmetry of belief, and harmonize of rhythms that inspired and refreshed spirit of national integration and communal parallelism.

While inaugurating the fest on 24 February, D P Vats, Rajya Sabha MP and a retired Lt Gen said, “The SAUFEST at KU is a confluence of cultures of different countries. The festival is a symbol of peace, prosperity, cultural harmony and mutual love in South Asian region”.

“Despite being separated politically, these countries share common cultural values, cultural heritage, family system and way of thinking. By having the youth from different nations of South Asia on a common platform, they will learn about each other and contribute to harmony amongst nations, added Vats.

Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini said, “It is a matter of pride for the state of Haryana that KU has got the chance to host the 13th South Asian Cultural Festival”.

KU Vice-Chancellor Kailash Chandra Sharma, who flagged of the procession at the sports grounds of the varsity before the inaugural ceremony said the festival is attended by the foreign youth artists as well as youths from 28 universities in different states of the country.

Dr Sharma emphasised on the need to cultivate creativity and curiosity among the youth. He said, “It is an honour and a privilege to provide a platform to these leaders of tomorrow, to be a contributor to the synergy of their thoughts, and to be a participant in the process of building a better tomorrow for us all.”

A variety of cultural items such as folk orchestra, group song, Afghani dance, Haryanvi dance and giddha were presented by the hosts. 

Mr Tejinder Sharma, director, department of youth and culture of KU, said “South Asian art, culture, costumes and untouched aspects of the culture of different countries were showcased at KU-SAUFEST. The festival witnessed the culture of the entire South Asian region. The event aimed at spreading the message of love and brotherhood in the region.”

The Saufest is a noble concept of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) ensuing from a goal to promote active collaboration and mutual understanding amongst the South Asian countries in educational, social, cultural and economic fields.

Dr Ashok Kumar, assistant professor of Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology of KU said, “One of the key objectives of the festival is also to strengthen unity and harmony between the participating countries. It is the combination of the captivating poetry of footsteps with divine melodies of vocals and a cultural diversity of the South-Asian nations that creates a versatile and vibrant spectrum of youthfulness and unstoppable energy”.

Hundreds of students and family members enjoyed the festival continued for five days and they were witnessed the vibrant youthful spirit reflected every country’s culture under one umbrella.

Among the foreign countries, Afghanistan which has been suffering from civil war and fundamentalism of the Taliban for a long period put spectacular performance during the fest. “It proved that the traditional and folk music and their instruments continue to exist in the root of culture and people's life. The students from Afghanistan performed Herati, a folk music, Attan, a folk dance and Klasik, a traditional classical music which is under the influence of North Indian classical music.

The music of Bhutan is an integral part of its culture and plays a leading role in transmitting social values. Traditional Bhutanese music includes a spectrum of subgenres, ranging from folk to religious song and music.

The Bhutan delegates performed Cham dance, one of the most conspicuous religious musical subgenres in Bhutan, Zhungdra and Boedra dances.

The students from Nepal played Dohori, a folk music that has roots in the rural courtship traditions. This apart, they also performed popular songs known as sugam sangeet and classical songs.

The Bangladesh students who received huge applaud from audience performed different folk dances and songs.

Apart from foreign countries, Indian universities performed different folk dance, folk music and mimes. Among the Indian universities, Bharatiya Vidyapith, Baba Amravati university, Gandi Ghram university, University of Mumbai, Rajasthan university, Tamilnadu university, N L Mithila University, Bihar, Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab University, Chandigarh university, Vanasthali Vidyapeeth and Kurukshetra university received huge applause from the audience during their performance.

Md Mamun, assistant secretary of UGC, Bangladesh, who led a team said, “We are very much glad for grand reception by the host university and this type of fest help us to share our culture, ideas and thoughts”.

Kurukshetra is one of the oldest cities of the north Indian state of Haryana. It is known as the setting of the epic poem the Mahabharata.

Kurukshetra university is a NAAC Accredited A+ university in India and it has a sprawling campus spread over 473 acres.

A postman travels 106 km on his cycle everyday to continue his emergency duty due to lockdown

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 3 APRIL: With the Covid-19 is continuing to spread; the postmen have no respite from doing their jobs whatever the situation arises as it is being treated as emergency services.

So, a postman, Biswanath Das, is cycling 106 kilometers everyday to keep his duty running when the nationwide lockdown to snap the chain transmission of coronavirus has kept the public transport system stopped.

Das, who lives at Mirabazar in Plassey in Nadia and has to report for duty 53 kilometers away from Krishnagar Head Post Office, is a daily wager.

Since all means of public transportation including trains and buses have been suspended, he has no option rather than to take his bicycle to reach his office at Krishnagar Head Post Office.

Das, a 51-year-old man, said that postmen cannot afford to take long leaves during this time because many people’s ration cards and money orders continue to be delivered by post.

When asked if it is concerning to work on the frontlines and meet people day to day, Das said that all postmen were apprehensive and scared.

“We earn meager incomes and support our families. With Covid-19 looming over our head with its ugly face, we are scared of venturing into areas where there are reported cases. A colleague who covers around five kilometers of area says that he is concerned whether there may have been some transmission of the virus to him. We can never know about these things and only take precautions”, he said.

Das also said, “I always keep hand sanitiser in my bag when I go to deliver mails. I normally knock on the door and when anyone responds, I keep the mail on the ground in front of the door. The recipient then collects the mail. By this way, I can avoid any transmission. For the money orders, I first santise my hand and then I also put some drops of my sanitiser to the recipient’s hands. Following these, I then hand over money to the recipient who consequently put a signature on our papers”.

According to Das, there are five daily wagers who come from far places from Krishnagar Head Post Office. Two postmen come from Chapra which is around 15 kilometers from Krishnagar and one from Bethuadahari which is around 30 kilometers from Krishnagar. They also use either their cycles or motorcycles to reach the headquarters, Das said.

Echoing Das’s concern, a postal union leader said that expecting mail to be delivered during these dire times and expecting postal offices to be filled up was a concerning move by the Center.

“The permanent staff, who are also postmen and reside at far places from the headquarters have been posted at their nearest local post offices after considering the inconvenience of the lockdown while those postmen living at far places like Das and working as daily wagers have been forced to do their jobs from the headquarters. This should not be happened”, he alleged.

Amidst coronavirus pandemic, whitefly infestation may cause havoc in coconut and horticulture crops in the state

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 15 APRIL: Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, whitefly infestation has started causing widespread damages to coconuts and horticulture crops across the state.

The scientists of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV) have already sounded a warning bell on the increased bio-security risks arising from the uncontrolled exchange of plant materials.

Dr Dipak Kumar Ghosh, associate professor and officer-in-charge, ICAR AICRP on Palms, BCKV said, “The Rugose Spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus) is solely responsible for the widespread damages to coconuts and other horticulture crops. Initially, it was started in South India a few years back and now it has spread to other states including West Bengal”.

Dr Ghosh, who is conducting research along with Professor Partha Pratim Dhar, Entomologist of RRS, Sekhampur, said, “With the infestation of the flies, the upper most portion of the leaves turn blackish in colour due to fungal growth. The fungal growths then cover the greenish portion of the leaves thus reducing the photosynthesis. Gradually, the plant is weakened and finally it will die”.

“Last year, we had seen the infestation of the whitefly in the coconut trees, but this year, we are getting information from different parts of the state including Nadia that other horticulture crops have already been affected. As the chemical pesticides are not effective to kill the flies, we are conducting research on the usage of organic pesticides like neem oil, plant extracts etc. Though, usage of neem oil has little effect but plant extracts have knock-down effect”, said Dr Ghosh.

According to the scientists, whitefly is a polyphagous pest, which means it can consume various kinds of food. It feeds on more than 200 host plants, including coconut, areca nut, banana, guava, mango, colocasia, jackfruit and other ornamental plants that have a market value. Excessive feeding leads to excretion of honeydew which is deposited on the upper surface of the leaflets, resulting in the growth of sooty mould. This, in turn, causes disfigurement of the host, affecting photosynthetic efficiency of the plants.

When asked, Prof Dhar said, “RSW is an invasive insect infesting new area due to absence of its predator and parasitoids. For management of such invasive pests eco-friendly management strategies need to follow. First, quick suppression of this insect by using non-chemical methods. Secondly, to stop the spreading of the insect attacks following collective measures. Thirdly, the awareness of this insect attack among farmers. We have identified an organic that is plant extract ( Solanum Xanthocarpun and Plubago indicum)  is used in tea plantations against sucking insects.

Based on the above three principles farmers should immediately take measures collectively for quick suppression and spreading of this insect.”

“Hotter temperatures favour the growth of sucking insects such as whiteflies. The prolonged dry spell during June to September coupled with decreased relative humidity may appear to favour the spread of the pest in coconut plantations,” a BCKV researcher said.

Christians in Nadia observe Good Friday through online live streaming to avoid congregation in the wake of Covid 19 outbreak

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 10 APRIL: It’s been an experience that has never happened before as Christian’s in Nadia on Friday was seen either glued to online streaming or engaged in small prayers at one’s home, as the Good Friday mass in churches on account of COVID-19 spread has been limited to just five, including the priest and his associates.

Hundreds of Christians, today, observed Good Friday with prayers, hymns and messages of peace and reconciliation online, though it has not dampened their spirit to observe the anniversary of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.

Many people also participate in the church services specially on the day, but this year as everyone is grounded in their homes they had to participate in the online live streaming of the services.

Good Friday is a day of prayers, penance and fasting to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Calvary Hills nearly 2000 years ago. Churches observe it with a service that normally takes place in the evening where Christ’s death is remembered with hymns and special prayers.

At Krishnagar Cathedral Church, the Parish Priest Father Ongshu Gyen, Reverend Fathers John Biswas and Rakesh Mondol recalled Christ’s sacrifice for the entire humanity.

“Jesus was the epitome of love and forgiveness which he demonstrated on the Cross. He died so that we can be forgiven for our sins. His message of peace and reconciliation is so relevant in this era”, said reverend Biswas.   

He also said the celebration this time was quite different as it was observed without a congregation in church in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. All Christians observed the Holy Day sitting in their homes and practiced rituals by their own way to show honours to Jesus Christ, he added.

For Krishnagar Cathedral Church, the online service is being conducted by Avijit Louis Sarkar, a social worker who eventually said, “I have started online live service for prayers for the last few days and members of Christian community are feeling good for this live service”.

He said other Churches in Ranaghat and Chapra also took the advantage of the live online service and they also observed the Holy Day through this service.

Learning the teaching from the ‘Way of the Cross’ is the highlight of the Good Friday service. Hundreds of devout Catholics gather at Krishnagar Church each year to listen to mass and participate in it. The afternoon sermons narrate the tale of sufferings Jesus Christ took upon himself for the sake of humanity. “Choir and services adds essence to the day. Sadly, devout had not been able to make it to the church, but live streaming helped us all to soak in the blessings and worship of Lord Jesus, who sacrificed his life for us”, said a member of the Ranabandh Church in Chapra.

Chaitra sale now a distant dream for both sellers & buyers

  Biswabrata Goswami

(Statesman News Service)

KRISHNAGAR, 12 APRIL:  Chaitra Sale, the Bengali’s annual shopping festival ahead of Bengali New Year is now a distant dream to both sellers and buyers as the entire state is observing nationwide lockdown to contain Covid-19 infection.

Thousands of retailers and hawkers, who had stocked garments for selling in the season-end Chaitra sale trade, have started feeling the heat of the dreaded virus.

The month-long discount sale offered by the hawkers ahead of Bengali New Year attracts lakhs of people every year, but this time, all shops are closed and hawkers were not allowed to sit on the roadside near the markets due to lockdown.

This corresponded conducted a brief survey amongst the members attached to the domestic garment manufacture industry and hosiery trade at a few places in Nadia to get a sense of how the members were facing up to the current circumstances and how they were forecasting the period after lock-down was lifted.

An analysis indicates the significant crisis is brewing in the domestic garment industry and household hosiery small scale industry. Only a comprehensive support package from the government can cushion the potential collapse of these small scale industries.

“Our hosiery manufacturing industry is staring at close to Rs 16 crore per month in losses as production grinds to a halt amid the nationwide lockdown started from 25 March. We don’t know how we will manage the situation. There are around 20000 labourers attached with the industry and we are now maintaining their livelihoods at our own cost. If the situation persists for more weeks, it will be impossible to maintain our livelihoods”, said Tarak Ghosh, a resident of Anjanapara at Saktinagar in Krishnagar who runs a small scale hosiery industry.

In Saktinagar area alone, there are around 2000 small scale hosiery industry and all residents are attached with the industry.

“During Chaitra sale, I normally get orders for making garments and hosiery items worth of Rs 25000 per day, but this time, I have no orders as all shops are closed due to lockdown aimed to combat Covid-19 infection”, said Alok Saha, who also runs a tailoring industry in his house at Saktinagar.

Like Saktinagar, retailers and manufacturers of domestic garments and hosiery items living in Kalinagar are facing huge losses as production and sales have been stopped due to the restriction imposed for nationwide lockdown.

In Ranaghat, Chakdaha, Kalyani and Nabadwip, where lakhs of people rush to the markets for Chaitra sale, retailers and hawkers are facing the same financial constraints due to the impact of the lockdown.

“The North Bengal is an important market for Nadia traders. Since we depend majorly on Siliguri market, we are experiencing losses in business and are likely to face closure if the situation doesn’t improve,” said Govinda Saha, a wholesaler of hosiery and garment items.

He said 30% of the total stuff in the market is sent to Siliguri but to date none of the buyers has arrived this season. “If the situation continues for more weeks, our business will be in doldrums,” Saha added.

Health staff face social boycott even after warnings from chief minister

Biswabrata Goswami

Statesman News Service

MIDNAPORE, 13 APRIL: More than a hundred health staff attached to a private nursing home in Midnapore town are facing social boycott from their native villagers who suspect them of carrying novel coronavirus after being exposed to a Covid-19 positive patient.

This incident came into the light at a time when the chief minister Mamata Banerjee has recently asked her administration to ensure that doctors, nurses and health workers battling the spread of the dreaded virus do not face any discrimination.

“I am asking the administration to ensure that doctors, nurses and health workers don’t face any problem. They should not face social boycott. They are fighting to prevent the spread of the virus and it is our responsibility to ensure proper security for them,” the chief minister said after a meeting with top government officials at Nabanna in recent times.

Trouble broke out a few days ago when an elderly man tested positive for Covid-19 at Kalinga Hospital in Odisha. Before it, he was admitted in a private hospital in Midnapore town with other ailments. As his condition was not improving, his members took him away to the Kalinga hospital in Odisha where he tested positive for Covid-19.

Soon after the news spread, the West Midnapore district health department immediately swung into action and sealed the nursing home. The administration also sent 19 health staff including some doctors and nursing staff in a quarantine center for observation. Later, the reports of all samples taken from these health staffs found negative for Covid-19.

“But, as the nursing home has been closed for a temporary period, the health employees sought to go to their houses. The problem aroused when the villagers disallowed them to get entry into their houses. A total of 127 health staff hailed from different parts of the district including the district headquarters could not go to their houses as the local residents didn’t allow them to get entry into their locality. The local residents suspect they are carrying coronavirus as they were exposed to a Covid-19 positive patient”, said Partha Mondol, one of the directors of the nursing home.

“Among them, many staff reside either in different municipal wards or in the outskirts of the town. My housemaid, who is not attached with the nursing home, has not been allowed to go to her house even. So, we have kept all our staff in the nursing home premises and they are being provided foods and other essential things”, Mr Mondol said.

When asked, Dr Girish Chandra Bera, chief medical officer of health said, “This type of social boycott should not happen. These health staff are not only the victims; many of our health employees have faced the same consequences. I have asked the district police to look into this matter and conduct an awareness programme so that local residents are not unnecessarily panicked and they do not indulge in social boycott”.   

Mr Dinesh Kumar, superintendent of police, however, said he will take stringent action against those who will discriminate against any health staff or his/her family members in the society.