Latest news with #DurgaPujaCarnival
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mamata Banerjee hikes Durga Puja grant to Rs 1.10 lakh, waives taxes; oppn sees 'West Bengal poll gift'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee increased the Durga Puja grant to Rs 1.10 lakh for 40,000 committees, also waiving taxes and offering electricity concessions. This move, praised by organizers, has drawn criticism from the opposition, who view it as a politically motivated tactic ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hiked the Durga Puja grant to Rs 1.10 lakh for 40,000 committees, waived taxes, announced an 80 per cent electricity concession, drawing cheers from organisers and criticism from the opposition ahead of the 2026 assembly a mega coordination meeting of Puja committees at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here, Banerjee said the enhanced financial assistance, up from Rs 85,000 last year, was a recognition of Durga Puja's cultural significance and its status as a UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage."Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration. It is the lifeline of Bengal's cultural identity, our 'praner utsab' (festival of the heart). We are proud that UNESCO has recognised this. It's our collective responsibility to preserve that glory," Banerjee told a packed audience of organisers and top with the increased grant, Banerjee announced an 80 per cent concession on electricity bills for Puja pandals, a waiver of all state government fees, including fire licence charges, and complete exemption from taxes by civic agencies like the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, panchayats, and municipalities."This year, no fees will be charged by the fire brigade, civic bodies or any other state-run service provider. We are standing by you so that you can organise the Puja without financial stress," Banerjee announcements came amid rising prices of essential materials and services that have burdened Puja committees, especially in semi-urban and rural Bengal. For many organisers, the state grant is now the financial backbone of their the evolution of the grant, Banerjee recalled how the state had begun with Rs 10,000 in 2018 and progressively increased it in response to inflation and rising costs of grant went up to Rs 25,000 in 2019, doubled to Rs 50,000 during the pandemic, and further rose to Rs 85,000 in Thursday's announcement, it has now jumped by another Rs 25, CM also announced that this year's Durga Puja Carnival will be held on October 5, with immersion scheduled between October 2 and the need for a safe and inclusive Puja experience, Banerjee issued a detailed set of guidelines, Puja committees must ensure CCTV surveillance, drone monitoring, watch towers, women-friendly arrangements, and separate entry-exit points at pandals."I urge all organisers to keep ambulances ready, maintain crowd control, ensure proper lighting at immersion ghats, and avoid any mishaps," she said 300 ambulances, procured from her MPLAD fund, may also be used for the also asked Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police to work in perfect coordination, and advised the Metro Railway and transport department to run additional services during the festive a poignant appeal, the CM urged Puja committees to extend a hand to returning migrant workers."Many of them are coming back home after facing torture and hardship. Let's stand by them, show solidarity during this festive time," she said, urging everyone not to harbour any revengeful attitude in retaliation, which is not our culture as different communities live in harmony here for and the ruling Trinamool Congress have been alleging that migrant workers of West Bengal are facing torture in BJP-ruled the state had faced criticism from some civil society groups and legal challenges in earlier years over the practice of disbursing public funds for religious festivities."Some even went to court saying Mamata Ji doesn't allow Durga Puja or Saraswati Puja. And yet, when we organise coordination meetings and support these festivals, they object," Banerjee said, taking a veiled swipe at said while 45,000 pujas are held across West Bengal, around 3,000 of them are held in the out that lakhs of people, including foreigners, visit the aesthetically designed pandals in the city on Puja days, she said, "We have to ensure those visiting marquees are helped, and shown due respect"..However, the opposition wasted no time in calling the move a "politically motivated handout"."Why stop at Rs 1.10 lakh? Make it Rs 2.10 lakh! It won't change anything. First, clear pending dearness allowance dues to government employees and fill up the six lakh vacant government posts," a state BJP leader remarked sarcastically."Wait and watch, next she will raise the Imam and Muezzin honorarium too," he of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari and others in the BJP alleged that the move was aimed at "buying favour" from thousands of local clubs and community organisers ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.A similar leap in the grant was announced in 2023 ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha the criticism, TMC leaders asserted that Banerjee's initiatives reflect Bengal's inclusive cultural ethos."The CM believes that the spirit of religion is personal, but festivals are for all. Through this grant, she is empowering the people who keep our cultural fabric alive," said a senior TMC year, a few Puja committees had returned the government's grant amid the agitation over the death of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar had then said the state would divert the funds to new applicants. Whether those committees accept the increased grant this year is not yet known.
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Durga Puja organisers will get honorarium of ₹1.10 lakh: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the Durga Puja communities this year will receive an honorarium of ₹1.10 lakh, a hike of almost 30% from last year's ₹85,000. The announcement made ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls received criticism from the Opposition parties, who described the honorarium hike as a 'bribe'. Stating that there are about 45,000 Durga Puja clubs, Ms. Banerjee said that the honorarium is going to cost ₹495 crore to the State exchequer. The CM also urged electricity supply companies to give an 80% rebate to the clubs. 'Last year the sum was ₹85,000, this year how much you want?' asked Ms. Banerjee while addressing a gathering in Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium. 'Let us fix it as ₹1.10 lakh this year,' she added. Highlighting the significance of the festival to the people of the State, the Chief Minister urged the organisers to focus on crowd management, and she advised the clubs not to compete with each other to draw large crowds. The clubs should engage more volunteers and have separate entry and exits at Durga Puja pandals, Ms. Banerjee said. The festival will be held in the last week of September, and the Durga Puja Carnival will be held on October 5. Ms. Banerjee urged the Durga Puja organisers to help the migrant workers who have returned to the State after facing harassment in BJP-ruled states. 'I request the committees to help migrant workers, who are returning to Bengal after facing torture in BJP-ruled states.' LoP hits out Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said that the CM can even pay ₹2 lakh to Durga Puja, but before that, she should pay the Dearness Allowance (DA) to employees. 'She should increase the salary of ICDS, Anganwadi workers, civic police volunteers and other contractual staff,' Mr. Adhikari said. The LoP also predicted that before the Assembly polls, Ms. Banerjee would hike the honorarium given to imams and muezzins by ₹500. The honorarium to Durga Puja clubs has on several occasions been challenged before the Calcutta High Court, and the State government has argued that the funds deemed to be used for increase in awareness on several issues. The Mamata Banerjee government had introduced an honorarium to committees organising Durga Puja in 2018, promising a sum of ₹10,000 to each club. In seven years the grant has increased by 11 times.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mamata Banerjee announces hike in grant for Durga Puja committees to Rs 1.10 Lakh this year, over Rs 500 crore to be spent from exchequer
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced an allowance of Rupees 1.1 lakhs for each Durga Puja committee of the state. The government also spent more than Rupees 350 crores from the exchequer to this allowance last year. According to the state administration sources, the total number of enlisted Durga Puja committees in West Bengal is more than 45,000 and the state government will have to pay more than Rupees 500 crores for this allowance from the exchequer. Addressing a meeting of Durga Puja organisers, Banerjee said the decision aims to support the committees in organising Bengal's biggest festival and to acknowledge their contribution to cultural and community life. 'The government stands by the people. Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration; it is a cultural festival that unites everyone. We want to ensure the organisers can manage expenses without stress,' Banerjee said. The chief minister also announced, that like other years, Durga Puja Carnival will be held on October 5. Before that, on October 2, 3 and 4, immersion of the Durga idol should be completed. Last year, the Mamata Banerjee government gave Rupees 85,000 to each Puja committee and the amount was increased from 75,000 to 85,000. 'This year also, we got nothing in the budget (Central Budget). We are a poor state. However, we have decided to increase the allowance to 85 thousand. Next year will make it one lakh,' the chief minister said. However, this year she increased the allowance by Rupees 10,000 more, a cost of Rupees 50 crore more for the exchequer. The Chief Minister on Thursday also announced that like other years, this year also the Puja committees will have to pay nothing for any licenses including for a fire license. Last year, the puja committees got 75 per cent discount on electricity bill. This year, CM Banerjee said, electricity will be discounted to 80 per cent. A senior official of the Finance Department said, 'This is the last Durga Puja before the scheduled Assembly election in 2026. So, the ruling party wanted to attract Puja committees, to give them a hike of 25,000 from last year.' The allowance was Rupees 50,000 in 2021, which increased by Rupees 10,000 each in 2022 and 2023. Last year in 2024, it increased Rupees 15,000 and this year it increased Rupees 25,000. The Chief Minister also highlighted the hardships faced by Bengali-speaking individuals in various states across the country. '…Some of our people facing deadly torture in different states for speaking Bengali. My request to all Puja committees is that they should provide new garments to those who faced atrocities in different states for speaking in Bengali,' CM Banerjee said. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
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Business Standard
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
CM Mamata hikes Durga Puja grant to ₹110K, waives taxes for committees
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hiked the Durga Puja grant to Rs 1.10 lakh for 40,000 committees, waived taxes, announced an 80 per cent electricity concession, drawing cheers from organisers and criticism from the opposition ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. Addressing a mega coordination meeting of Puja committees at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here, Banerjee said the enhanced financial assistance, up from Rs 85,000 last year, was a recognition of Durga Puja's cultural significance and its status as a UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage. Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration. It is the lifeline of Bengal's cultural identity, our praner utsab' (festival of the heart). We are proud that UNESCO has recognised this. It's our collective responsibility to preserve that glory, Banerjee told a packed audience of organisers and top bureaucrats. Along with the increased grant, Banerjee announced an 80 per cent concession on electricity bills for Puja pandals, a waiver of all state government fees, including fire licence charges, and complete exemption from taxes by civic agencies like the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, panchayats, and municipalities. This year, no fees will be charged by the fire brigade, civic bodies or any other state-run service provider. We are standing by you so that you can organise the Puja without financial stress, Banerjee said. The announcements come amid rising prices of essential materials and services that have burdened Puja committees, especially in semi-urban and rural Bengal. For many organisers, the state grant is now the financial backbone of their celebrations. Tracing the evolution of the grant, Banerjee recalled how the state had begun with Rs 10,000 in 2018 and progressively increased it in response to inflation and rising costs of celebration. The grant went up to Rs 25,000 in 2019, doubled to Rs 50,000 during the pandemic, and further rose to Rs 85,000 in 2024. With Thursday's announcement, it has now jumped by another Rs 25,000. The CM also announced that this year's Durga Puja Carnival will be held on October 5, with immersion scheduled between October 2 and 4. Underscoring the need for a safe and inclusive Puja experience, Banerjee issued a detailed set of guidelines, Puja committees must ensure CCTV surveillance, drone monitoring, watch towers, women-friendly arrangements, and separate entry-exit points at pandals. I urge all organisers to keep ambulances ready, maintain crowd control, ensure proper lighting at immersion ghats, and avoid any mishaps, she said. Banerjee also asked Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police to work in perfect coordination, and advised the Metro Railway and transport department to run additional services during the festive days. In a poignant appeal, the CM urged Puja committees to extend a hand to returning migrant workers. Many of them are coming back home after facing torture and hardship. Let's stand by them, show solidarity during this festive time, she said. Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress have been alleging that migrant workers of West Bengal are facing torture in BJP-ruled states. Notably, the state had faced criticism from some civil society groups and legal challenges in earlier years over the practice of disbursing public funds for religious festivities. Some even went to court saying Mamata Ji doesn't allow Durga Puja or Saraswati Puja. And yet, when we organise coordination meetings and support these festivals, they object, Banerjee said, taking a veiled swipe at critics. However, the opposition wasted no time in calling the move a politically motivated handout. Why stop at Rs 1.10 lakh? Make it Rs 2.10 lakh! It won't change anything. First, clear pending dearness allowance dues to government employees and fill up the six lakh vacant government posts, a state BJP leader remarked sarcastically. Wait and watch, next she will raise the Imam and Muezzin honorarium too. Adhikari and others in the BJP alleged that the move was aimed at buying favour from thousands of local clubs and community organisers ahead of the high-stakes 2026 Assembly polls. A similar grant hike was announced in 2023 ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the TMC had improved its performance. Pushing back against the criticism, TMC leaders asserted that Banerjee's initiatives reflect Bengal's inclusive cultural ethos. The CM believes in the spirit of religion is personal, but festivals are for all'. Through this grant, she is empowering the people who keep our cultural fabric alive, said a senior TMC minister. Last year, a few Puja committees had returned the government's grant amid the agitation over the death of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar Hospital. Banerjee had then said the state would divert the funds to new applicants. Whether those committees accept the increased grant this year is not yet known.
