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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
With eye on Assembly polls, West Bengal CM hikes honorarium to community Durga Pujas by 30 %
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hiked the honorarium to community Durga Pujas in the state to ₹1.10 lakhs marking an almost 30 % increase from the ₹85,000 given to puja community last year. The hike in honorarium to community Durga Pujas months ahead of Assembly polls in the State, evoked strong reaction from Opposition parties who described it as a 'bribe' by the West Bengal's ruling party. Ms. Banerjee said that the number of Durga Puja clubs which organise community Puja in West Bengal is about 45,000 and going by the numbers the honorarium is going to cost ₹495 crore to the State exchequer. The Chief Minister also urged electricity supply companies to give 80 % rebate to the clubs organising Puja and said that all government 'Last year the sum was ₹85,000, this year how much you want. Should it be ₹90,000, ₹95,000, One lakh. Ok let us fix it is ₹1.10 lakh this year,' she announced amidst applause from Durga Puja organisers at a gathering in Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium. Highlighting that Durga Puja is the festival which is close to the hearts of every resident of the State, the Chief Minister told organisers that their focus should be crowd management and clubs should not compete with each other to draw large crowds. Ms. Banerjee advised the clubs to engage more volunteers and have separate entry and exits in Durga Puja pandals. The Durga Puja 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 Durga Puja committees to help migrant workers, who are returning to Bengal after facing torture in BJP-ruled states.' Opposition asks CM to release Dearness Allowance Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said that the Chief Minister can pay ₹2 lakhs to Durga Puja but before that she should pay the Dearness Allowance (DA) to employees. 'She should increase the salary of ICDS, Angandwadi workers, civic police volunteers and other contractual staff,' Mr. Adhikari said. The LOP predicted that before the Assembly polls Ms. Banerjee will 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's argument has been that the funds are to increase awareness on several issues including Safe Drive Safe Life. The Mamata Banerjee government had introduced 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. Last year Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court T.S. Sivagnanam had told Advocate General Kishore Dutta, representing the West Bengal government, that the state should consider giving ₹10 lakh to each organiser as that would be commensurate to conducting the puja, saying that ₹85,000 is nothing compared to the expenditure required to celebrate the Durga puja.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- 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.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Odisha man kills wife, mother-in-law; buries bodies and plants trees over them
BARIPADA: In what seems to be inspired by the plot of Malayalam blockbuster film Drishyam, a 32-year-old man of Mayurbhanj allegedly killed his wife and mother-in-law. He buried their bodies in his lemon orchard before planting banana trees at the site to hide the crime for over two weeks. Accused Debashis Patra, an ICDS worker, was arrested from Bada Nuagaon village under Kuliana police limits on Tuesday evening. The murder had taken place on July 12. Bodies of Patra's wife Sonali Dalai (25) and his mother-in-law Sumata Dalai were exhumed from the garden during afternoon hours. The heinous crime angered the locals so much that they resisted his arrest and wanted to teach Patra a lesson. Reinforcement was sent to escort him to the police station. Investigation revealed the 32-year-old even registered a missing person complaint with Kuliana police station on July 25 to mislead investigation. Sonali was Patra's second wife. They had married three years ago and have a one-year-old son. However, there were disputes between the couple and Sonali was staying at her parent's place in Ambdubi village under Shamakhunta block for some months.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Andhra Anganwadi pre-schools see 30 per cent surge in enrolment as parents opt out of costly private institutions
NELLORE: As corporate educational institutions allegedly continue to charge exorbitant fees, even for pre-schoolers, many parents are turning to government-run pre-schools under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, leading to a 30 per cent increase in enrolment this year. These institutions, functioning under the ICDS scheme, are gaining popularity for offering free early education. Currently, there are 2,934 Anganwadi centres across the district, including 2,705 main centres and 229 mini centres. Around 1,17,850 children have been enrolled, and they receive not only basic education through play-based learning methods but also nutritious food. Officials noted that enrolment in these government-run pre-schools has increased by 30 per cent compared to the previous year. "Many parents are unable to afford private school fees for such young children. Anganwadi centres provide structured early education without any financial burden," said Padmavathi, a parent from Atmakur division, who recently enrolled her four-year-old son in an Anganwadi.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Crime rate drops by 27% in Sri Sathya Sai district
Puttaparthi: Sri Sathya Sai District has seen a 27 per cent decline in crime compared to last year, said district superintendent of police V Ratna during the half-yearly crime review meeting at Sai Aram, Puttaparthi. The meeting, held under the directives of state DGP Harish Gupta, highlighted significant improvements in public safety. The SP reported a 36 per cent drop in murders and attempted murders, with the district ranking among seven in Andhra Pradesh recording a 41 per cent reduction in crime. She credited this success to a year-long special action plan and coordinated police efforts. Key discussions included progress on grave and non-grave cases, murder, POCSO, rape, dacoity, robbery, property crimes, vehicle thefts, missing persons, cheating cases, and road accidents . Updates on pending files, NBWs, and NDPS cases were also presented. Enhanced surveillance through CCTVs and drones, along with a planned Command Control system in Kadiri, aims to curb crimes against women and children. Initiatives like rowdy-sheeter counseling, Shakti app awareness campaigns, and community policing have further strengthened law enforcement. Preparations are underway for the Ganesh festival and Sri Sathya Sai Baba's centenary celebrations , expected to attract VIPs and devotees nationwide. SP Ratna thanked the District Collector for support, ensuring inter-departmental coordination for public safety. Additional public prosecutor Srujana stressed focusing on missing minor girls in POCSO cases, while transport officer Karunasagar Reddy discussed road safety measures . In recognition of outstanding service, 57 police personnel received appreciation certificates for speedy investigations, swift arrests, and reducing pending cases. DCO Ram Naik, ICDS PD Sridevi, fire officer Madhava Naidu, APPs, DSPs, and police inspectors from across the district were present.
