Category Archives: Regional

Misc, National, Regional, States

Problems related with speed breakers on Indian Roads

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Matar Singh, EOI, 4 May 2024 : Speed breakers on Indian roads have been a topic of much controversy and debate in recent years, as they pose several problems for both drivers and pedestrians alike. While speed breakers are installed with the intention of controlling vehicle speed and reducing accidents, they often end up causing more harm than good due to their design, placement, and maintenance issues. You can find small rumble type breakers , double speed bumps and even some where you will find humps of about 8 to 10 inch heights.

One of the main problems associated with speed breakers on Indian roads is that they are often poorly constructed and not properly maintained. Many speed breakers are haphazardly built using substandard materials, leading to uneven surfaces that can cause damage to vehicles and endanger the safety of drivers.

Additionally, the lack of regular maintenance and repair of speed breakers only exacerbates the problem, as they become more dangerous overtime. 
Another issue with speed breakers in India is their inconsistent design and placement. Speed breakers are often installed without considering factors such as visibility, traffic flow, and road conditions, leading to confusion and uncertainty among drivers. This lack of standardization in speed breaker design and placement can increase the risk of accidents and make navigating Indian roads even more challenging for motorists. In some states you can find speed breakers on state highways and national highways.

Furthermore, speed breakers can also have a negative impact on the environment and public health. The constant braking and acceleration required to navigate speed breakers can result in increased fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to air pollution and climate change. 
Additionally, the noise pollution caused by vehicles passing over speed breakers can disturb surrounding communities and have negative effects on the well-being of residents.
In addition, speed breakers in India are often used as a means of revenue generation by local authorities, leading to their indiscriminate placement and overuse. 
This practice not only undermines the intended purpose of speed breakers in promoting road safety but also reflects a lack of coordination and accountability within the transportation system. 
It is essential for policymakers to address this issue and ensure that speed breakers are installed and maintained in a responsible manner.
Moreover, speed breakers can also pose a threat to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks, which require smooth and uninterrupted access to reach their destinations quickly. The presence of speed breakers on Indian roads can hinder the response time of emergency services and potentially endanger the lives of those in need of urgent medical attention or rescue. 
Additionally, the proliferation of speed breakers on Indian roads can also have economic repercussions, as they can cause damage to vehicles and increase maintenance costs for drivers.
The repeated impact of vehicles passing over speed breakers can lead to wear and tear on suspension systems, tires, and other components, resulting in costly repairs and reduced vehicle lifespan. 
This added financial burden can be particularly challenging for low-income individuals and contributes to the overall economic strain on society.
In conclusion, the problems related to speed breakers on Indian roads are multifaceted and require a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address. 
The issues of poor construction, inconsistent design and placement, environmental impact, revenue-driven installation, obstruction of emergency services, and economic burden all underscore the urgent need for reform in the management of speed breakers. It is essential for policymakers, urban planners, and transportation authorities to work together to develop and implement sustainable solutions that prioritize road safety, efficiency, and the well-being of all road users in India.
This is my observations while travelling frequently by road from Durgapur to Tata, Purulia, Kolkata, Digha, Chandrakona Road, Bolpur, Tarapith, Dhanbad, Chittaranjan & Deoghar, nearby areas.
 (View s are the author’s own.)
National, Regional, States

The existence of journalism is under threat

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Reporters Without Borders puts the number at 108. In the first 50 days of the conflict, journalists were being killed at a rate of roughly one per day, making Gaza the most dangerous conflict for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping records in 1992

Editorial, EOI, 4 May 2024 : Journalism is under attack on an international scale, both from outside and from inside, as recent developments have revealed. The most glaring evidence of attack from outside is from war-torn Gaza, where a total of 97 journalists are estimated to have been killed since October last. 

Reporters Without Borders puts the number at 108. In the first 50 days of the conflict, journalists were being killed at a rate of roughly one per day, making Gaza the most dangerous conflict for journalists since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping records in 1992.Some of those were the inevitable ‘collateral damage’ of the conflict, caught in crossfire because they were working close to active fighting. 
But Israeli troops have also been accused of targeting many of the journalists because of their work. Many of them were reporting in the field and were clearly identifiable as journalists.
Others were killed by strikes that specifically targeted their homes. Of course, the life of a journalist is no more precious than that of anybody else, but the issue at stake is not the safety of journalists but the right to know. 
The trouble is, if journalism is criminalized, dismissed or sidelined as it tells inconvenient truths, capacity for sensible public debate will be lost in society. Thanks to social media, there is enough information available, but often full of rumour, conjecture and opinion. 
In the absence of professional journalists, what will be missing is information underpinned by the necessary journalistic rigor, without which it becomes impossible to filter out reliable fact from conjecture, rumour and pure fiction.
Not only Gaza, journalism is under unprecedented assault all over the world. The Committee to Protect Journalists has estimated that on December 1 last year there were 320 journalists in prison in the world. In an analysis of the charges the journalists are facing, the CPJ has found that almost two-thirds of them are being held on broadly described “anti-state charges,” like terrorism, sedition, and treason. 
The troubling conclusion is that governments have taken to treating journalism not as something that supports the state by upholding democratic values such as transparency, accountability and vibrant public debate; but as an existential threat.
The threat from within comes from social media which is now cornering an increasing share of advertising revenue. 
News outlets have relied for so long on advertising to sustain them. They will find it difficult to recover once the advertisement revenue goes elsewhere. 
Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism; because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. 
The business of most news outlets has been primarily about attracting attention, not delivering the best or highest quality news. Data on the shifting share of advertising, in Australia and elsewhere, makes clear the profound change of the last two decades. 
Money previously spent on print advertising and direct mail has migrated to search, social media, and online classifieds. 
Money spent on television advertising has moved as well, though more slowly and mostly just in the last decade. 
The development of more effective and efficient advertising tools is what killed traditional newspaper operations, not the circulation of news on social media. The commercial failure of news organisations is not due to their journalism product but because they are no longer nearly so strong a tool for attracting attention for advertisers
Career / Jobs, Education, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Bengal: Jobless teachers stage protest, SSC Chiefsays commission try to help deserving ones

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Police personnel from the RAF and Bidhannagar police commissionerate intervened, halting the demonstrators near the commission’s head office at Karunamoyee
PTI, Calcutta, 03.05.24,: Around 1,000 young teachers, who were rendered jobless following a recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court, staged a demonstration outside the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) office here on Friday to express their grievances. 
The teachers said they were part of the 26,000 candidates who appeared for the SSC 2016 test, a recruitment process deemed null and void by the high court in its recent verdict. 
Police personnel from the RAF and Bidhannagar police commissionerate intervened, halting the demonstrators near the commission’s head office at Karunamoyee. 
Approximately, 100 protesters were briefly detained for obstructing the road, a police official said.

SSC chairman Siddhartha Majumder told PTI that he met about 10 representatives from the protesters, explaining the legal constraints faced by the commission. 

He expressed sympathy towards deserving candidates and assured them that the commission would do whatever possible within the legal framework to assist them. 
“I have told them we are sympathetic to the deserving candidates. 
The commission will certainly do whatever is possible, as per the legal framework, to help them,” he said. 
However, he highlighted that the commission’s actions were restricted as the matter was now sub-judice. 
Responding to queries regarding demands for the release of answer sheets in the public domain, Majumder clarified that the commission couldn’t even disclose candidates’ results, as the entire issue was sub-judice. 
The SSC had earlier said while results of around 20,000 candidates were not suspicious, there are anomalies in the results of over 5000 and it had been brought to the notice of the court in past submissions.
Crime, Regional, West Bengal

Online friend held for defrauding woman of lakhs of rupees

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The accused had established a “brotherly relationship” with a woman on social media to gain her trust before swindling her of lakhs of rupees.

EOI, SILIGURI, MAY 3, 2024 : A man involved in an alleged online scam has been arrested six months after the filing of the complaint. 

The accused had established a “brotherly relationship” with a woman on social media to gain her trust before swindling her of lakhs of rupees. 
The accused scammer, a resident of Cooch Behar, established contact with the woman, a resident of Hakimpara in Siliguri, by introducing himself on social media.
Gradually he gained the trust of the woman. He persuaded her to provide him with Rs 10,000 and returned Rs 17,000 to build her trust. 
Later, he deceived her into handing over around Rs 50,000 on one occasion while returning Rs70,000. 
Finally, he disappeared after swindling the woman of lakhs of rupees. Following the complaint of the woman the Panitanki Outpost tracked the man, using his mobile tower location.
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Kunal Ghosh: The unguided missile, a key cog in Trinamul’s political wheel

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‘I was unhappy with some things and had to speak,’ says Ghosh who seems even more emboldened now that he no longer holds any party post. ‘The party was unhappy with what I said. I have distanced myself a little’
(L-R) Abhishek Banerjee, Kunal Ghosh and Mamata Banerjee.: TTO Graphics.

Arnab Ganguly, TT, Calcutta, 03.05.24 :  The chronicle was foretold but the timing has taken political Bengal by surprise.

It began with minor skirmishes. Abhishek Banerjee, the heir to Didi’s political empire, is known to be impatient. For a while he has been targeting the explosion of movie stars in TMC politics. He has no problem with full-time politicians coming from the entertainment background. But he thought the glamorous TMC brigade in the Lok Sabha were first movie stars and politicians only next.

Also, he has little time for the elderly “has beens” like Sougata Roy, four-time MP from Dum Dum, and Sudip Bandopadhyay, the five-time MP from North Calcutta. They should give way to the next generation, the nephew was believed to have said.

Aunt Mamata Banerjee did not wholly agree. The more glamorous contestants were not given Lok Sabha tickets this time. But others got the ticket and there were fresh entries. But, a whopping one-third of women candidates were from the entertainment sector.

TTO Graphics.
Didi had her own reasons. The TMC is riven by factions in many districts. Giving tickets to an outsider and a movie star will make them less unhappy. Rather an outsider than losing to rivals. But Didi does not tolerate opposition from the party or from her nephew.

Then Gaza like bombing began. Deb, a superstar who has seen better times and has won twice from the south Bengal constituency of Ghatal, was the provocation. Deb himself did not wish to contest, but Didi suspected he was in touch with the BJP. She persuaded him to contest and even forced her nephew to request Deb.

The story took a curious turn here. Mithun Chakraborty, the aging superstar of Bollywood, is a local favourite being the only Bengali national figure after Saurav Ganguly. Mithun was a Didi nominee in the Rajya Sabha but switched sides and joined the BJP. Didi had called him a “gaddar”.

Professional affiliation runs deep in Deb’s vein. I do not like the use of words such as “gaddar”, he had said solemnly. Yet, Didi did not take umbrage and went on to campaign for Deb.

Then the drone attacks began. Abhishek Banerjee used Kunal Ghosh, a spokesman for the party, an unguided missile generally believed to be the public voice of the nephew. Ghosh thus punches above his weight. “We dare not say anything lest it antagonises the nephew,” said a senior Trinamul leader on condition of anonymity.

But Ghosh is irrepressible. He has found his second target: his old nemesis, the BJP MP from Calcutta North. Suitably inspired, Ghosh did himself one better. He attended a social event (blood donation camp) along with the BJP candidate in North Calcutta, Tapas Roy, who was till recently not just a star member of the Trinamul, but also a vocal critic of Ghosh for years. Roy had tried his best to be the Trinamul candidate himself. When that failed he joined the BJP.

At the event, Ghosh spoke a lot, praising Roy and even going on to say, tellingly, that this time Trinamul did not want “false votes” to be cast in Calcutta North, thereby casting aspersions on Bandopadhyay’s record of winning the seat since 2009. Rebuff came immediately. He was handed over a letter from Derek O’Brien telling him he was no longer one of the state secretaries of the party. Ghosh is understood to have made a face before mockingly referring to the party’s Rajya Sabha MP. “Quiz master,” he muttered, loud enough for all to hear.

Undeterred, Ghosh let loose another bombshell soon after, that too on television. “The party was well aware of the fact that large-scale corruption and extortion in lieu of jobs was taking place in the school education department. The party was aware of it even before the 2021 assembly polls,” he said in an interview to Bengali news channel ABP Ananda.

Ghosh did not mention names. But the Trinamul struck back within 24 hours. By Thursday afternoon, Ghosh’s name was struck off the list of the party’s star campaigners. But that further emboldened Ghosh, the proverbial ant which could drive the elephantine Trinamul crazy by his antics. A good writer and speaker, Ghosh is able to unleash all kinds of verbal missiles at will.

But Ghosh continues to hold other plum responsibilities. He runs the party mouthpiece and also looks after ā Bengali daily on Didi’s behalf. Clearly, he has powerful backers.

Since his release from prison in October 2016 (he was arrested in connection with the Saradha scam in 2013) and reinstatement in the party around four years later, Ghosh has cemented his position as a trusted aide of Abhishek.

“If someone says that I am being tutored to say these things, then the issues I am raising will become redundant,” Ghosh told The Telegraph Online. “I was unhappy with some things and had to speak. The party was unhappy with what I said. I have distanced myself a little.”

Bandopadhyay apart, Ghosh has had other Didi favourites in his line of fire, like, for instance, jailed ex-minister Partha Chatterjee, ex-MP Subrata Bakshi, candidate Kalyan Banerjee and mayor and state minister Firhad Hakim. Hence, hiding behind Ghosh’s diatribes is the answer to the question that has bothered the Trinamul rank and file in the last three years. How deep is the chasm between Didi and her nephew?

In the last four years, Ghosh has convinced many that like Abhishek, he too believes Trinamul needs to replace the old guard and some of Mamata’s personal favourites to stay ahead in the game. “Didi runs the party with an emotional connect. Abhishek wants to run it more in the manner of a corporate,” said a Trinamul leader, trying to make sense of the nephew’s line of thinking.

There are those in the Trinamul who believe Abhishek is hungry to take over the reins of the party, though no one is saying he would go the whole hog anytime soon. Side by side, Ghosh’s gradual return to favour has been the stuff of legends.

As the only Trinamul leader who publicly vilified Mamata when he was in jail, Ghosh’s rise has been nothing short of spectacular. Ghosh is also said to have played a key role in the rehabilitation of “renegade” bureaucrats. Nandini Chakravorty, a civil servant with lots of spunk, was shunted to dead posts such as secretary to the Governor. But she bounced back as a senior secretary after she paid obeisance to Ghosh.

All this may or may not be entirely true. But people believe in such stories. An impression is created. Soon that holds ground. And that’s what matters. Now that he’s no longer a star campaigner for Trinamul, Ghosh is making full use of his freedom. He has hit the road. “The issues that I am talking about, like the teachers’ recruitment scam (it was wrongly handled). The party will reap the benefits if it is solved. Trinamul leaders from the heart of the city have quit. They could have been stopped. I am not a policymaker. I am simply drawing the attention of the party,” he said.

Today, Kunal Ghosh is believed to be the “Nabi” to Abhishek’s “Allah”. And as long as Abhishek is all but inaccessible, Ghosh will remain a factor in Bengal politics.
Misc, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

NH 10 closes from 6 May to 8 May for carpeting work from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile

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KalimNews, Kalimpong, 3 May 2024 : NNH 10 from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile will remain closed for three complete days of 72 hrs starting from 6am of 6 April to 6am of 9 April. Balasubramanian T, District Magistrate of Kalimpong has notified that the said highway from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile for carrying out bituminous work. 

His order states that a prayer has been received from the Executive Engineer II, National Highway, Division IX, P.W (Roads) requesting restriction and diversion of movement of all type of vehicles to carry out bituminous work at the stretch between Rabi bora to Gail Khola along NH 10. Therefore the administration finds it necessary to impose temporary restriction for movement of all type of vehicles to carry out the said bituminous work at the stretch between Rabi bora to Gail Khola along NH 10 to be carried on by PWD, National Highway, Division IX, P.W (Roads). 
The restriction of movement of all types of vehicles in the NH 10 stretch from Rabi Jhora to 29th Mile starting from 6 am of 6 May till 6 am of 9 May will be in effect. 
Alternative route as traffic diversion will be allowed as follows:  
1) Only small vehicles will move from Rangpoo towards Siliguri via Munsong – 17’1′ Mile – Algarah – Lava -Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa round the clock 
2) Small vehicles will move from Chitrey – Kalimpong town Algarah – Lava – Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa round the clock. 
3) Goods Vehicle will move from Chitrey – Kalimpong town Algarah – Lava – Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa from 21.00 hrs to 06.00 hrs. 
4) Goods vehicle and small vehicles will move from Reshi – Pedong – Algarah – Lava – Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice versa round the clock. 
Necessary restrictions at Rangpoo Check post, Chitrey and at District border – NH – 10 stretch shall be imposed by police (Traffic) for facilitating the route diversion, the notice adds.  
Regional, West Bengal

Shoals of dead fish float on Mirik’s Sumendu lake, raising serious concerns among residents

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 Since Wednesday, residents have spotted the dead fish floating on the lake. They have also informed the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the administrative body in the hills, about this development
Dead fish from Sumendu Lake in Mirik on Thursday: Picture by Passang Yolmo
Bireswar Banerjee, TT, 03.05.24:  Shoals of fish were found dead and floating on Sumendu Lake in Mirik over the past few days, much to the concern of residents and the district fisheries department.
 
Mirik, a popular tourist destination nestled in Darjeeling hills, is known for its lake in the heart of the town. Hundreds of tourists flock to the lakeside or take a walk along the arch-shaped concrete footbridge that connects the two ends of the water body and feed the fish. Boating is yet another attraction for people visiting the town.
 
Fish like Cyprinus Carpio, commonly known as American Rohu, trout and silver carp, which can survive in cold water, are found in the lake.
 
Since Wednesday, residents have spotted the dead fish floating on the lake. They have also informed the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the administrative body in the hills, about this development.
 
“We have retrieved hundreds of dead fish from the lake here since yesterday (Wednesday). It is surprising that the fish are dying in the lake. The fisheries department should engage experts to find out what has led to the incident,” said Aita Rai, an official of the tourism department of the GTA posted in Mirik.
 
Rai, who also heads the Small Food Cart Association in Mirik, said local civic authorities, along with NGOs, regularly clean the lake and clear debris to keep the water body clean.
 
“But unplanned dumping of waste in a part of the lake by a section of residents seems to have polluted the water, leading to deaths of the fish. This practice must be stopped now and the municipality should act on it,” he added.
 
As the news spread, officials of Darjeeling district fisheries department which works under the GTA, has initiated a probe.
 
“We have instructed our staff to visit the lake and submit a report to us. We will also collect water samples and get those tested in a lab to ascertain what caused the deaths and if the water is contaminated,” said Kaushik Maity, the district fisheries officer of Darjeeling.
Courtesy & source- The Telegraph https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/shoals-of-dead-fish-float-on-miriks-sumendu-lake-raising-serious-concerns-among-residents/cid/2017343
Education, Regional, West Bengal

Number of students in Madhyamik with scores above 90 per cent surges in all subjects except for two

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 Results of state’s Class X board exams, declared on Thursday, show maximum rise has been in mathematics and geography
Subhankar Chowdhury, TT, Calcutta, 03.05.24 : The number of students with scores above 90 per cent has surged in all subjects, except the second language and physical science, in Madhyamik this year, compared with last year’s results.
 
The results of the state’s Class X board exams, declared on Thursday, show the maximum rise has been in mathematics and geography.
 
As many as 22,951 students scored above 90 in mathematics in 2024, compared with 12,951 last year.
 
Students who scored above 90 in geography numbered 49,994, compared with 31,294 last year.
 
This year witnessed a significant rise in female candidates — 25.95 per cent more girls, compared with last year’s count, wrote the papers.
 
Of the 9,12,598 candidates, 7,65,252 students have passed the exams. The overall pass percentage is 86.31, a mild improvement from last year’s 86.15.
 
The number of students with scores above 90 per cent rose in history, life science and first language (vernacular) as well.
 
But the number of students with “AA” grade (90 per cent or more) — the highest grade — in the second language dipped to 9,922. Last year, the count was 11,229.
 
The number of AA scorers in physical science was 14,415, compared with 17,357 last year.
 
This year there was also a drop in the percentage of candidates who got first division, which is 60 per cent or above, in the aggregate.
 
This year 12.98 per cent of the examinees scored first-division marks, against 13.67 per cent last year.
 
When asked about the results, Ramanuj Ganguly, the president of the ad-hoc committee of the state secondary education board, said: “We have to study the reasons that led to the rise in the number of high scorers in some subjects and fall in some others. We will make a detailed analysis.”
 
Swapan Mandal, of the Bengal Teachers’ and Employees’ Association, said: “It is a matter of concern that the number of high scorers has dipped in two subjects despite a rise in the number of total candidates. This year, 9,12,598 appeared for the exams, against 6,82,321 last year. The percentage of first division also dipped.”
 
The secondary education board asked the school heads to open the URL https://www.wbbsedata.com after noon on May 2 for post-publication scrutiny (PPS) and post-publication review (PPR) of Madhyamik answer scripts.
 
The applications will be received till midnight of May 18.
 
The instruction tab for details of the login and application process has been uploaded on the board’s website.
 
The board also announced that applications for certified copies of answer scripts, under the RTI Act 2005, must reach the respective regional offices of the board within 75 days of the publication of the results (by July 16).
 
The board said that if such candidates apply for PPS/PPF as well, the RTI application for the certified copy will be processed after the publication of PPS/PPR results.
Education, Regional, West Bengal

Planters seek government aid for heat effect on tea industry due to mercury surge

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M.K. Maitra, the secretary of the Terai Indian Planters’ Association (TIPA), wrote to Bengal labour minister Moloy Ghatak on Thursday, saying the drought-like situation had hit the tea gardens across the Terai

Avijit Sinha, TT, Siliguri, 03.05.24 : The surge in mercury across north Bengal like other parts of the state and the absence of rainfall have badly hit the tea industry, prompting planters to appeal to the labour minister to announce subsidies and financial assistance for the sector.

M.K. Maitra, the secretary of the Terai Indian Planters’ Association (TIPA), wrote to Bengal labour minister Moloy Ghatak on Thursday, saying the drought-like situation had hit the tea gardens across the Terai.

“In April, there was a rainfall shortage of around 50 per cent in the Terai, which has directly affected the production. At a time when the cost of production has increased because of the rise in cost of different components, the decline in production has put several gardens in crisis,” said Maitra.

With no rainfall reported in the Terai in recent weeks, over 40 tea estates in the region are entirely dependent on irrigation to ensure that tea bushes don’t dry up. Also, the absence of rain has led to pest attacks in several gardens. In most gardens of the Terai, picking of tea leaves could be carried out only three to four days a week because of low yield, said a source.

“For irrigation purposes, the gardens had to pay huge power bills. That is why we have brought it to the notice of the state labour minister and have requested him to see that a substantial discount on electricity bills for irrigation is provided by the state from November to May,” said the TIPA secretary.

He said the central and state governments should come forward with other financial assistance, subsidies and additional relief and aid for the tea industry.

“Such assistance would help the industry tide over the current situation and contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the region,” added Maitra.

Those associated with the small tea sector, which contributes over 50 per cent of the total tea produced in Bengal, also articulated their distress.

“We don’t know when the weather conditions will improve. Most of the growers are dependent on the sale proceeds of tea leaves. These days, because of low yield, their earnings have deceased and many of them are finding it tough to pay the workers who pick tea leaves,” said Bijoygopal Chakraborty, president of the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers’ Associations.

Meetings called

Subhagata Gupta, the deputy labour commissioner of Jalpaiguri, has convened meetings in Jalpaiguri on May 6 to expedite the reopening of the Totapara tea estate.

The management of the garden in Banarhat block announced the suspension of work on Wednesday. As a result, 855 permanent workers became jobless.
Career / Jobs, Economy, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

About 850 workers left without jobs as Totapara Tea Garden suspends operations

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Assistant Labour Commissioner Subhrajyoti Sarkar, stationed at the Jalpaiguri District Labor Office, disclosed that the Totapara plantation management has been summoned for a meeting scheduled for Monday to address the unfolding crisis. 

Dibyendu Sinha, MP, 2 May 2024, Jalpaiguri: The management of the Totapara Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri abruptly suspended operations, leaving about 850 tea garden workers unemployed. Workers claim this action was illegal, while the owners blame a section of the workers. 
Assistant Labour Commissioner Subhrajyoti Sarkar, stationed at the Jalpaiguri District Labor Office, disclosed that the Totapara plantation management has been summoned for a meeting scheduled for Monday to address the unfolding crisis. 
Aside from the contentious issue of work suspension, workers at Totapara tea plantation are grappling with outstanding dues, including Provident Fund (PF), gratuity and unpaid wages. 
Seeking redress, a cohort of workers converged at Banarhat Police Station on April 27, staging a sit-in protest to expedite the resolution of their dues. Despite efforts, a scheduled tripartite meeting convened at the Banarhat Block Development Officer (BDO) office found none of the management representatives in attendance. 
However, the administration received a letter from the owners assuring settlement of one installment of the outstanding wages on Tuesday. Expressing his dismay, Ramesh Mahali, a plantation worker, lamented: “The garden owner pledged to settle the dues by Tuesday, only to abscond and post the notice of suspension overnight, leaving us unaware until Wednesday, a holiday.” 
Punita Mahali, another worker, echoed the sentiment, stating: “From basic amenities like access to drinking water to essential medical treatment, the garden fails us. 
Adding insult to injury, our PF and gratuity remain unpaid. We hold onto hope that the garden will reopen following administrative intervention, once these issues are addressed.” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/about-850-workers-left-without-jobs-as-totapara-tea-garden-suspends-operations-562267
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Cash worth about Rs 8L recovered from BJP worker

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The cash was being carried to Chanchal from Gazole for election purposes. The BJP worker could not produce any paper in support of his claim. On April 29 in English Bazar, Rs 2 lakh in cash was also seized from Shantanu Ghosh, general secretary of BJP South Malda organisational district by the flying squad. 

Avijit Roy, MP, 2 May 2024, Malda: The flying squad of the Election Commission of India (ECI) seized cash worth Rs 8 lakh from a vehicle on the Bypass Road of Paharpur under the Chanchal Police Station on Wednesday from a worker of BJP. 

The cash was being carried to Chanchal from Gazole for election purposes. The BJP worker could not produce any paper in support of his claim. On April 29 in English Bazar, Rs 2 lakh in cash was also seized from Shantanu Ghosh, general secretary of BJP South Malda organisational district by the flying squad. 
Ghosh claimed it to be his funds of trade but failed to produce adequate documents so the amount was seized and forwarded to the District Grievance Committee for further verification. 
A car was stopped on the Bypass Road of Paharpur on Wednesday carrying flags and logos of BJP by the officials of the flying squad. On further search, cash worth 8 lakh was found from the vehicle. 
Tilak Ram, office in-charge of BJP in Chanchal Assembly constituency, said: “I have been carrying the fund for election purposes from Alampur to Chanchal BJP party office to meet several expenses of the election. 
They seized the amount and I shall go to the committee to claim it back.” The officials said that the seized amount would be sent to the authorised committee and hearings will be made for verifying the source of money. 
To implement the Model Code of Conduct in Malda, 64 flying squad teams, 42 video surveillance teams and 82 static surveillance teams have been formed. Afsar Ali, Chanchal Block president of TMC, said: “The BJP government has stopped the funds for Bengal in various schemes and is now sending money for their own election expenditure. This party is trying to buy votes on money power. 
The ECI must take stern action against them.” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/about-8631-clear-madhyamik-2024-562288?infinitescroll=1
Regional

About 14 students clinch 1st to 10th rank from North Bengal

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MP, 2 May 2024, Siliguri: North Bengal districts shone in the Madhyamik examination this year with many of the rank holders emerging from this region. Kalimpong district had the highest pass percentage rate with 96.88 per cent. 

About 14 students have clinched the first to tenth rank from North Bengal. South Dinajpur has the highest number with 7 among the 13. Chandrachur Sen of Cooch Behar clinched the top spot in the West Bengal Secondary Examination 2024 with an impressive score of 693 out of 700. 
Asif Kamal, a student of Mathabhanga High School in Cooch Behar, secured the seventh rank with 687 marks. Udayan Prosad of South Dinajpur ranked 3rd in the state with an impressive score of 691. 
Balurghat High School in South Dinajpur saw four students placed in the state merit list this year, reflecting the institution’s dedication to academic excellence. 
In addition to Udayan, Krishanu Saha (688 marks with 98.29 per cent) secured sixth position, Saatwata De (687 marks with 98.14 per cent) secured seventh position and Rounak Ghosh (685 marks with 97.86 per cent) secured ninth position in the state merit list, all from Balurghat High School. 
Two students from Balurghat Girls High School, Abritti Ghatak and Arpit Ghosh (687 marks with 98.14 per cent) placed in the seventh position and one from Baul Parameshwar High School Ashmita Chakraborty (685 marks with 97.86 per cent) placed in ninth position in the merit list. 
Around 4 students of Mozampur HSSB High School under Kaliachak Police Station, Malda have etched their name in the merit list. Their names are Sahabuddin Ali, who ranked 6th by scoring 688 marks; Bishal Chandra Mandal and Aminul Islam both scored 685 and ranked 9th along with Bishal Mandal who secured the 10th position by getting 684 numbers. 
Bhowmi Sarkar, a student of Raiganj Girls’ Higher Secondary School of North Dinajpur, secured the 10th position. She has obtained a total of 684 marks. She is a resident of Purbasa para in Ward 13 of Raiganj Municipality. 
In Kalimpong district, the pass rate for male students was 96.79 per cent, while for female students it was 96.97 per cent. 
Out of 1375 male students, 1370 were successful and 1617 female students emerged successful out of 1619 students. In Darjeeling district, of 6,713 male students, 6,684 passed. Out of 8,244 female students, 8,207 students passed. 
The total pass rate was 82.27 per cent. In Jalpaiguri district, 9824 male students passed out of 9890 students and 12519 female students passed out of 12611 students. The total pass percentage was 73.09 per cent. 
In Alipurduar, 6589 male students passed out of 6640, 8029 female students passed out of 8071, the total pass percentage was 76.38 per cent. 
In Malda district, 19013 male students qualified out of 19120 students, 23555 female students qualified out of 23765 students. Total pass percentage stood at 81.46 per cent. 
In Cooch Behar, 13405 male students became successful out of 13498 students. 15871 female students qualified out of 16018 students. 
The total pass percentage was 83.91 per cent. In North Dinajpur, 11392 male students emerged successful out of 11495 students. 17391 female students qualified out of 17690 students. 
The total pass percentage was 75.47 per cent. In South Dinajpur, 6718 male students became successful out of 6756 students. 7845 female students became successful out of 7896 students. 
The total pass percentage was 78.33 per cent. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/about-14-students-clinch-1st-to-10th-rank-from-north-bengal-562272
Health, Regional, West Bengal

Respite in sight: ‘Mercury likely to dip in next 48 hrs’

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Severe heatwave situations will, however, continue in districts like Bankura, Jhargram, West Midnapore, East Burdwan and West Burdwan on Friday

MP, 3 May 2024, Kolkata: The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore held out a ray of hope for the heatwave situation to change from Sunday or Monday with the possibility of rains in the coastal districts on Saturday. 

Severe heatwave situations will, however, continue in districts like Bankura, Jhargram, West Midnapore, East Burdwan and West Burdwan on Friday. 
The MeT office also predicted that mercury will start sliding down in the next 48 hours. Many of the South Bengal districts will receive rainfall between Sunday and Tuesday. The MeT office said that heatwave conditions are very likely to continue till Sunday over south Bengal, which has been reeling under a scorching sun. 
Several districts in the Western parts of Bengal have been consistently registering temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius for the past many days. 
The MeT office prediction said severe heatwave is likely to continue in Bankura, Birbhum, Jhargram, West Midnapore, East Midnapore and West Burdwan. There will not be any large change in maximum temperature during the next two days and thereby it will fall gradually in the subsequent three days in the region. 
The severe weather conditions in the southern and western districts of Bengal are being caused by dry westerly winds and strong solar insolation, the MeT office said. Kolkata is also bracing for severe heatwaves. 
The city and its adjoining areas like Dum Dum, Salt Lake, Barrackpore, Barasat already witnessed the highest temperature of over 42 degrees in the past couple of days. 
The Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha are all reeling under the extreme heatwave conditions, according to reports. 
Thunderstorms may hit districts like Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, parts of North and South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore on Sunday. Rainfall may intensify on Monday. 
A mild breeze may also sweep through several parts of South Bengal. North Bengal districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri will receive thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds measuring around 30-40 kmph in the next 48 hours. 
Kolkata on Thursday registered the highest temperature at around 40 degree Celsius, Salt Lake 39, Dum Dum 39, Diamond Harbour 39, Midnapore 43, Purulia 43, Asansol 42. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/about-8631-clear-madhyamik-2024-562288?infinitescroll=1
Education, Regional, West Bengal

Over 86% ‘Children with Special Need’ pass Madhyamik

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Out of the total number of candidates, 7,65,252 were successful while the results of two were withheld, 46 candidates’ exams were cancelled and 81 were exonerated

MP, 3 May 2024, Kolkata: Children With Special Needs (CWSN) performed well in the Madhyamik 2024 with a success rate of 86.90 per cent. “This proves that the urge for education is universally present among all school-goers” the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education stated on Thursday. 

The result of the Madhyamik was announced on Thursday. A total of 9,12,598 candidates appeared. Exams were conducted in seven compulsory subjects, 12 first languages, three second languages and 47 optional elective subjects.
Out of the total number of candidates, 7,65,252 were successful while the results of two were withheld, 46 candidates’ exams were cancelled and 81 were exonerated. 
Out of the total number of candidates, 962 CWSN candidates appeared for the examination. According to the data provided by the Board, 192 visually impaired candidates — 101 male and 91 female — 184 with hearing impairment — 94 male and 90 female — and 586 Orthopedic Physically Handicapped (OPH) candidates — 353 male and 233 female. 
Out of 192 visually-impaired candidates, 182 were successful candidates out of which 99 were boys and 83 were girls. Out of 184 candidates with hearing impairment, 141 were successful candidates and out of 586 OPH candidates, 539 candidates were successful. 
The visually impaired students were allowed one amanuensis (one substitute when required) during the examination and were allowed 45 minutes extra time. 
The examination centres were requested to make provision for examinees suffering from Thalassaemia and those who are wheelchair-bound to take their examination on the ground floor. Orthopaedically handicapped examinees were allotted examination centres with ramps. 

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/over-86-children-with-special-need-pass-madhyamik-562285
Crime, Regional, West Bengal

Cal HC pained at delay in grant of sanction to prosecute school jobs case accused persons

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The court acknowledged the corruption allegations against the accused and the filed chargesheet, emphasizing the automatic nature of the grant. The court held the delay a “violation of orders” and an attempt to “subvert the criminal prosecution.

PTI, Kolkata, 2 May 2024 : The Calcutta High Court expressed dismay over the delay in granting sanction to prosecute former officials in the 2016 West Bengal school jobs case. Despite directing the decision by May 2, the state requested seven more weeks, which the court deemed “wilful delay.”

The court acknowledged the corruption allegations against the accused and the filed chargesheet, emphasizing the automatic nature of the grant. The court held the delay a “violation of orders” and an attempt to “subvert the criminal prosecution.” The accused were seen as too powerful to allow for a fair trial, raising concerns about institutional support and prosecution viability.

he Calcutta High Court on Thursday expressed ”pain” at the prolonged delay by the West Bengal chief secretary in deciding on the grant of sanction to prosecute former public servants arrested by CBI in the 2016 school jobs case.

The high court on April 23 directed the top official to decide on the matter by May 2 in the case. During the day, the state government prayed for seven weeks to decide on granting the sanction. The court termed it a ”wilful delay” and said a sanctioning authority ”cannot hold prosecution to ransom” by dragging its feet on taking a decision on sanction for prosecution.

Stating that it is pained at the delay despite repeated directions by it and setting guidelines on the issue of granting sanction to the chief secretary, a division bench presided by Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that it will hear out the parties and take a decision on bail applications by the accused persons on Friday.

Former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, one of the accused in custody, moved a bail application before the court along with other ex-public servants who were arrested in the case.

The chief secretary, through the state’s advocate general, prayed for seven weeks’ time to take a decision on the application for sanction by the CBI.

Maintaining that the accused persons were public servants and that there is an allegation of corruption against them and a chargesheet has been filed, the court said that it is an automatic course to take a decision on grant of sanction.

The bench said the court is being constrained to take a harsh view of it.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted that this court should not have gone into the question of sanction as the issue to be decided in this matter is bail applications by the accused persons.

Holding that the matter before it is definitely whether the accused persons are enlarged on bail or not, the court said, ”If it comes to our light that a particular agency is subverting the process of criminal justice, will the court turn a blind eye?” Stating that constitutional democracy moves on trust, the bench said that this is not an expected stance of a constitutional democracy.

”We are constrained to observe that this has been a wilful effort not only to violate our orders, but suffered the administration of criminal justice,” the bench said.

The court said that it will be a relevant consideration for deciding the bail applications that there are roadblocks creating hindrances to trial.

Maintaining that it is an ”institutional conspiracy”, the court said that the accused persons seemed to be too powerful to subvert the criminal prosecution. The court said that it is ”really apprehensive whether the wherewithal and institutional support for a fair trial is possible here.” Stating that it is up to the prosecuting agency to take a call on that, the court said that it feels extremely distressed.

On April 9 also, the bench expressed its displeasure over the delay in grant of sanction and directed the chief secretary to take a decision by April 23.

The CBI had stated before the court during a previous hearing of the matter that the governor of West Bengal had granted sanction to prosecute former minister Partha Chatterjee.

The division bench is jointly hearing the bail prayers of the state’s former Education minister Partha Chatterjee, former secretary of West Bengal School Service Commission Ashok Saha, former SSC chairman Subires Bhattacharyya and former chairman of SSC’s advisory committee Santi Prasad Sinha, who are in custody for about two years in connection with the case.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday expressed “pain” at the prolonged delay by the West Bengal Chief Secretary in deciding on the grant of sanction to prosecute former public servants arrested by CBI in the 2016 school jobs case.

Maintaining that the accused persons were public servants and that there is an allegation of corruption against them and a charge sheet has been filed, the court said that it is an automatic course to take a decision on grant of sanction. The bench said the court is being constrained to take a harsh view of it.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted that this court should not have gone into the question of sanction as the issue to be decided in this matter is bail applications by the accused persons. Holding that the matter before it is definitely whether the accused persons are enlarged on bail or not, the court said, “If it comes to our light that a particular agency is subverting the process of criminal justice, will the court turn a blind eye?”

Stating that constitutional democracy moves on trust, the bench said that this is not an expected stance of a constitutional democracy. “We are constrained to observe that this has been a wilful effort not only to violate our orders, but suffered the administration of criminal justice,” the bench said. The court said that it will be a relevant consideration for deciding the bail applications that there are roadblocks creating hindrances to trial.
Education, Regional, West Bengal

Kalimpong students excel in Madhyamik Examination

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YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, MAY 2, 2024: In this year’s Madhyamik Examination, the Kalimpong district has achieved the highest pass percentage in the state of West Bengal. The Kalimpong district has secured a pass percentage 96.2 in secondary examination this year. 

This is considered to be the highest pass percentage in the state. Last year, the Kalimpong district was the second in pass percentage and this year it has reached first place. This year’s Madhyamik examination results have made Kalimpong proud and there is a wave of happiness throughout the district after the results. 
Leeom Lenchyao Lepcha of St Philomena School in Kalimpong is the district topper, securing 90.2 percent marks. Leeom is a resident of Chibo under constituency no.33. She has attributed her success to God and Sisters, teachers and parents. She also said that hard work is behind her success. 
 “The bigger the goal, the harder it is to work and if you work hard, you will surely succeed,” she said. She said that she is planning to prepare for her NEET as her dream was to become a doctor. 
Similarly, Norden Lepcha, her father, while expressing his happiness at his daughter’s success, said that instead of scolding the children, one should give advice and encouragement. Principal of St. Philomena School Sister Cricenta Rai, thanked God for the good results of the school in the secondary examination and Leeom Lencho Lepcha from the school for her score and for becoming the Kalimpong district topper.
A total of 3921 students took the exam from Kalimpong district this year.
Regional, States, West Bengal

Forest fires in Darjeeling threaten breeding centre for red panda, snow leopards

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The forest fire, which started on Thursday morning, was brought under control by the evening with the intervention by the fire operators and officials of the Forest Department, and with the help of local residents.

EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 2, 2024 :  The
sudden forest fire at Topkey Dara,
near 3rd Mile, around 19 km from
Darjeeling, has posed an imminent
threat to the breeding center for red
panda and snow leopards at Topkey
Dara, just one km away. 

The area
falls under the Senchal Wildlife
Sanctuary and is run by the
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan
Zoological Park (PNHZP). 
The forest fire, which started on
Thursday morning, was brought
under control by the evening with
the intervention by the fire
operators and officials of the Forest
Department, and with the help of
local residents. 
Ranger Uttam Pradhan of the
Darjeeling Wildlife Division
Sinchel East Range said: “The fire
might have started around 7 a.m. We
came to know about the fire only
after we got a phone call around 7.20
a.m. when a former forest staff
informed us about it, seeing smoke
coming out of the area. He had seen
the smoke from Mall Road in
Darjeeling. 
Acting on the
information we went for inspection
and found that fire had started from
3rd Mile and was spreading
towards the Breeding Centre.
Another fire had also started at 6th
Mile on the road towards
Kalimpong. We had to face a lot of
difficulty trying to fight two fires.” 
Pradhan said initially fire
extinguishers were utilized to fight
the spreading fire with the Fire
Department from Darjeeling town
also sending one fire tender to help
them. 
A fire tender that has been
kept as reserve by the fire
department in the Dispersion Centre
and Receipt Centre (DCRC) set up
at Darjeeling Government College
(DGC) where strong rooms have
been made for the recently
concluded polls though could not
be utilized. 
“We also requested
water tanks that sell water from
perennial water sources like
Kalikhola close by to this area to
help us in supplying water. They
helped by bringing water in 10
vehicles,” Pradhan said. Each of the
trucks which supply water to
Darjeeling town can carry 2000 litres
of water at a time. The local police
force, staff of the PNHZP and the
forest department along with locals
from nearby villages located in 3rd
Mile, Dabaipani, Naya Basti among
other places where the Joint Forest
Management Committee also exists
pitched in to fight the forest fire. 
Fire lines were also made in places
by cutting grass to ensure that the
fire did not spread. When asked
about how the fire could have
started Pradhan stated, “The exact
reason for the fire starting is not
known but the month of April to
May is a very dry season with the
jungles also very dry. The few days
have also been excessively windy,
and a natural fire could have started
due to friction caused by the wind
and with the forest being dry a
small fire can get out of control.” 
Pradhan also said that though more
than 80 percent of the fire had been
brought under control by the
afternoon, the day being windy and
with chances of ground fires still
burning underneath there, the
surface could ignite again. He said
that this fire was hard to detect. 
“We
will stay on vigil throughout the
night and there could be the danger
of the fire starting again,” he said
while adding that the extent of area
damage could not be ascertained
right now