Bengali must but not for board exam: CM - Schools relieved after Mamata's clarification on CBSE and ICSE

May 31: CBSE and ICSE schools in Bengal will have to teach Bengali as one of three languages up to Class X but students do not have to write the board exam in the third language, chief minister Mamata Banerjee today told a meeting with representatives of private schools.

"Teach the language (Bengali) in schools but don't hold a test in the board exams. Then it's fine," Mamata said in response to a question from a school principal.

The comment came at the meeting held at Town Hall this afternoon to discuss how to rationalise "fees and donations". Representatives of all private schools, including minority institutions, participated in the meeting.

The chief minister also announced a regulatory commission to monitor private schools. But unlike a private hospital watchdog she had announced earlier, this one is a "self-regulatory" mechanism steered primarily by the schools themselves.

The Bengal government had earlier announced that all students in the state would have to study Bengali till Class X.

At today's meeting, Sujay Biswas, principal of Ram Mohan Mission school in Tollygunge, asked the chief minister whether the state wanted all students to sit for the Bengali paper in the board exams.

In Punjab, CBSE and ICSE students have to compulsorily write an additional language paper in the Class X board exams.

Mamata said: "Let ICSE and CBSE schools hold it (the Bengali test) in their schools. No need for a board exam. Take the test in school. Done. There won't be any test in the board exam. That's why we said the language would have to be taught up to Class X. Very tactfully, we never said Bengali has to be written in ICSE or CBSE board exams."

The audience broke into applause at this clarification.

Several principals said education minister Partha Chatterjee had told them after the meeting that the schools would have the liberty to frame their own Bengali curriculum. "We leave it to you," one principal quoted the minister as saying.

The principal of St. James' School, Terence Ireland, said: "Bengali is not an examination subject at the board level. It is good that the confusion has been cleared."

St. James' would focus on teaching Bengali in a manner so that students can communicate and converse in Bengali, Ireland said.

"We must not force students to study heavy-duty Bengali literature. Our purpose would be to help students develop a sound working knowledge."

Rita Chatterjee, the principal of Apeejay Schools, said she was relieved for the students who were worried about an extra subject in the board exams. "We welcome the decision," she said.

Across the boards - Madhyamik, ICSE and CBSE -only two languages are taught in Classes IX and X. The board exams test students only on the first and second language. A third language is taught, but for a maximum of four years -- from Classes V to VIII.

Bengali is not compulsory, with several schools offering foreign languages such as German, French and Sanskrit besides Bengali and Hindi as third language.

The chief minister did not spell out explicitly whether schools in Darjeeling would have to follow the new language policy.

She said: "Let the students of Darjeeling study Nepali, let the students of Terai study Hindi. Let them study in accordance with their capability. If I can speak Nepali, what is the harm if a Nepali speaks Hindi or Bengali?

"They also have different languages. Each community has its own language. I respect all the languages. I fail to understand what the problem is. You teach them Hindi, English. But then teach Bengali as the third language as well. Can't you teach Bengali as the optional language? Can't you teach Bengali as the third language? You study your language according to your preference, but Bengali has to be studied up to Class X."

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had earlier "condemned" the state government's decision to make Bengali compulsory in school and demanded that the Darjeeling hills, Dooars and the Terai be exempt.

It is yet to be clarified which class the third language would be taught from.

The chief minister had written on her Facebook post on May 16: "One of the three languages (taught in school) would have to be Bengali. The two other (language) choices are completely dependent on what the student chooses."

[Source : Telegraph, Representatives of Calcutta schools take a selfie with Mamata Banerjee after the meeting on Wednesday. Picture by Pradip Sanyal]

Bengal to have a state symbol for the first time

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday unveiled the state symbol that will be sent to the Centre for its approval. This is for the first time when such a step has been taken by the state government to have a symbol for the state.

The Bengal CM said: “There are many states that have their own logos. We didn’t have anything as such. Thus, the decision was taken to have a logo.” Citing examples of logos of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the Chief Minister said: “Logos of many states do not have the national emblem. But the symbol of our state has the national emblem.”  The new symbol will be sent to Delhi to get the final approval. The symbol has been designed by the Bengal Chief Minister.

The Bengal Chief Minister had also taken step to rename the state as “Bangla” in Bengali and “Bengal” in English. The Bengal Chief Minister, in spite of her ever busy schedule spends her leisure time in painting landscapes and has sketched the logos of various projects taken up by the state government.

The logo of the most popular project of the state government Sabuj Sathi, where 30 lakh bicycle have been distributed among the students of state-run, sponsored and aided schools and another 35 lakhs will be distributed shortly, was designed by her. The logo has been fitted on the bicycles in such a way that the users cannot remove it without damaging the bicycle.

The logo of Gatidhara, another very successful project of the state government, was also been sketched by her. In the maiden Kolkata-Andal-Delhi flight, she had sketched the logo. The logo is printed on all the vehicles given to the beneficiaries under the project.

She has named several projects and along with several state government establishments including the state secretariat — Nabanna — and the newly-constructed open air ampitheatre which she named Uttirnya.

 

আত্মপ্রকাশ করতে চলেছে বাংলার লোগো

 

বিশ্ব বাংলার দরবারে আলাদা পরিচিতি তৈরী করতে নিজস্ব প্রতীক তৈরী করল রাজ্য সরকার। লোগোর নকশা এঁকেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী নিজে। লোগোর ভিতরে বিশ্ববাংলা এবং নীচে বাংলা ও ইংরেজিতে ‘পশ্চিমবঙ্গ’ নামটি লেখা থাকছে। উপরে থাকছে অশোক স্তম্ভের চিহ্ন। রাজ্য সরকারের পছন্দের  নীল ও সাদা রঙ ব্যবহার হয়েছে লোগোটিতে।

সোমবার মন্ত্রীসভার বৈঠকে প্রতীকতিকে সরকারী ভাবে গ্রহণ করার পর দিল্লিতে পাঠানো হচ্ছে অনুমোদনের জন্য।

এদিন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, “উত্তরপ্রদেশ, বিহার সহ একাধিক রাজ্য নিজেদের লোগো ব্যবহার করে।  অথচ আমাদের কোন নিজস্ব লোগো ছিল না।”

তিনি আরও বলেন, “অন্যান্য রাজ্যের লোগোতে অশোক স্তম্ভ ব্যবহার হয় না, কিন্তু আমরা অশোক স্তম্ভ ব্যবহার করব, সাথে রাজ্যের লোগো-ও থাকবে”।

গত ছয় বছরে রাজ্যে কন্যাশ্রী, যুবশ্রী, উৎকর্ষ বাংলা, সবুজ সাথী সহ নানান জনপ্রিয় প্রকল্পের লোগো এঁকেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। বিশেষ করে কন্যাশ্রীর লোগো ইউনিসেফ থেকে শুরু করে দেশের বিভিন্ন জায়গা থেকে প্রশংসা আদায় করে নিয়েছে।

এছাড়া ‘নবান্ন’, ‘উত্তীর্ন’ সহ বিভিন্ন সরকারী ভবন ও সরকারী পরিষেবারও নামকরণ করেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

GST is not fully prepared, so it must not be rolled out on July 1: Dr Amit Mitra

Bengal Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra today held a press conference in Kolkata regarding Goods and Services Tax (GST). During the interaction with the press, he underlined the fact that Bengal is not ready to accept GST in its current form.

Dr Mitra is the chairman of the Empowered Committee on GST, comprising all the 29 States was. It had met in Kolkata on June 14, 2016 in a historic meeting.

The constitutional amendment said that Parliament may, on the recommendation of the GST Council, compensate States for loss of revenue arising out of implementation of GST, upto five yrs. Secondly, for a State, if the income from tax decreases at any time during these five years, the State can decide to not to give its share of the tax to the Centre.

However, Dr Mitra said, “it was decided at this meeting that it should be ‘shall’, not ‘may’, and secondly, not ‘upto 5 years’ but ’period of 5 years’ “.

Other major decisions were taken during the historic meeting in Kolkata.

“It was decided at the meeting that if a business is worth less than Rs 1.5 crore, it would only attract State tax”.

Then, “in the cases 90 per cent of small businesses below Rs 1.5 crore, there would not be any dual control”.

At the 4th GST summit (November 3 and 4), the States had proposed that food grains have to be kept out of GST. “After everyone consented to it, food grains are now tax-free. This is a major victory for the common man”.

The Bengal Finance Minister said, “Daily essentials like raw vegetables and flowers are now tax-free”.

“We have fought to make cottage cheese, puffed rice, flattened rice, betel leaves, popped rice, green tea, vermilion, aalta, organic fertilizers, poultry and khadi clothing tax-free, health services, doctors’ fees, newspapers, textbooks and human hair.”.

Another victory for the States is that “on processed tea, instead of a 12-18 per cent tax, 5 per cent tax has been imposed”.

“The Empowered Committee has given a letter to also make news printing tax-free”, Dr Mitra said.

Some other major victories for the States, as stated by the Finance Minister, are:

He further said, “A 12% tax was proposed on cashew nuts; the fight on that is still going on”.

“They had said that shoes would be taxed at 12%; we have proposed that shoes costing up to Rs 500 should be tax-free”

On films, Dr Mitra said, “In West Bengal, films are taxed at 2% while the Centre is thinking of imposing a 28% tax. We will fight this. If regional films are taxed at 28%, won’t they bite the dust?”

He said, “Though my own powers are limited, I have fought for Maa-Mati-Manush under the inspiration of the Chief Minister and I will continue my fight”.

The Bengal Finance Minister said that GST is not fully prepared and ready, and that rules and forms not completed, so July 1 must not be finalised as the date for the roll-out of GST.

“Until and unless a solution is reached on GST, it will not be introduced in the Bengal assembly”

He questioned whether small and medium-scale industries are equipped to handle the new tax regime.

“The fight is still on,” Dr Amit Mitra said, pointing out that he is likely to attend the June 3 GST Council meeting. “Majority of the country is still not ready to roll out GST,” he added.

 

 

১লা জুলাই থেকে জিএসটি চালু হবে কিনা তা নিয়ে সংশয় প্রকাশ করলেনঃ অর্থমন্ত্রী

জিএসটি নিয়ে নবান্নে সাংবাদিক বৈঠক করেন অর্থমন্ত্রী অমিত মিত্র। তিনি বলেন, ২৯ টি রাজ্য ও ২ টি ইউনিয়ন টেরিটরি নিয়ে জিএসটি’র এমপাওয়ার্ড কমিটি গঠন হয়েছে, সেখানে আমাকে চেয়ারম্যান নির্বাচিত করে। ১৪ জুন ২০১৬ কলকাতায় এমপাওয়ার্ড কমিটি’র ঐতিহাসিক বৈঠক হয়। সংসদে বিল পাস হওয়ার পর চালু হল জিএসটি কাউন্সিল যা হল সর্বোচ্চ উপদেষ্টা মণ্ডলী, যার চেয়ারম্যান হলেন কেন্দ্রীয় অর্থমন্ত্রী।

তিনি বলেন, সাংবিধানিক সংশোধনীর বক্তব্য অনুযায়ী রাজ্যের রাজস্ব কমে গেলে তাহলে তারা ক্ষতিপূরণ দিতে পারে, কোন নিশ্চয়তা নেই। দ্বিতীয়ত, ৫ বছরের যে কোন সময় যদি রাজস্ব কমে যায় কেন্দ্রীয় সরকার ঠিক করতে পারে যে তারা রাজস্ব দেবে না। ওই কলকাতার বৈঠকে ঠিক হয় “it should be ‘shall’, not ‘may’, and secondly, not ‘upto 5 years’ but ’period of 5 years।”

ওই বৈঠকে আরও সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়, রাজ্যে ১.৫ কোটির নিচে ব্যবসা হলে তাদের ক্ষেত্রে শুধু রাজ্যের কন্ট্রোল থাকবে। জিএসটি কাউন্সিল তৈরি হলে অবশেষে সিদ্ধান্ত হল ১.৫ কোটির নিচে ৯০ শতাংশ ছোট ব্যবসায় দ্বৈত নিয়ন্ত্রণ থাকবে না।
চতুর্থ জিএসটি বৈঠকে (৩ ও ৪ নভেম্বর) আমরা প্রস্তাব দিয়েছিলাম খাদ্যশস্য জি এস টির বাইরে রাখতে হবে, সকলে সম্মতি দেওয়ায় এখন খাদ্যশস্য করমুক্ত। এটা সাধারন মানুষের একটা বড় পাওনা।

কাঁচা সবজি, ফল, স্বাস্থ্য পরিষেবা, ডাক্তারের ফি, নিউজ পেপার এগুলো করমুক্ত হয়েছে, যা সাধারন মানুষের প্রয়োজনীয়। ছানা, মুড়ি, চিড়ে, পানের পাতা, খই, সবুজ চা, সিঁদুর, আলতা, পোল্ট্রি, জৈব সার, খাদির জামাকাপড় ওপর ট্যাক্স বসাচ্ছিল, লড়াই করে এগুলো করমুক্ত করেছি আমরা।

তিনি আরও বলেন, জুতোর অপর ১২ ট্যাক্স বসাবে বলেছিল, আমরা প্রস্তাব দিয়েছি ৫০০ টাকা পর্যন্ত কোন কর ছাড় দিতে হবে।নিউজ প্রিন্টিং করমুক্ত করার জন্য আমরা চিঠি দিয়েছি, কাজুর ওপর ১২ ট্যাক্স বসাবে বলেছিল, সেই নিয়ে লড়াই এখনো বাকি।

বর্তমানে পশ্চিমবঙ্গে সিনেমার ওপর ট্যাক্স ২ শতাংশ, আজ কেন্দ্রীয় সরকার ২৮ শতাংশ ট্যাক্স বসানোর চিন্তা করছে, আমাদের লড়াই জারি রয়েছে, আঞ্চলিক ভাষার ছবিতে যদি ২৮% ট্যাক্স বসানো হয় তাহলে তা ধুলিস্মাত হয়ে যাবে।সবশেষে তিনি বলেন, আমার একার ক্ষমতা সীমাবদ্ধ তবুও মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর অনুপ্রেরণায় মা-মাটি-মানুষের জন্য লড়াই করেছি এবং এই লড়াই চালিয়ে যাব। জিএসটি পুরোপুরি তৈরী নয়। ১লা জুলাই এটি চূড়ান্ত হবে কিনা তা নিয়ে সংশয় প্রকাশ করেন অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন যতক্ষণ না জিএসটি সমাধান হয় ততক্ষণ এটি বিধানসভাতেও পেশ করা হবে না।

 

BREAKING: दार्जिलिङ पहाडका सम्पूर्ण स्कुल कालेजहरू 1 र 2 जुन (48 घण्टा ) बन्द

बंगला भाषा बाध्यतामूलक अध्ययन एवं नेपाली भाषामाथि अतिक्रमण- लाई लिएर एउटा समीक्षा सभा आज गोरखा रङ्गमञ्च भवनमा पहाड़का विभिन्न विद्यालय, महाविद्यालयका शिक्षक-शिक्षिकागण, भाषासित सम्बन्धित सघं-संस्थाहरूका प्रतिनिधिवर्ग, विशिष्ट साहित्यिक व्यक्तित्व अनि सैयौंको संख्यामा भाषाप्रेमी गोरखाहरूमाझ सम्पन्न गरियो।

आजको समीक्षा सभामा सहभागी जनाएका सबै शैक्षिक संस्थान, साहित्यिक सघं-संस्थाका प्रतिनिधिवर्ग एवं विशिष्ट साहित्यिक व्यक्तित्वहरूले पहाड़मा बंगला भाषाको बाध्यतामूलक अध्ययन गरिनुपर्ने प्रस्ताव बंगाल सरकारको एउटा षड़यन्त्र रहेको ठहर गर्दै सबैपक्षबाट यसको घोर विरोध रहेको जनाइयो। बंगला भाषामाथि  पहाड़वासीको सम्मान भाव रहेको भएतापनि उक्त भाषाको बाध्यतामूलक अध्ययन गरिनुपर्ने फरमान सोझै नेपाली भाषामाथि अतिक्रमण रहेको हुनाले उक्त प्रस्तावलाई कुनै हालतमा पनि स्वीकार नगरिने र सबै नेपालीभाषी गोरखाहरूले एकजुट भएर विरोध गर्ने विषयमा पनि आपसी सहमति बनाइयो।

आजको सभामा पारित प्रस्ताव अनुसार, बंगला भाषालाई ऐच्छिक रूपमा अध्यय गर्नलाई कुनै आपत्ति छैन। तर बाध्यतामूलक अथवा अनिवार्यरूपमा बंगला भाषा अध्ययन गरिनुपर्ने राज्य सरकारको फरमान भने कुनै हालतमा स्वीकार्य हुनेछैन। किनभने यसले भाषा अनि जातिको आधारमा उठिरहेको गोरखाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई भविष्यमा नकरात्मक असर पार्न सक्छ अनि पहाड़मा बंगलाभाषीहरू बहुसंख्यकमा रहेको आधिकारीक पुष्टि गरेर राज्य सरकारले गोरखाल्याण्डको मुद्दालाई निमिट्यान्न पार्न पनि सक्छन्। उक्त भित्री षड़यन्त्रलाई बुझेर पनि सबैजना एकजुट भएर तीव्र विरोध प्रदर्शनी गरिनेछ।

भारतीय संविधानको आठौं अनुसूचिमा मान्यताप्राप्त नेपाली भाषामाथि भइरहेको उक्त अतिक्रमणको कुनै हालतमा सहन गरिनेछैन। यसैले आज समाजका विभिन्न क्षेत्रका जिम्मेवार व्यक्तित्वहरूको उपस्थितिमा मातृभाषाको सुरक्षा अनि सम्मानको निम्ति कतिपय भावी कार्यक्रमहरू पनि तयार पारिएको छ।
भाषा अतिक्रमणमाथि आजको सभामा लिइएको घोषणाहरू:

1. सम्पूर्ण दार्जिलिङ पहाड, सिलिगुडी तराई अनि डुवर्समा आगामी 1 जुनदेखि प्रतिवाद स्वरूप सडक गाउँ शहर बजारमा  कालो झण्डा लगाउनुपर्नेछ  ।

2. दार्जिलिङ पहाडका सम्पूर्ण स्कुल कालेजहरू 1 र 2 जुन  (48 घण्टा ) बन्द रहने छ ।

3. जुन 4 तारिखदेखि  8 तारिख सम्म प्रतिवाद जुलुस  सम्पूर्ण पहाडभरि गरिनेछ    ।

Slaughter of rights: Mamata - Bengal govt will not accept central rules on livestock markets: CMOur Special Correspondent

Calcutta, May 29: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today declared that the Bengal government would not implement the central notification that bans the sale of cattle in animal markets for slaughter.

"We are not accepting (the notification), nor are we bound by these rules," Mamata said in her first reaction in public to the notification.

"This is absolutely unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on federalism.... This is a destructive approach and unnecessary bulldozing," Mamata told a media conference, adding that the government was consulting legal experts.

The chief minister ridiculed attempts to dictate food habits. "Now, I too can say, 'Plants also have life... a potato, wax gourd, gourd and even paddy has life'," she said.

Bengal has hundreds of licensed animal markets across the state, where cattle worth hundreds of crores are bought and sold every week. The leather industry, already reeling under the impact of cow vigilantism, too is expected to be affected. If the notification is implemented in the state, the economic impact is bound to be significant.

Mamata flagged both concerns at the media conference, adding that the notification -published just before the beginning of the holy month of Ramazan - was a "political" move.

She repeatedly stressed her responsibility to protect "all sections of society" and honour the "food habits of everyone".

"Where the markets will come up, who will eat what, will they decide everything? Farmers travelling somewhere with cows are attacked - we are receiving such reports from UP and also MP," the chief minister said.

Mamata also targeted the notification on the constitutional front. "According to Article 246 of the Constitution, the legislature of any state has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the Seventh Schedule. The law is clear. Even then, the decision is being forced down our throats," Mamata said.

Reeling off specific entries - "Entry 15, Entry 16, Entry 26 and Entry 28" - from the state list of the Seventh Schedule, Mamata said the new rules were a "deliberate attempt to encroach on state power".

The entries relate to preservation, protection and improvement of cattle stock, prevention of animal disease, trade and commerce, and markets and fairs. Legal consultations are being held to establish whether trade and commerce in cattle is a state subject.

Government sources said that although the chief minister was livid with the notification, she wanted to do her homework before giving her official reaction.

Asked whether she would try to bring other state governments on board against the notification, Mamata said: "I think all the secular parties are united on this."

The CPM-led Left government in Kerala has already opposed the notification and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sent a letter to the Prime Minister. Sources in the Bengal government said that Mamata had no such plans for now.

"A legal challenge based on constitutional provisions seems to be the strategy. The chief minister will not let go of this opportunity to attack the Modi government," said a source.

Reacting to the media conference, Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said: "I am surprised that the CM took two days to react.... Usually she reacts within half an hour. She has been very careful while commenting, keeping in mind that 20 lakh people in Bengal were on the streets on Ram Navami.

(Via : Telegraph, in pic Protesters in Chennai shout slogans on Monday against the ban on the sale of cattle in livestock markets for slaughter. AFP)

Survival fear hangs on cattle markets - Law and order worry over closure

(Cattle brought for trade in Murshidabad's Domkal on Saturday. (Chayan Majumdar)

The Mamata Banerjee government is planning to contest the Centre's ban on sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets legally and politically.

Sources said the Bengal government would highlight the plight of people involved in the cattle trade in its legal challenge to the notification issued by the Union environment ministry on May 23 that prohibited the sale or purchase of cattle in livestock markets for "slaughter purpose".

Trade still went on in the animal markets, though in lesser volume as the arrival of animals has declined in the last few months due to bovine vigilantism.

The Telegraph takes a look at licensed animal markets in Birbhum, Nadia and Murshidabad. The three districts together have 26 animal markets that have permission from either panchayats or civic bodies.

BIRBHUM

Number of animal markets: Six

Location of the markets: Illambazar, Gopalpur in Nalhati, Kantor in Dubrajpur, Sainthia, Rampurhat and Purandarpur in Suri

Animals sold: Cows, buffaloes and goats

Volume of animals sold: Around 60,000 a week

Weekly business: Rs 55 crore to Rs 65 crore

Voices in the market: "Not only local people but also thousands from different districts and other states like Bihar and Jharkhand benefit financially from the trade. If all markets are shut, it would affect a large number people," said Abdul Rahaman Khadim, one of the partners of Illambazar cattle market.

Administration's worry: Officials said sudden closure of the markets would cause an impact on rural economy as well as law and order.

District magistrate P. Mohangandhi said: "We are yet to receive any notification and so, it is too early to comment."

NADIA

Number of markets: Seven

Location of animal markets: Karimpur, Thanarpara, Krishnagar, Debagram, Dhubulia, Birohi and Bethuadahari

Animals sold: Cows and buffaloes

Volume of animals sold: Around 1,500 a week

Weekly business: Around Rs 3.5 crore

Market voices: Ranjit Khan, a cattle merchant at Thanarpara, said: "The market controls the local economy. Around 400 families in the surrounding areas are also dependent on the market.

A milch cow costs at least Rs 40,000. Those animals for slaughter are sold for rates between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000. If cattle trade is stopped, these families will be in great trouble and may be forced into anti-social activities.

Administration's worry: A section of local vigilantes want the markets to be closed immediately after the notification, but they remain open in the absence of any direction from Nabanna.

"I have not received any order," said Nadia district magistrate Sumit Gupta.

MURSHIDABAD

Number of animal markets: 13

Location of animal markets: Beldanga, Patikabari, Tangramari, Domkal, Bhatsala, Godhanpara, Murshidabad, Rampara, Krishnapur, Omarpur, Dhulian, Mahalandi and Dakbangla

Animals sold: Cows, buffaloes, goats and camels

Volume of animals sold: About 10,000 a week

Weekly business: Rs 25 to Rs 30 crore

Voices in the market: "I have been doing this business for the last 20 years. I do not supply cattle to Bangladesh. If this business is stopped, there would be a rise in thefts," said Rijaul Mondal, a trader in Domkal's cattle market.

Administration's worry: Senior officials say the licences to the animal markets are issued by either civic bodies or panchayat samitis and are renewed every year.

"As per the Panchayat Act, authorities cannot issue licence for animal markets within 8km of the international border.

But the recent order extends the distance to 50km, which would affect the economy and create a law and order problem," an official said.

District magistrate Sharad Kumar Diwedi said: "My office is yet to receive a copy of the notification. Whatever orders the state gives would be adhered to."

(Telegraph ,Compiled by Snehamoy Chakraborty, Subhasish Chaudhuri and Alamgir Hossai)

Congratulations!!! Brijesh Thapa receive reputed UN medal for "courage and sacrifice" in the mission

United Nations peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. India currently deploys more than 7,600 military and police personnel to UN peace operations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, West Asia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara. Last year, two Indian peacekeepers in different operations lost their lives and in their honour, India’s UN Ambassador Syed Akbarudding received the medal on their behalf for courage and sacrifice in their line of duty.

Rifleman Brijesh Thapa, who served with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Private Ravi Kumar who was deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon posthumously received the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed yesterday.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres laid a wreath to honour all fallen peacekeepers and presided over the ceremony where the Dag Hammarskjold Medal was awarded to 117 military, police and civilian personnel from 43 nations who lost their lives while serving in peacekeeping operations during 2016.

"UN peacekeeping is one of international community's most effective investments to support peace, security and prosperity. There are risks when deploying peacekeepers to a crisis area but inaction may carry even greater risks," he said.

India is the largest cumulative troop contributor, having provided almost 200,000 troops in nearly 50 of the 71 peacekeeping missions mandated over the past six decades, including 13 of the current 16 missions. Historically, the medal is named after the second UN Secretary General, who had died in a mysterious 1961 plane crash. He was posthumously awarded a Nobel Peace Prize the year he died.

[Via: News Bharati]

GORKHA PRIDE: Vivek Chhetri to Receive Ram Patro Memorial Excellence in Journalism Award

The Ram Patro Memorial Award 2017 Committee is delighted to announce the name of Mr. Vivek Chhetri.

He is the Special Correspondent of The Telegraph, as the receipt of Ram Patro Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism 2017.

Since 2005 till 2016, the Ram Patro Memorial award was presented to the ‘Most Promising Journalist of the State’ for the then previous fiscal year in memory of Ram Patro, the founding editor of SIKKIM EXPRESS. Fourteen young, dynamic journalists working in Sikkim have been honoured with the Ram Patro Memorial ‘Most Promising Journalist’ award so far.

This year, the Ram Patro Memorial Award selection committee decided that the award ambit should be extended to the neighbouring places of Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong also where many deserving and dedicated journalists are working. Accordingly, the name of the award was also changed to ‘Ram Patro Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism’.

Mr. Vivek Chhetri will be the first recipient of the Ram Patro Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Satish K. Agnihtori has graciously accepted the invitation of the Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee to attend the award function on May 24 as the chief guest.

Tadong MLA-and-Parliamentary Secretary Timothy William Basnett will be present as the guest of honour for the award function taking place at Hotel Gangtok Drift, Convoy Ground, Gangtok.

Mr. Vivek Chhetri, 39 years, is presently the Special Correspondent of The Telegraph. He joined The Telegraph in 2002 as a staff reporter and is based in Darjeeling town covering Darjeeling and Kurseong region.

“We are delighted in having Vivek Chhetri as the first recipient of the Ram Patro Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism. He is a prominent journalist from the hills and his extensive, unbiased reporting from a politically disruptive region reflects high standard of journalism and dedication from him,” said C.D. Rai, chairman of the Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee.

Mr. Vivek Chhetri hails from Gairibas, Jhaldaka in present Kalimpong district. He is presently based in Darjeeling town with his wife Reena Chhetri who is a sculptor by profession and three-year-old son Ribhav.

LINGUISTIC IMPERIALISM: Mamata Govt Makes #Bengali Language Mandatory Till Class X

Every student in West Bengal schools will HAVE TO STUDY BENGALI as a COMPULSORY SUBJECT from Class I to Class X.

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Monday announced that students of all schools — irrespective of boards or mother tongue — will now have to learn three languages from Class I to X, one of which would have to be Bengali.

“From now on, it will be compulsory for students to learn Bengali in schools. English medium schools will have to make Bengali an optional subject from Class I so that the students can study it either as a second or third language,” Chatterjee told mediapersons.

As of now, students study two languages in schools from Class I, which is usually their mother tongue and English. From Class VII, they study a third language — another language, which could be Indian or foreign. While choosing the third language, till now it was not compulsory for students — who did not study Bengali as the first or second language — to opt for Bengali.

“If a student selects either Bengali or Hindi or English or Gurumukhi or Urdu or Nepali as his first language, he will have to select two other languages, one of which has to be Bengali. With Bengali selected as one of the languages, the student will have the freedom to choose any other languages as the remaining two languages,” Chatterjee said.

[Via: Indian Express]

CIVIC POLL: Violence hits West Bengal civic polls, several booths vandalized - Bombs hurled

KOLKATA: Several incidents of clashes were reported at polling booths during the voting for West Bengal's seven municipalities on Sunday.

Reports said in many wards goons broke EVM machines and vandalised polling booths. They also beat up voters. Major clashes broke out at Domkal in Murshidabad and Pujali in south 24 parganas. At Pujali booth, men came on bikes and allegedly hurled bombs in ward 10.

At Domkal too, Trinamool Congress supporters clashed with CPM and congress workers.

Congress leaders have laid siege at Rowdon Street in Kolkata outside the office of the state election commission. They sat on a demonstration blocking the road after the election commissioner refused to meet them.

The Congress leadership said they wanted to submit a memorandum demanding repolling at Domkal and Pujali.
The criminals allegedly owe allegiance to TMC. In protest of the violence, Congress has withdrawn its candidates from Domkal.

The seats for which the elections are being held are - Domkal (Murshidabad), Raigunj (North Dinajpur), Pujali (south 24 pargana), Darjeeling (Darjeeling), Kalimpong (Kalimpong), Kurseong (Darjeeling) and Mirik (Darjeeling).

The elections are so far peaceful in four municipalities of hill area (Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik). The other three seats are said to be disturbed.

Via: TOI
Pic: Various Sources

Leopard attacks female tea worker in Mal block, tea worker seriously injured

A leopard attack at the Good Hope Tea Estate in Damdim Gram Panchayat under Mal Block seriously injured a female tea worker of the tea garden.

The leopard suddenly pounced on Sushma Soren (40) on Thursday when she was picking tea leaves at the Section No.4 of the tea estate. The attack left her seriously injured. Tea workers came to her aid and rushed her to the Super Specialty Hospital in Malbazaar.

Meanwhile, a similar leopard attack took place in Oodlabari. Oodlabari Tea Estate worker Munni Orau (42) was also attacked by a leopard at Section No.87 of the tea garden. Orau was injured during the attack and was rushed to Malbazaar Mahakuma Hospital for treatments.

The Forest Department have set up a watch at the tea estates and have also installed a cage to catch the leopard. The step is being taken to prevent further attacks on the workers.

(Via : Siliguri Times ,Photo Courtesy:- Internet)

Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh Flouts Traffic Rules - Rides Bike Without Helmet, Breaks Model Code of Conduct

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh yesterday rode a motorcycle through Raiganj streets with Locket Chatterjee as a pillion passenger and around 30 other two-wheelers trailing him, prompting the Trinamul Congress to allege that he had flouted the model code of conduct for the ensuing civic polls.

Around 9am, the BJP state president spoke at a public meeting in Debinagar in Raiganj. While moving from there, he took a motorcycle from a BJP worker and rode to Ukilpara for another meeting. From there, he had Locket on the pillion seat and moved through 13 to 14 wards of the town. Ghosh stopped at many places, spoke to people and held meetings.

Over 30 motorcycles ridden by BJP cadres accompanied Ghosh.

Both Ghosh and Locket were without helmets and so were most BJP workers. Raiganj police said they had sent a detailed report to the administration on traffic rule violation.

Trinamul alleged that the bike rally was a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

"Dilip Ghosh is known for violating rules. We have filed a complaint with the state election commission on his bike rally," Arindam Sarkar, a district Trinamul leader, said.

Told that his ride might amount to violation of the MCC and traffic rules, Ghosh said: "Leaders and workers of the ruling party are flouting rules and laws everyday. Why should we alone have the responsibility of obeying rules?"

Officials of North Dinajpur district administration said they were looking into the allegation. "We have information about the violation of MCC by the BJP. There is a clear guideline of the election commission about the ban on bike rallies. If the information is found to be correct, we will file a suo motu case against all people concerned," T N Sherpa, the SDO of Raiganj, said.

- TheDC

CONGRATULATIONS: Darjeeling boys shine at Rural Games National Championship

We sends a quick shout out to Darjeeling boys for shining at the recently concluded Rural Games National Championship that was organised in Pune.

The young guns won big in boxing and kickboxing events. While Diwash and Prakop Rai won gold, Rohan Gurung and Anup Sherpa won silver in boxing (in different categories). Pranoy Thapa shone with gold for kickboxing. All of them have been selected for international championship to be held at Kathmandu in June this year.

Congratulations, boys - Darjeeling is so proud to have sons like you. Well Done & Good Luck for Kathmandu!

- TheDC

CONGRATULATIONS: Darjeeling boys shine at Rural Games National Championship

We sends a quick shout out to Darjeeling boys for shining at the recently concluded Rural Games National Championship that was organised in Pune.

The young guns won big in boxing and kickboxing events. While Diwash and Prakop Rai won gold, Rohan Gurung and Anup Sherpa won silver in boxing (in different categories). Pranoy Thapa shone with gold for kickboxing. All of them have been selected for international championship to be held at Kathmandu in June this year.

Congratulations, boys - Darjeeling is so proud to have sons like you. Well Done & Good Luck for Kathmandu!

- TheDC

Under trial beaten to death in Cooch Behar

In an alleged case of custodial killing, an under trial prisoner was beaten to death by the authorities of a correctional facility in the Dinahata sub division of Cooch Behar district.

The incident came to light on the wee hours of Tuesday when the family members of Noor Hawk Ali (65) found that his body was lying at the Dinhata sub-divisional hospital. Upon seeing “several bruises on his body” they become suspicious that Mr. Ali has been beaten to death in jail and lodged a police complaint. Murder case has been lodged against the jailor of the Dinhata Subsidiary Correctional Home Siddhartha Bhattacharya and his staff. However, no one has been arrested so far.

Speaking to The Hindu Ali’s son Mosufa Ali said that “on the early hours of Tuesday some officials from the Dinhata police station arrived at his residence in Narayanganj village and said that his father has died in jail. They asked my family members to sign some documents. I was not at home that time.” He also said after his family members refused to sign the documents the police personnel went back.

Upon being informed by his family members about the incident he became suspicious and told them not to sign the documents. At around 4.30 am he went to the Dinhata sub-divisional hospital and found his father’s body there.

“There were several bruises on the left side of my father’s body and I also saw traces of foaming at his mouth. We are afraid that he was brought to the hospital by the jailor and his staff after they beat him to death,” Mosufa Ali stated in his complaint lodged at the local Dinhata Police Station. However, Superintendent of Cooch Behar Anoop Jaiswal said that “police went to his (Mousufa Ali) house to inform them about his father’s death, but never asked his family members to sign any documents.”

Ali’s daughter Lutfa Biwi said that after bringing her father’s body home on Tuesday evening following post-mortem she noticed “cut marks on his feet.” She also asked whether “one’s feet needs to be cut open for post-mortem.”

Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Dinhata Kuntal Bandopdhyay said that “murder case has been registered against the jailor and his staff. Investigation is in progress.” He also said that the cause of Mr. Noor Hawk Ali’s death cannot be specified now as the post mortem report is yet to arrive. The jailor refused to comment on the matter.

Soumya Das, TheHindu

Bengal Govt to induct midday meal volunteers to ensure proper food supply in schools

Bengal government has taken an initiative to induct midday meal volunteers, who would ensure that food items sent by the state government to schools for midday meals, reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Partha Chatterjee, the state Education minister, said: “Following the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a new initiative has been launched to engage midday meal volunteers.” The main task of the volunteers would be to keep a watch and ensure that the food items allocated by the state government reaches the beneficiaries.

Each of the volunteers would be responsible for keeping track of the situation in a certain number of schools in an area. They will also be filing reports to the concerned authority. With volunteers keeping tabs on schools on a daily basis, the children will get the proper food that the government had allocated for them and stringent steps will be taken if the volunteers find that the task has not been properly executed.

The Minister said he has received complaints that rice and eggs sent for midday meals are not reaching the students. The volunteers will be visiting the schools and will make sure that midday meals are served to the students in proper quantity and quality. There have been allegations that the rice sent to schools by the government for midday meals is not being given to the students. Some food items allocated to schools under the scheme also get sold in the market or are replaced with inferior quality products.

The state government had also asked the District Magistrates to visit schools to check whether midday meals are served to students in proper quantity and quality.

 

Alliance with TMC on Sixth Schedule bargain: GNLF

9 May 2017

The Gorkha National Liberation Front today said it would sever ties with the Trinamool Congress if the ruling party failed to look into the demand for including the hills under the ambit of Sixth Schedule.

The party organised it first election public meeting in Darjeeling for GNLF candidates in fray for the May 14 municipal polls. The GNLF is in an alliance with the TMC for the municipal election and is contesting in all the wards of the four hill municipalities under a seat sharing formula.

Niraj Zimba, the GNLF spokesperson, said his party’s alliance with the TMC would remain intact for the upcoming election as chief minister Mamata Banerjee has not spoken against the Sixth Schedule demand.
“She has not said anything against our demand for the hills. We are however, watching how things play out. If the chief minister goes against our demand, we will be compelled to break our future relation and alliance,” he said.

The GNLF's demand is to bring the Darjeeling hills under the Sixth Schedule. In 2004, GNLF founder Subash Ghisingh had raised the issue and a year later, a Memorandum of Agreement was also signed on December 6, 2005 with the UPA agreement.

A bill was also introduced in parliament by the Congress-led UPA government but the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, with the help of its partner, the BJP, managed to get the bill shelved.

Of late, the GNLF has again raked up the issue arguing that implementing the Sixth Schedule was the only plausible solution to the problems plaguing the hills.

On the upcoming municipal election, the GNLF was of the opinion that siding with the TMC would get rid of corruption in the civic bodies and hegemony of the GJM. “We need to have good governance of the civic bodies; they should be corruption free and work for the benefit of the people. Under the GJM this was not so. We want to bring a change and that is why we have partnered the TMC in the election,” Zimba said. (EOIC)

File Pic 

A DAUGHTER RETURNS HOME IN COFFIN – Anguished Family Suspect Murder

The death of a 22 year old Teresa Rai who was working in a 5 star hotel in Delhi has left the Gorkha community across India in a state of shock. Her family members and those who saw her dead body in Delhi and in Darjeeling suspect that she was murdered.

Corresponding with TheDC, Mr. Buddha Rai elder brother of Teresa said, “Teresa was a very brave young woman… she had completed her hotel management course from Kalimpong and had left home to stand on her own feet… when she went to Delhi, she had left home in a very positive frame of mind and was excited about her life and her career…”

He added, “we are in a state of shock to know that she is no more...

“From media reports we came to know that she was in a relationship with a Manu Gopal from Himachal Pradesh, and the media alleged that she may have committed suicide… but once we saw her dead body we are certain that our sister did not commit suicide, rather she was killed… There are burn marks in her feet, and marks of strangulation using ropes in her neck… no one who committed suicide would burn her own feet partially, these we feel are signs of an assault on her… we don’t think our sister would commit suicide and even if she did, it must have been her boyfriend who pushed her to towards it…” he said.

“Today, thanks to help and support from various NGOs in Delhi, especially the help provided by Ms. Vandana Khambu Rai we brought her body back home, and we are very Thankful to everyone who helped us in these trying times… the Superintendent of Police as well as the SHO have filed a general diary against Manu Gopal and they are awaiting postmortem report to complete the FIR process against him… we are hopeful that our community will stand along with us in seeking justice for our sister” he added.

The family has released Teresa’s picture in the hopes that their daughter will be remembered for the lovely human being that she was.

We request all our readers to kindly extent all help, support and solidarity with the bereaved family and stand with them in this hour of grief.

We pray to God to extend the family strength to overcome this irreparable loss.

#RIPTeresa

Source - TheDC

THE CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE: BJP Surges Ahead In Local Polls, Saffron On The Rise in Bengal As Congress, Left And TMC Seem Clueless

Writes: Saugata Roy

Lord Ram was never a historical figure in Bengal as people believe in parts of north India. Perceptions vary in Uttar Pradesh and Bengal on this issue. For people in east UP, mostly avid readers of Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas, Ram is as real as the sun, but it's not so in Bengal.

In fact, Tagore wrote "Kobi tobo monobhumi Ramer janmasthan, Ayodhyar cheye satya jeno (the poet's mind is the birthplace of Ram which is more real than Ayodhya)."

Yet, the spurt in celebration of Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti in parts of Bengal, including Tagore's land Birbhum, has caught eyeballs, pointing to a shift in the state's socio-political narrative. Speakers at the rallies use the occasion to assert their Hindu identity, although at the grassroots, the deprived lot look at Ram as the icon agai

If you discount this as a "passing phase" of saffron euphoria after UP polls, think again. For, it appears to be a building up of a new narrative in which Hinduism stands for patriotism and secularism means Muslim appeasement. Unlike in 1992, when Kolkata saw a surge in Hindu passions after the Babri Masjid demolition, the VHP's rallying for Ram Janmabhoomi this time got some a social sanction.

It touched the minds of a section of the educated middle class that's either irritated with, or insecure about, the rise of jihadi Islam. Knee-jerk reactions to the saffron brigade from the Trinamool are adding to polarisation.

A change in Bengali word 'Ramdhanu' (rainbow) by the government in school books is one such instance. Environment lessons in Bengali in government approved textbooks for Class III have changed the word 'ramdhanu' to 'rongdhonu' to get rid of Ram.
If this is one facet, the other move is just the reverse. The recent South Contai assembly bypoll is a case in point, in which the BJP emerged as a clear second — far ahead of the Left and Congress that lost their deposits.

The BJP's gain has a direct correlation with the vote shift from the Left. The Lok Sabha bypoll in Coochbehar held in 2016 showed similar trend. The Left seems to be caught in a time warp, failing to rally people under its broad class politics paradigm. Also, the Left's inability to inspire youth has added to their woes.

"We've seen others, Congress, CPM and Trinamool. Let's see what Modiji can do," said IT manager Saikat Mitra. Modi has a package for everyclass is in disarray. Most of the times they go unheard."
What's new is the BJP's inclusion of Dalits in the scheme of things. To send out the message to the ranks, BJP president Amit Shah had lunch at Raju Mahali's house at Naxalbari digressing from the past when the BJP was seen as an upper caste party. "Even backward Muslims are our target group," said state BJP spokesperson Sayantan Das.

Shah, in his meeting with intellectuals in Kolkata, strummed the strings of cultural nationalism — an indigenous concept far removed from the idea borrowed from the West. The sub-text to this view calls for change in the secular, socialist tenets of the Constitution. Outfits like RSS, VHP, Hindu Samhati have taken up this cause to drive religious polarisation into a political polarisation that would lead to materialising the 'Hindu Rashtra' dream.

The 'Hindu Rashtra' has little space for the other view. "It's often said Muslims who do not respect Bharat Mata should leave this country. I make my students sing the national anthem. But some want us to sing Vande Mataram which I can't enforce," said a Muslim teacher in Kolkata.

(Via: India Times)

The MTech hill boy Nirupam Sharma steps in premier Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

Since his childhood, he was passionate about machines. When he talked of designing equipment, his parents never thought that what their son desired to do would come true one day. Nirupam Sharma, a 23-year old from Okayti Tea Estate, has tasted success after getting a degree from National Institute of Technology.

Nirupam has been selected to become a scientist at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) - the country's premier institution on space technology. This aspiring hill lad tasted success after securing rank 88 during All India level examination which was held few months ago.
Son of Bishwakavi and Bishnukala Sharma, Nirupam has been raised in a middle-class family. He had tough competition from peers but as they say fortune smiles on the brave and Nirupam found success. Nirupam completed his schooling from Little flower English School(5),Lewis English School (10),Vidya Vikash Academy Darjeeling(12) and completed B.Tech from Surendra Institute of Engineering and Management Siliguri and M.Tech from NIT, Silchar.

Honesty test strips dignity

Writes : K.M. Rakesh

May 8: A girl who took the all-India medical entrance exam in Kerala yesterday was told to her horror that the ban on candidates carrying metallic items into the exam hall applied even to the buckles on her bra.

The 19-year-old was forced to remove the innerwear and hand it to her mother, who was waiting outside the centre in Kannur, north Kerala, before she was allowed to enter.

The dress code for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) indeed bans metallic items to pre-empt any cheating through hidden electronic devices. But ordinarily, this is understood to apply to earrings, hairpins, headbands, brooches, big metal buttons and the like.

The girl, who took the test at TISK English Medium School in Kovvapuram, Kannur, told The Telegraph: "First, they asked me to change my black trousers (as only light-coloured clothing was allowed), which I did after buying a new pair. When I returned it was already 9.20am (against the entry deadline of 9.30am)."

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There was more shock in store for her when a woman official heard beeps on her metal detector while scanning the girl. "When I told her they were just the shoulder buckles on my bra strap, she asked me to remove the bra," she said.

With the nearest washroom a few minutes' walk away, and unwilling to lose any more time, she chose to remove the innerwear at the all-woman screening room itself.

"I don't know how I managed to write the exam as the incident left me rattled," the girl, who had prepared for a year for the three-hour test, said.

"Why make an issue over a couple of bra buckles, when even my glasses had a metal frame?"

She added: "I'm sure at least three other girls in my exam room faced the same ordeal, as I saw them in great discomfort without their innerwear."

Another girl who had appeared at the same centre in a pair of jeans had to remove the cheek pockets and the metal buttons.

Media reports quoted her father as saying he had to travel 3km and wait for a shop to open to buy new clothes for his daughter to wear when she stepped out after the 10am-to-1pm test.

While the other examinees left after the test, the girl who had to remove her innerwear summoned the courage to approach the local media waiting outside the centre to cover the conduct of the test.

The state human rights commission today registered a complaint on the basis of media reports and asked Kannur police to investigate and register a case against the officials.

Both the police and the regional office of the Central Board of Secondary Education, which conducts the test, must submit reports on the incident within three weeks, commission acting chairman P. Mohan Das said.

Das said the CBSE, which issued the dos and don'ts, should understand the cultural sensitivities and diverse dressing habits prevalent in the country before unilaterally writing down a code.

"Asking a young girl to remove her innerwear could be the most humiliating and inhumane act. Such harassment can only rattle the self-confidence of candidates who would have prepared for months."

CBSE sources said the complaints about "excessive" frisking, including the ordeal of the Kerala girl, would be examined. They said such "excessive" frisking was not warranted and the board would take precautions in future.

"The prospectus informed the candidates they would be subjected to extensive and compulsory frisking with highly sensitive metal detectors, but seeking the removal of innerwear should have been avoided," a senior board official said.

Board sources explained the dress code as an anti-cheating measure that became necessary after the Supreme Court had cancelled the NEET in 2015 following evidence of large-scale malpractice.

Among the items the candidates are banned from carrying are shoes, writing pads, pen drives, erasers, calculators, cellphones, Bluetooth devices, earphones, pagers, wallets, belts, caps, watches, bracelets, water bottles, rings, chains, necklaces and pendants.

Repeated calls to Union government joint secretary Sanyam Bharadwaj, assigned to oversee the conduct of the test, first evoked advice to "call later" from assistants and were later ignored altogether.

Another official, who declined to be identified, said the guidelines forbade metallic items to prevent cheating through hidden devices, but had no answer when asked what device a pair of small buckles could hold.

Kannur police superintendent G. Siva Vikram told reporters: "Although no complaint has been received so far, we have ordered the special branch to investigate the matter."

The student corroborated that the local police were in touch with her family.

In the state Assembly, several members sought answers and education minister G. Raveendranath promised an inquiry.

CPM Lok Sabha member P.K. Sreemathy described the girl's ordeal as a "serious case of human rights violation".

"A girl who has to write an exam after removing her underclothes would never be able to fare well in the exam," she told reporters in Kannur.

More than 11 lakh would-be doctors and dentists took the NEET yesterday across India, with many falling foul of the dress code.

Reports said that many examinees in Tamil Nadu had to hurriedly cut their shirtsleeves at the centres because full sleeves are not allowed. Many had to take off their shoes and put on their parents' sandals.

Pens, pencils and mobile phones had to be left behind - the centres provided alternative pens.

-Telegraph

9I#RESPECT: Elderly Couple Donate One Crore Rupees of their Lifetime Saving Towards National Defence Fund

In a gesture that will melt your heart and lift-up the spirit of our soldiers, the elderly
couple from Bhavnagar (Gujarat) today set an example by donating towards National Defence Fund.

Janardanbhai, who is a retired SBI worker, and his wife Padmaben Bhatt donated Rs 1 crore of their lifetime savings to National Defence Fund.

The National Defence Fund was set up for voluntary donations and is used for the welfare of the members of our armed forces and their dependents.

(With inputs and pics from ANI)

Shocking New Dresscode For NEET Exams! Girls Asked To Remove Undergarments, Boys Made To Cut Full Sleeves To Half

In an appalling incident, a female candidate appearing for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test or NEET  was allegedly forced to remove her innerwear before entering the examination hall. According to story published in India.com,  in Kannur, Kerala, the female security personnel asked a girl her to remove her undergarments to ensure that she isn’t carrying in cheating material. The further alleged that other girls also faced similar harassment. 

“My daughter went inside the centre, only to return later and hand me her top innerwear,” the girl’s mother said. This isn’t the only incident  in which the female candidate appearing for the exam was harassed. Similar incidents where witnessed a across various examination centre  across  Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Namakkal, Tirunelveli and Vellore when students were frisked and some were asked to cut off their sleeves, while a few female students were asked to remove their bras!

Girls weren’t alone in this as male candidates who appeared for the exams also asked  change their shirts as the officials only allowed half sleeve shirts  for male candidates taking the exam. 

Many who came from distant place and could go back to change their shirts, cut full sleeves of their shirts to half by using scissors. Also, some who had come wearing shoes had to dump it and hastily opt for the sandals of their parents. The Central Board of Secondary Education organised NEET 2017 in over 100 cities across the country; more than 11 lakh aspirants had registered.

- Indiatimes