Category Archives: States

West Bengal

‘Rupashree aid of Rs 25K must reach beneficiaries before marriage date’

Leave a comment

Pradip Chatterjee, MP, 24 June 2024, Kolkata: State government has directed all the district administrations to ensure that the one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 under Rupashree scheme is transferred to the bank account of the beneficiaries well before the date of their marriage. 

The move has been taken to accelerate the process of providing funds to the beneficiaries of the Rupashree scheme. The district officials have been asked to transfer the amount latest by the date of marriage of the beneficiaries failing which accountability would be fixed on those officers who are responsible for delivering the services. 
An order has been issued to the districts clearly stating that it was desirable that the financial assistance is given to the beneficiaries account four days ahead of their date of marriage. The concerned officials will have to ensure that the money is credited to the beneficiaries’ bank account latest by the date of marriage. 
Earlier, there were complaints that in several cases the one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 was transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank account after their marriage had taken place. The beneficiaries will also get to know the status of their applications from Duare Sarkar camps or through an online portal. 
The applicants can apply for the financial assistance through online or offline processes. Application forms are available in various government offices. The applicants can apply for the money 30-60 days prior to the date of marriage. 
The scheme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that was launched on April 1, 2018, provides one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to the family of a girl at the time of her marriage if her family income is less than Rs 1,50,000 per year. 
Initially, Rs 1,500 crore was allocated for the project. The woman must be a permanent resident of West Bengal and above 18 years at the time of her marriage with a cap on an annual family income of Rs 1.5 lakh. No minimum educational qualifications are required to apply for the scheme. 
The scheme introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government has immensely benefited many families who used to find it extremely difficult to bear the expenditure of marriage of their daughters. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/rupashree-aid-of-rs-25k-must-reach-beneficiaries-before-marriage-date-569272
Regional, West Bengal

Heavy rains likely in north Bengal till June 28

Leave a comment

PTI, 24 June 2024 : Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in northern West Bengal owing to a trough from Rajasthan to Bangladesh and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, officials said on Monday.


A warning was issued for landslides in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and a rise in the water level of rivers such as Teesta, Jaldhaka, Sankosh and Torsa owing to the possible downpour, they said.

Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur are very likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall till June 28 owing to an east-west trough running from southeast Rajasthan to north Bangladesh and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, the Met Department said in its forecast.

After days of continuous downpour, there was a respite from the rains in the region.

Thunderstorms with lightning are likely to occur at a few places in southern West Bengal, especially in the coastal and adjoining districts, over the next few days, the Met Department said.
Sikkim

Stray Animals in Sikkim Could Be Auctioned if Not Properly Tethered, Government Warns

Leave a comment
According to the last livestock census that was conducted in the country in 2019, the total population of stray dogs and stray cattle in India stood at 203.31 lakh

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 24.06.24 : The Sikkim government has threatened to auction off stray animals if they are not claimed and tethered at home immediately.

According to the last livestock census that was conducted in the country in 2019, the total population of stray dogs and stray cattle in India stood at 203.31 lakh.
Given this all-pervasive problem in the country, the move by the Sikkim government is being appreciated.

The office of the additional director, animal husbandry and veterinary services (AH &VS), of Pakyong district in Sikkim has issued a public notice stating that of late, some cattle have been found roaming at large on the streets of Rangpo bazar and near NH10 in Rangpo nagar panchayat.

“It is found that these cattle have been left to roam on the streets by their owners,” a public notice issued by Dr A. Pradhan, additional director, AH &VS, department said.

The notice states that in the past few days, several incidents have been reported, wherein stray cattle have hindered traffic on the national highway and on busy streets. There have also been instances of animals being hit by speeding vehicles at night.

The department has asked the owners to claim the animals immediately and keep them on the owner’s premises, failing which the government would seize the animals.

If the owner claims the animal after it is seized, the “department of AH &VS and Rangpo Nagar Panchayat reserves the right to impose fines and penalties to recover the cost incurred thereof”

If no claims are made, the department plans to auction off the animals.

“If the owner(s) fails to claim the same, these animals will be auctioned off without further notice and the department of AH &VS and Rangpo Nagar Panchayat will not be held liable for any further action,” the notice states.

Owners who fail to take care of animals can be charged for committing an offence.

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, failure to provide animals with sufficient food, drink and shelter or abandoning them is a punishable offence.

Many individuals associated with animal welfare said the problem of stray animals was also a public health concern as animals could carry diseases which could be passed off to humans.

According to a written reply given by Parshottam Rupala, the then Union minister of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying in the Lok Sabha on March 15, 2022, a total of 3,860 people died in the country between 2018 and 2020 bgecasue of attacks by animals.

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph
Crime, National, Northeast

Manipur: Fresh gunfight breaks out between armed men

Leave a comment

PTI, Imphal, Jun 23, 2024 :  A fresh gunfight broke out between armed men belonging to two warring communities in Manipur, police said.


The incident took place after some armed persons opened fire towards Thamnapokpi and Lamlai areas in Imphal East district from hilltop positions in adjoining Kangpokpi district around 10.30 pm on Saturday, a police officer said.

Local village volunteers returned fire and security forces rushed to the area to bring the situation under control, he said.

The gunfight stopped after an hour and no casualties were reported, the officer said.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kukis since May last year.

India Tv, 23 June 2024 : In the latest development in violence trapped Manipur, fresh clashes broke out between the armed men in two communities, the police said.



The incident that took place on Saturday, saw some armed miscreants firing towards the Thamnapokpi and Lamlai areas in Imphal East district. The shots were fired from hilltop positions in the adjoining district of

.

The gunfight took place at around 10:30 pm on June 21, the police said. According to the police, local village volunteers did retaliatory firing while the security forces rushed to the site to bring the situation under control. An hour later guns silenced and no casualties were reported.


Jiribam violence



Earlier on June 7, violence erupted in largely peaceful Jiribam after a lifeless body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh (59) was recovered. He was suspected to have been killed by the militants, officials said. Agitated by this, locals set a few abandoned structures on fire which was followed by the imposition of curfew in the area.

Jiribam, which has a diverse ethnic composition comprising Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis and non-Manipuris, had remained unaffected by the ethnic strife till the unfortunate incident. Meanwhile, suspected militants had also torched two police outposts, a forest office and at least 70 houses, prompting the authorities to transfer the superintendent of police.


Additionally, a contingent of more than 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam to assist security personnel in their operations against militants. After the Jiribam violence, more than 200 people were moved to relief camps in Manipur. Meanwhile, people also crossed stare borders to reach Assam’s Cachar district.


Notably, the ethnic violence started in Manipur in May last year. Since then, more than 200 people have lost their lives and thousands have been rendered homeless between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kukis.