MillenniumPost
Bengal

Migrant workers to get Rs 50,000 each: Mamata

Cooch Behar: The state government will give Rs 50,000 to the workers who have come back from Kashmir, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday. She was addressing a gathering at the Rash Mela Maidan here on Monday afternoon.

Banerjee said 133 workers from the state had gone to Kashmir for work. "Anyone can go to any state for work. It is quite common. But they got frightened when five workers were killed by the terrorists and were eager to come back home," she added. The state government subsequently made every arrangement to bring them back to Bengal.

Banerjee handed over cheques worth Rs 50,000 each to two persons on Monday. Of the 133 workers, 118 were from North and South Dinajpur and the remaining were from North 24-Parganas, Malda, Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri and Birbhum. She will distribute cheques among the workers at Gangarampur next, where she will hold an administrative review meeting on Tuesday.

She said once the workers got in touch with her, she took up the matter with the administration. The workers were bought to Srinagar by car, from where they boarded a train to Bengal.

"It is our moral responsibility to look after them when they are in need. I have been doing this for many years. With the money the workers can start small businesses in the areas where they live," she maintained.

Speaking on Rash Mela, the Chief Minister said that it is a symbol of harmony and peace, adding: "People from all communities take part in the festival. This is a long-cherished tradition of Bengal. We welcome people from different states, communities and castes and all live here happily and peacefully."

Referring to Sri Ramakrishna's philosophy of 'there are as many ways as there are views', she said: "He had given an example which needs to be followed. Some call it water while some others call it jal or pani. It is the name given to water. Similar is the case with religion. Some say God, while some say Allah or Bhagaban."

Meanwhile, she alleged that BJP is ruining the social fabric of India by supporting ultra-Hinduism and reiterated that National Register of Citizens will not be implemented in Bengal.

"BJP told the Hindus that only the Muslims will be deleted from the NRC but in Assam the names of 12 lakh Hindus have been omitted," she said, assuring that those who have deed of right of their land or driving licence or are getting the benefits of any state government scheme, will face no problem. "They cannot touch anyone from Bengal," Banerjee added.

Next Story
Share it