Malda/Cooch Behar, Oct. 2 -- Discontent among women over non-receipt of benefits under the Annapurna scheme triggered protests and road blockades in North Bengal on Friday.
In Malda, protests broke out at three locations. At Pakua Degree College in Bamongola, beneficiaries visiting a Seva Setu Abhiyan camp to resolve payment-related issues were reportedly told that their grievances could not be addressed there. Enraged, they blocked the Malda-Nalagola state highway for nearly 20 minutes before police intervened.
Dashami Mandal, a beneficiary from Bamongola, said: "We came to the camp hoping to resolve the problem, but were told that nothing could be done. We want the government to ensure that the pending money reaches our accounts."
A similar protest erupted at Maharajnagar High Madrasa in Ratua-II block, where agitated women allegedly tore government banners and festoons, vandalised camp materials and blocked a police vehicle. Police from Pukhuria intervened and detained several women for questioning.
In Gazole, women blocked the vehicle of the BDO outside the block office and staged a demonstration on NH-512 after being allegedly denied assistance at a camp organised at Krishak Bazar. Pinki Barman, a beneficiary from Gazole, said: "Even after visiting the camp, our Annapurna-related problems remain unresolved. Where should we go now?"
Police intervention eventually restored normal traffic at all three locations.
Meanwhile in Cooch Behar, tension broke out at a Jankalyan Shibir at Rabindra Bhavan after a group of women protested over an alleged four-month delay in receiving payments under the Annapurna scheme. The protesters alleged that despite repeated attempts to contact the authorities concerned, the issue remained unresolved and their applications continued to be shown as "under process". The women claimed they were informed that issues related to the Annapurna project would be carried out at the Jankalyan Shibir. However, after reaching the camp, they allegedly found that the service was not being provided. In protest, they stopped the ongoing activities at the Shibir and demanded that the Annapurna-related work be taken up.
The protesters further said they would not allow other services at the camp to continue unless their demands were addressed. As the situation escalated, some of the women moved towards the main gate of Rabindra Bhavan and continued their protest.
Police from Cooch Behar Kotwali Police Station reached the spot and opened the gate to prevent the situation from worsening. The Jankalyan Shibir is currently being organised at two venues in Cooch Behar town-Rabindra Bhavan and the Utsav Auditorium.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.