Cooch Behar, Sept. 21 -- Protests and road blockades by women in three blocks of Cooch Behar district over non-payment under the Annapurna Bhandar project created a stir in administrative circles on Monday. Protests were reported from Mathabhanga-1, Cooch Behar-1 and Dinhata-1 blocks.
In Mathabhanga-1, several women blocked the road in front of the BDO office, alleging that despite submitting all required documents, the promised money had not been credited to their accounts.
They said repeated assurances from the administration had failed to resolve the issue.
The blockade continued for nearly an hour before police from Mathabhanga police station and central forces personnel reached the spot. The protesters were later removed and traffic movement resumed.
Protester Ruby Barman said: "All my documents are in order. I was also told that I would be paid. Still, the money has not been credited to my account. If I cannot be paid, the project should be stopped without making people suffer like this."
Meanwhile, women blocked the road near the BDO office at Dhuluabari in Cooch Behar-1, disrupting traffic on the Cooch Behar-Dinhata state highway. Police later cleared the blockade. Similar protests were held at the Dinhata-1 BDO office.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.