Mamata insists on adequate caution for Durga Puja

Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service
Kolkata, September 25

Marquees open from all sides, applying sanitisers on the hands of the spectators at least half a kilometre ahead of the venue and distribution of free masks to spectators who might too poor to afford one, are some of the measures suggested by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the organisers of the Durga Puja festival here.

Durga Puja – the biggest annual religious and cultural event in the state’s calendar – is slated to take place in the last week of October. Known for attracting huge crowds, the festival is seen as fraught with danger this time owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing a gathering of puja organisers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in the city, Mamata admitted that she was at the horns of a dilemma with regards to “Durga Puja”. Without naming the BJP, she said there were people who would criticise her if Durga Puja was not allowed this year. But, at the same time, she would be held responsible if the puja was followed by a spike in corona cases, Mamata rued.

The Chief Minister, however, said she had no right to stop people from celebrating the festival. However, it should be organised with adequate caution so that the festival does not lead to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, she said.

Over 37,000 public pujas would be held in the state this year. Areas falling under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police would see 2,509 pujas while 34,700 pujas would take place in areas controlled by the state police. There will also be 1,706 all-women pujas.

The Chief Minister requested the organisers to keep all four sides of the marquees open and ensure that those who enter the marquee to see the idol maintain sufficient distance from each other. Volunteers carrying sanitiser bottles should apply sanitisers on the hands of all those coming to see the idols. Volunteers should also carry masks and offer the masks to those not wearing one. Women should not hesitate to wear masks, the Chief Minister said.

Banerjee also announced a slew of benefits for various sections including puja committees. She announced Rs 50,000 (fifty thousand) dole for each committee – a 100 per cent jump over what they got last year. The Chief Minister said since puja committees were not getting enough sponsorship and advertisement from corporates owing to the slowdown, so she decided to come to their aid.

Mamata also announced Rs 2,000 (two thousand) as a one-time grant for hawkers. The hawkers suffered heavily during the lockdown, she said. Eighty-one thousand (81,000) hawkers would benefit from the step.

The Chief Minister also announced increasing the monthly salary of the ASHA (National Rural Health Mission) workers and Civic Volunteers by Rs 1000 and post-retirement benefit of Rs 3 lakh for the Anganwadi workers.