UK funds for PSUs

Calcutta, Dec. 13: Delhi has given the nod to funding by the UK’s department for inter- national development (DFID) for the second phase of restructuring of state public sector units.

A team led by DFID secretary Suma Chak- raborty met Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today. In-dustries minister Niru-pam Sen, who said the British funds had been sanctioned, refused to disclose the amount. In phase I, 34, units had been restructured. Around 30 units employing some 75,000 workers would be taken up now.

Boy suicide

Krishnagar: Ten- year-old Sabath Mondal committed suicide aft- er his parents refused to protest against scolding from his playmates’ guardians. He was playing football in Chapra, about 130 km from Calcutta, on Wednesday when snubbed for committing a foul. Humiliated, Sabath returned home and asked his parents to protest against it.

Trinamul

Calcutta: Trinamul Congress leaders and a few farmer families today destroyed some Tata products — mostly salt and tea and some watches — at Esplanade and called for their boycott. The party later tried to distance itself from the call, which the Congress condemned.

E-mission

Calcutta: Tathya Mitra, a pilot project to help people in far-flung areas access information, education and governance electronically, was launched on Wednesday. The chief minister opened computerised kiosks at two East Midnapore and three Birbhum village panchayats online.

Farmer kidnap

Krishnagar: A farmer, Angshupati Sarkar, has allegedly been taken away by some Bangladeshi soldiers from Tungi in Nadia, about 120 km from Calcutta. BSF officers held a flag meeting with their Bangla counterparts on Wednesday.