Malda, Feb. 24: The district unit of the CPM and RSP have demanded that a revised list of persons living below the poverty line (BPL) in Englishbazar block be published in view of the coming panchayat polls, slated forMay 2003.
“The BPL list that was published a few months ago is full of errors. Though many of the poor families have been left out, a few prominent businessmen’s names figure in the list,” alleged Haricharan Mondal, Englishbazar panchayat samity sabhadhipati.
Eager to push through the issue in the run-up to the rural polls, the district CPM leadership has submitted a memorandum to the Englishbazar block development officer (BDO), demanding a review of the BPL list.
Earlier, the errors in the existing list came to light when the local RSP unit spotted the mistakes.
“Surprisingly, the name of Upen Singh, a successful businessman and member of the Enhlishbazar panchayat samity, figured in the list. At least 11 other families have been clubbed under the BPL category even though all of them run profit making businesses,” alleged a senior RSP leader.
The RSP has also demanded that Englishbazar BDO Pradeep Acharya conduct an inquiry and correct the anomalies in the list before the elections.
Acharya too acknowlwdged that the list has “some mistakes”.
“The political parties demands are, however, unjustified. When the list was being prepared we had asked all the parties to submit the names of BPL candidates. Unfortunately, they did not respond at that point of time,” said the BDO.
As panchayat polls approach, the Malda police administration has also initiated a shuffle in its ranks and file.
District superintendent of police Pankaj Dutta has transferred the officers-in-charge of the English Bazar, Chanchol, Kaliachak, Gajol and Baishnobnagar police stations.
Chanchol officer-charge (OC) Santanu Kongar will be the new officer-in charge (traffic). Snehasish Mukherjee will assume charge as the new OC of Chanchol. English Bazar OC Anil Roy has been shifted to Gajol. The Kaliachak OC will take charge at Englishbazar.
