3 hrs ago

Kolkata Durga Puja Committees Back Adhikari’s Grant Waiver Appeal

West Bengal offered money to community groups organizing Durga Puja celebrations.

Each committee was offered Rs 1,00,000 this year.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asked wealthy committees not to take the money.

He said the money could help smaller puja groups more.

Several large committees agreed with this idea.

Santosh Mitra Square had already refused government support in the past.

Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha said it would give its grant to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Some other Kolkata committees also said they would not accept the money.

Key facts

State grant: Rs 1,00,000 for each community Durga Puja committee this year
Appeal: Large-budget committees capable of operating without aid were asked to decline the grant
First committee cited: Santosh Mitra Square Committee in Central Kolkata
Relief donation: Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha said it would donate the money to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund
Other committees declining: Tala Pratyay Club, Phulbagan Sarbojanin and Santoshpur Lake Pally Club
Electricity benefit: A 100 per cent electricity-bill discount for puja committees was described as welcome

thehansindia.com · 4 hrs ago