Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

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and politeness to army arises. He has done 5 districts. Agreed I do sub divisional training in
Raiganj—it is just a mini DM affair and the SDO must not run to DM every time but take
decisions and keep him informed. He told me how in Asansol he had stepped into a strike by
rail employees and solved it by accepting many justified demands. When rail authorities
asked his authority to do so, he told them they were welcome not to accept it, but in future he
would never be available if trouble arose! And he only told his DM after it was all over.
In the meetings he laid great emphasis on drainage of flood water. Embankment leads to
silting of river bed which gets higher leading to higher dams [in Jalpaiguri it is already 20 ft
high above ground!] and when breach occurs, devastation is because of the huge wall of
water. Flooding is a natural process and fertilises the land too. What is needed is draining it
out fast. In 1950 in Jalpaiguri floods no loss of life occurred because people could see the
water slowly rising and move out. It is not so when a dam breaks. The E.E. Irrgn was hurt at
Comr’s reference to engineer-created flood in DVC but Comr told him that experts should
consider the common man’s viewpoint too, as they tend to see all in their specialist light. He
gave examples of people taking a GP’s opinion after a specialist’s. On flood gave excellent
comparison of bathing with shower on and drain plugged leading to drowning. Since rain will
come, dams only keep the water on land from escaping and so artificially create a flood even
if the river is contained.
Dr. Jainal Abedin had come also to CH and berated CPI union leaders for striking in the
filature. He hinted at Mr.Sengupta becoming Relief Comr in place of B.Mondol (under
suspension). I borrowed Raha’s paper on III and IV Plan allocations for Malda’s sericulture.
Began work on my paper.
Mr. Sen Gupta is Comr Presidency Div holding additional charge of North Bengal till Mr.
K.Menon joins (he is on deputation in Delhi).
23.6.72
Work done
Information on power and sericulture gathered
Information
Clarified several points mentioned in D.C.Sirkar’s papers on sericulture from Raha. The socalled
cocoon market at Jalalpur is actually a cocoon testing centre! Also found out that of the
various hybrid races evolved by Sarkar, none are in use today as they all proved unsuitable.
Contacted DIO and found out what industries he envisages as possible if power is available in
sufficient quantity. About 20 in all, which I will include in my paper on Rural
Electrification:-
1. mini paper mill from jute sticks and bamboo
2. yarn twisting, jute and cotton
3. tanning
4. jute twine
5. aluminium utensils
6. plywood products from mango logs
7. power driven laundry
8. cornflakes from maize
9. agricultural implements
10. repair of above
11. modern auto servicing
12. cast iron foundry—GI pipes, water sheeting, parts of STWs
13. power loom
14. cold storage
15. flour mill
16. tool room shop for repairing and forging