Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

Page 47 of 47
meetings) who asked us to send him the floor space we required at once since the police had
already approached them for similar reasons.
On way back we stopped at Mita Talkies in Kaliachak & warned the manager for having
shown only 2 Bengali films in 1971, inspected sanction & ventilation of hall & returned to
Malda at 8 pm.
19.2.1972
Work done
11 am checked work beginning at Kaluadighi & proceeded to Nitpur & thence to Porsha via
Bamangola. On way back, surveyed Rahutala shelter materials, and reported to DM at 6.30
pm. [176 km.].
Persons met
O.C.(Dev.), Relief Officer of Porsha and Awami League Chairman & others.
ACC Rahutala Camp.
Information
As I have these trucks only till end of February, I want them to do double trips. The drivers at
Kaluadighi are agreeable provided they can leave by 10 am. This part of loading them early
was assured by the camp staff. I sent a note accordingly to Banerjee. Today 10 trucks went to
Ramkeli, 5 to Kaluadighi, the rest being otherwise busy. 3 are at Habibpur.
Bhuto dropped in around 9 am. We are to meet him in Rajshahi on 22 nd . He is leaving to
build up 4 villages in Nawabganj. He lamented lack of character building despite the BD
struggle, and contrasted the single-minded dedication of Naxalites to the instability of AL &
NAP workers. Also, he does not believe in waiting for the administration / leaders to send
relief. He motivates & bullies people to help themselves. Once he threatened not to allow any
rations to reach Rajshahi through Nawabganj if the local people of Nawabganj did not get
their rations. He assured me of help in emptying Malda of all shelter materials by end of
February.
With Rahman I went to Nitpur. Here I found the ex-secy. of its AL virulently inveighing
against the CO (Dev.) & other officers for not getting the people rations. 1300 maunds were
lying at Rajshahi for them but lack of transport and controversy over who would bear
transport costs was holding up delivery. They lack the willingness to organise funds from
local level. Every citizen in Porsha owns at least 1000 bighas I found! There is not a single
thatched hut, but everywhere in Porsha I saw elegant mud houses with tin roofs, and a
massive 3 storey mosque. No lack of money at all but lack of sincerity and willingness to
bear hardship. When I asked why they did not approach DC Rajshahi through Malda as it was
shorter & no transport problems, they explained it was because of the 6 mile lack of transport
between Nitpur & Kenpukur. Rahman was most disappointed at this attitude. I even offered
to cover that difficulty by asking the Chairman to come in my jeep to Malda & proceed to the
DC, but there was no response! They are more eager to feed guests & show them around
instead of organising themselves to get & use most profitably whatever relief material they
get.
Two villages here have been razed to the ground. I could not visit them as I lacked sufficient
petrol. To whatever Rahman said I mostly tried to keep quiet but could not help urging them
to go and get at least a letter authorising one of them to receive relief straight from here. They
nodded courteously & went on fulminating!!!
However, the RO himself stays at the ghat & is distributing 4 bamboos & 1 roofing mat to
each man, union wise.
In Habibpur complaints against late unloading were again made. More than 3 trips are not
possible at this rate. From what I saw of Rahutala & Bulbulchandi Camps, we need at least 5
trucks giving 4 trips daily here. And still we have some 10 truckloads left at Kuriapara, 20 at
Kaluadighi, and the huge Kutubsahar.