Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

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Miss Chitra Banerjee, the TU leader of Asansol who specialises in coal field area and brought
down congress vote deficit to 8000 from 36000 this time, was wearing sapphire nose-drop
and ear-drops! Mrs Ray told me all the cadre fame from good, wealthy families, hence were
truly idealistic and without vested interest in their work. Assured me that Miss Banerjee was
usually in soiled clothes and stayed in coal-field area, leading processions.
Barkat Ali was telling the Divl. Engr. SEB to electrify the villages in Mr Ray’s constituency
—if necessary just for a month and then withdraw it! I told Mr.Ghose this—a fatal thing to
withdraw power after giving it. He at once decided to tell CM to have a clear understanding
with Barkat over election tactics.
In evening I called on Prof. S.Chakravarty, head of English, Malda college (3 honours
students, all mediocre) and talked literature after ages.
Typed out summary of TA Rules. Should be of great help to officers.
Monday, 15.5.1972
Work done
Enquiry at Kaliachak-I, 1030 am to 3 pm, 28 miles in all.
Met new WBJCS probationer Mihir Banerjee. He joined on 13 th (Saturday). Research student
in Anthropology at Jadavpur Univ., 1968 MSc.
Information
Found that the allegation made about loan distribution was true, viz. given to members of the
same family. But I checked the deeds and found each member had separate land and hence
entitled to loans. Took total amount of loans given anchal-wise so that BDO can’t be said to
have favoured any one anchal. A quarrel between factions in C® led to this allegation, the
alleged offenders told me. He is a member of the anchal board. The BDO is quite ignorant
about technical requirements to be followed for loans. Later, back in Collectorate I verified
from Loans HC that no certificate was needed for Agri HB loans from BDO of block where
land was situated that the applicant had not taken loan there. Details are to be found in my
report. I gave BDO till Saturday to supply me various other details like names of applicants
registered but not given money owing to lack of funds. He feels no more loans should be
given here. The loanees themselves told me they earn Rs. 10,000 to 20,000 in December
every year from silk and if needed can return the entire loan at once.
A number of loans were sanctioned direct by Mr De and ADM without recommendation of
BDO. This should not have been done. Loan forms are also selling in Malda, against law.
The receipts from Dy.RRC acknowledging receival of receipts for trucks sent to Rajshahi was
got today from the Astt. Nazir Adhir Saha.
The Cong (O) candidate Ali Nabed has withdrawn from the contest here.
In the evening helped Sr.D.C. pass his driving test for permanent license.
Information from PSC arrived today that departmental exams are to start on 10 th July and for
sending our names for it.
16.5.1972
Work done
Met Suptdt. of Sericulture, K.P. Raha, 11 am to 1230 pm
Drought meeting with DM, OC Relief, SDO
Information
Mr Raha gave me the whole background to concentration of sericulture in Malda whereas at
one time it flourished in Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum—most of WB and was the livelihood of
the poor tantias. They changed over to cash crops (paddy, jute) finding this more profitable
with ready markets. In Malda it continues because the land is so high and surrounded by such
deep ditches that enough irrigation for paddy is not available hence they perforce stick to
mulberry. A self contained reeling and weaving industry is not set up here owing to lack of