Rural women in Alipurduar use savings from state aid scheme to organize Durga Puja

A group of rural women in Alipurduar are using their savings from "Lakshmir Bhandar," the monthly financial aid that the Mamata Banerjee government provides them, to organize a Durga Puja in their hamlet.

We receive Rs 1,000 from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme each month. A few months ago, we considered setting aside some cash to host a Durga Puja in our community. The president of the New Palasbari Barwari Mahila Durga Puja Committee, Sukhlata Barman, stated, "Our plan worked and we are now making last-minute preparations."

She stated that thirty women from New Palashbari, a village under Purba Kathalbari panchayat in Alipurduar-I block, initially constituted the committee.

We all decided to contribute Rs 2,000 from our savings. As more ladies in the hamlet started to reply, we discovered that 100 more were willing to pay Rs 1,000. We could therefore raise about Rs 1.6 lakh for the Puja," she continued.

Another member, Anita Barman, stated that although if the fund is small in comparison to many Pujas in the district, it would be adequate.

Since this is the first year, we did not submit an application for the state aid given to Durga Puja committees. We will absolutely apply for it the following year. We are holding the first-ever all-woman Puja in our hamlet as a result of our efforts. We are grateful to the chief minister for his support, which allowed us to plan the Puja," Anita remarked.

Two more Pujas are being conducted by neighborhood clubs in New Palashbari.

According to accounts, Rajbanshis predominate in the village.

According to a source, "the organizers receive Rs 1,000 a month from the state under Lakshmir Bhandar because they are from Rajbanshi families."

Men began to assist as a result of the effort that rural women took.

Kebol Sarkar, a villager, was the first to reply and give room for the Puja.

He gathered the grain early and declared that the Puja would take place in his agricultural field. The field was then ready for the pandal, a villager said.

A man from the same village named Prasanta Barman spoke up and promised to pay for the idols.

"These initiatives greatly aided us. Sukhlata stated, "Many people are helping us in many ways.