Hindu Chatra Sangha submits Memorandum to CM, proposed poor-friendly SOP for Durga Puja

Sept. 1: On Wednesday, the members of Hindu Chatra Sangha submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr.  Himanta Biswa Sarma through the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, where they raised concerns about the restrictions set over the income of the poor and underprivileged section during Durga Puja last year due to the unplanned guidelines and proposed some changes for this year’s SOP. Speaking on behalf of the people from several walks of life, the Hindu Chatra Sangha’s memorandum provided certain suggestions.

The pandals for Puja should be allowed to be created of big size but kept open and a definite number of persons (40-50 preferably) should be allowed to enter the pandal at once, at any given time. Creating bigger pandals will allow people to maintain physical distancing. No bar should be set regarding the height of the Durga idol as the Idol makers are the worst hit due to such restrictions and the height of the idol hardly has any impact on the rise or control on the spread of Corona.

Hindu Chatra Sangha further stated that the pandals should be kept open during the night as that will help reduce the crowd at the day or evening time, by distributing the crowd over a period of about 20 hours. Every kind of transport should be allowed to operate and not only the two wheelers or private vehicles, as the poor section of Rickshaw pullers, Auto and e-rickshaw drivers have a lot of hope from the festive season and setting up a bar against their income will create adverse effect on their livelihood.

Moreover, they stated that street side fast food shops and vendors should not be barred from opening their shop and rather be directed to use masks and sanitisers frequently. The poor has little to benefit the whole year and the Puja brings them some cash flow. Use of light and sound system should not be barred from the celebration, as the Light and Sound System providers get to earn from such occasions only and barring them would not just hamper the joy of the puja, but also effect the light and sound vendors in the worst manner possible, financially.”

The organisation has also emailed the same to the CM for bringing the issue to his notice, as fast as possible. Ratnadeep Chakrabarty, Aninda Deb, Debanjan Bhattacharjee, Subhasish Choudhury, Ankur Das submitted the memorandum on behalf of the organisation.