Bengal govt employees to get 22 days off in Puja month | India News
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KOLKATA: Signalling Durga Puja’s return to pre-pandemic normality after two years of Covid curbs, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that state government offices will be closed for 11 days from September 30 (Panchami) to October 10 (the day after Lakshmi Puja) this year.
Puja-organising clubs are going to get a government grant of Rs 60,000 each, up from last year’s Rs 50,000, report Dwaipayan Ghosh & Tamaghna Banerjee.
Last year, state government employees enjoyed 16 days of holidays in the Durga Puja month. This year, the number is set to increase to 22 (Sasthi on the last day of September plus other holidays in October like Kali Puja, Diwali, Bhai Phonta and Chhath Puja).
Besides the 20% upward revision of government grant, Bengal’s 40,092 registered Durga Puja organisers are also likely to get a rebate of 60% – up from last year’s 50% – on power consumption. The total the state government will spend on grants – if all registered puja organisers qualify for getting it – will come to over Rs 240 crore.
“The state treasury is empty. The Centre is not paying us for 100 days’ work. I have been forced to cut down on expenses on several projects,” the chief minister stated. “But I hope Ma Durga will fill up our treasury,” she added and asked puja committee representatives: “Are you happy?”
Puja-organising clubs are going to get a government grant of Rs 60,000 each, up from last year’s Rs 50,000, report Dwaipayan Ghosh & Tamaghna Banerjee.
Last year, state government employees enjoyed 16 days of holidays in the Durga Puja month. This year, the number is set to increase to 22 (Sasthi on the last day of September plus other holidays in October like Kali Puja, Diwali, Bhai Phonta and Chhath Puja).
Besides the 20% upward revision of government grant, Bengal’s 40,092 registered Durga Puja organisers are also likely to get a rebate of 60% – up from last year’s 50% – on power consumption. The total the state government will spend on grants – if all registered puja organisers qualify for getting it – will come to over Rs 240 crore.
“The state treasury is empty. The Centre is not paying us for 100 days’ work. I have been forced to cut down on expenses on several projects,” the chief minister stated. “But I hope Ma Durga will fill up our treasury,” she added and asked puja committee representatives: “Are you happy?”
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