Amphan Diaries, 3rd June

Repair work has started in full swing to restore electricity in Basirhat I, II and Bongaon, a day after people conducted angry protests on the streets, against the electricians with Government tender, who had taken from money from them separately and yet didn’t start their work.

1) Repair work has started in full swing to restore electricity in Basirhat I, II and Bongaon, a day after people conducted angry protests on the streets, against the electricians with Government tender, who had taken from money from them separately and yet didn’t start their work. Jinnatun Nahar, a social worker at Seth Bagan Mahila Sangha, a community-based organisation reports, “The electricians have started their work on bringing back electricity. Although there are many areas left to receive electricity, the people are content seeing them work, for which they had paid them.”

2) The police have been cooperative with the community-based organisations, who have been travelling to various panchayats and blocks, delivering relief kits to the people affected by the cyclone. Mangal Chandra Bagchi, a social worker states that they have had clearances of roads easily by the police and they have helped and supported them in their work. “The police, especially that of Amdanga, Ashokenagar and Habra police stations, among many others, have been very cooperative with us in our work, after the cyclone. We appreciate their help and support.”

3) Reports of travel fares increasing after the lockdown are doing the rounds and the auto-drivers in Basirhat I and II have not only been charging exorbitant rates but also violating social distancing rules, taking in more passengers than they should. “I had an argument with one auto-driver who not only charged double fares but also took in more passengers than he is supposed to. Such practices have become rampant nowadays,” Jinnatun adds.