COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 3: Cooch Behar divisional branch of All India Postal Employees’ Union (Group-C, Postman Group-D and ED Union) organised the first divisional “working women convention” at Sukanta Mancha today. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda inaugurated the convention. Cooch Behar district secretary of State Co-ordination Committee Mr Pulak Biswas and convenor of 12-July Committee Mr Samyabrata Roy also spoke on the occasion. 

A 13-point charter of demands was adopted at the AIPEU convention. Resolutions were adopted to organise movement demanding - recognition to the right of work, setting up crèches for the children of working women adjacent to their working places, right of guardianship of children and implementation of anti-dowry laws. 

During his inaugural address, CZP sabhadhipati Mr Chanda called upon the women workers to get them organised. He emphasised on their unity. He said that the women workers work similarly as the men but in many cases they get less payment. It was observed that women work more and efficiently in the panchayat system than their male counterparts, he mentioned. He praised the women involved in the three-tier panchayat system for their work following laws and norms carefully. [] 

PHOTO : CZP sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda addresses at the inauguration of the AIPEU women convention. At Sukanta Mancha in Cooch Behar on Sunday. 

Youth convention held at Birpara 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 3: Jalpaiguri district convention of Revolutionary Youth Front (RYF), the youth wing of the RSP, was held at Shri Mahabir Hindi High School premises at Birpara in Jalpaiguri district today. 235 delegates from different parts of Jalpaiguri participated in the convention. A 19-point charter of demands was adopted at the convention that was tabled by the Jalpaiguri district RYF secretary Mr Subrata Ray. 

Alipurduar MLA Mr Nirmal Das inaugurated the youth convention. Alipurduar MP Mr Joachim Buxla, ex-minister Mr Dasharath Tirkey, RYF leaders Mr Pulak Moitra, Mr Arunava Lahiri, Mr Prakash Ray, Mr Purnaman Rai and Mr Manoranjan Sarkar also spoke on the occasion. 

Addressing the delegates and supporters of the RYF, the speakers demanded district status for Alipurduar and introduction of Tentulia corridor as early as possible. They also demanded upliftment of Alipurduar sub-divisional hospital into a district hospital alongwith improvement of healthcare facilities. Right to work, permanent measures to combat yearly floods, conversion of Uttar Banga Unnayan Parshad (UBUP) into a statutory board, setting up industrial units based on agriculture and tourism related units, revival of the sick tea gardens and withdrawal of contractual appointment system were also demanded from the convention. 

Demand for permanent measure to combat malaria, setting up an engineering college and a tea research centre were also raised at the RYF’s Birpara convention. []