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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bengali migrant workers join rally, recount tales of detention horror
Kolkata: Singur resident Jhantu Mondal (47), who was rounded up from near his work site in Odisha and confined to a small room for nearly a week on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi, on Wednesday walked along with chief minister Mamata Banerjee , who took to the street to protest against the illegal detention of Bengali-speaking migrant labourers across BJP-govt states. Mondal, who had over the past decade worked at several construction sites outside Bengal, such as Vanarasi and the Andamans, went to Jharsuguda in Odisha to work at a construction site of a commercial building. "Five of us stayed about 1 km from the site. In our free time, we would roam around. One evening, we were talking among ourselves, when some unknown people accosted us and called us Bangladeshis. As we protested, a scuffle broke out," Mondal recounted. Their ordeal did not end there. "The next morning, cops hauled us to the police station, where we were asked to show identity documents to prove we were not from Bangladesh. Though I showed them my Aadhaar card, they kept asking for papers to prove my parents were Indians. They confined us to a small room and gave us food twice a day. After almost a week in the detention camp, I returned home two days ago. I have decided never to go back there." Apart from Mondal, several migrant workers, who were illegally detained in other states, also joined the protest march from College Square to Dorina Crossing. Among them was Islam Sheikh (48), a resident of Bankura, who was detained by Odisha cops. "Upon my release from the detention camp, I returned home, swearing never to go back to that state to work. They singled out Bengali-speaking workers and tortured them on suspicion of being illegal immigrants. I was confined to a detention camp though my Aadhaar card mentioned I was from Bankura. Such atrocities must stop," Sheikh said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Gulias Shah, a mason from Purulia, was among the workers detained and abused in Maharashtra. "Why are atrocities being meted out to poor workers like us? I had gone there for better pay. We from Bengal stayed together and spoke with each other in our mother tongue. Why did they (cops) take offence to it? They refused to accept our Indian identity, called us Bangladeshis and detained us," Shah said. Among the rally participants were migrant workers, who had "fled back home", after hearing horror stories about the torture being faced by hundreds of labourers. Samar Dutta, a resident of Belgachhia, said, "I went to Rajasthan last month in search of a job. But I came back about 10 days ago as my family was scared for me after getting news of the atrocities being meted out to Bengali-speaking workers outside the state. " Naresh Kumar Gupta from Maniktala, who worked in a hosiery factory, joined the rally with a big poster hung around his shoulder. "I sympathise with those who were detained wrongfully and abused. In Delhi, electricity was snapped in a slum where Bengali workers live, and they are afraid that their houses may be pulled down. I am here to protest against such atrocity," said Gupta.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi govt may roll out one-time tax amnesty scheme to settle pre-GST disputes
New Delhi: Delhi govt may soon roll out a one-time tax amnesty scheme to settle pre-GST disputes related to value-added tax (VAT), excise, and service tax. Sources said a proposal recommending the waiver of penalties and interest to expedite the recovery of the actual tax amount and reduce court cases is being prepared by the trade and taxes department, which is likely to be sent to the cabinet for its approval. If approved, the scheme is expected to offer relief to traders and boost state revenue while easing the administrative burden of long-pending litigation. According to officials, there are more than 3.5 lakh traders currently involved in tax-related litigation with the Delhi govt, and the total disputed tax amount is estimated to be over Rs 15,000 crore. Sources said the actual unrecovered value would be around Rs 5,500-6,000 crore, with the rest of the amount due from traders in the form of interest and penalties. They added that these legacy cases date back to before the rollout of GST in July 2017. "Several of these cases are currently stuck in courts, contributing to administrative delays and backlog. The proposed amnesty aims to reduce this legal burden by offering traders a clean slate," said a Delhi govt official. Sources said the trade and taxes department has shared the initial proposal with the finance department. The scheme will also have to be vetted by the planning and law departments before it is placed before the cabinet for its approval. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The previous AAP govt also proposed to bring the tax amnesty scheme to provide relief to traders and recover the much-needed revenue that was stuck in litigation. The announcement was made by the then finance minister Manish Sisodia in the budget speech for the 2022-23 financial year, but the scheme never saw the light of day. A senior Delhi govt official said the city's traders took up the matter every time their delegation met the chief minister to discuss issues related to tax, revenue, and the redevelopment of markets. Sources said the recovery of tax revenue stuck for years will not only strengthen the financial position of Delhi govt, but will also save a large amount of money spent by the dispensation on a large number of tax-recovery cases against the traders in courts. The GST and VAT are the biggest source of tax revenue earned by the Delhi govt. Of Rs one lakh crore budget presented by BJP-govt for the 2025-26 financial year, Delhi govt has estimated that Rs 68,700 crore will come from tax revenue, which includes Rs 49,000 crore from GST and VAT.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
GoM may meet to give final shape to norms for Mahila Samridhi Yojana
New Delhi: A group of ministers, led by CM Rekha Gupta, is likely to meet soon to give the final shape to the detailed guidelines of the Mahila Samridhi Yojana and implementing the scheme on ground. The scheme, which promises to provide the financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women, was approved by the cabinet on the International Women's Day on March 8, and BJP-govt had allocated Rs 5,100 crore to fund the initiative. The chief minister, who also holds the charge of the finance department, had earmarked the amount while presenting her maiden budget a few days later. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Sources said the women and child development department of Delhi govt had prepared the draft scheme and guidelines, which would be placed before the group of ministers. Pravesh Verma, Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra are the other ministers who have been included in the committee. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bideford: Born Between 1940-1975 You May Be Eligible For This Life Cover Reassured Undo As per the basic eligibility criteria, women aged between 21 and 60 will be eligible for the monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500. The applicant must be from an 'Antodaya' or 'Below Poverty Line' household in the capital, with a valid ration card issued by the department of food supplies of Delhi govt. The benefit will be limited only to the eldest woman of the family. Govt has also planned to extend the benefits to only those women, whose children have either completed the mandatory vaccination as suggested by govt or are actively undergoing the vaccination schedule, sources said. "Govt has also decided that of the monthly financial benefit of Rs 2,500, a part of the amount will be credited directly to the beneficiary's central bank digital currency wallet, while the remaining will be deposited monthly in the recurring fixed deposit in the name of the beneficiary," said a source privy to the information. "This will ensure instead of spending the entire money every month, the beneficiary will have a substantial amount in her hand at the maturity of the recurring deposit account, which can be used for paying for the admission of a child or for marriage or to start a business," the source said. Another source said govt would relax the eligibility criteria every year to have a maximum number of women benefit from the scheme. However, govt has yet to finalise the percentage of the amount that will be locked-in and will go to the recurring deposit scheme. An online portal will be created for online registration of beneficiaries. The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana was one of the key electoral promises made by the BJP ahead of the assembly polls.
