New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a grant of Rs 60,000 to Durga Puja committees this year. Last year it was Rs 50,000. Along with this, Mamata said that Durga Puja committees will get a 60 percent rebate on electricity charges. Earlier it was 50 percent. The state government does not take money for fire engines and advertisements. CM Mamta has also announced to take out a procession on September 1, thanking UNESCO for according the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tag to the festival.
"The Centre is not releasing funds for the state. Despite that, we will increase donations for the clubs from last year's Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. We will also provide them a rebate of 60 per cent on the electricity bill," Banerjee said.
The CM stressed that the September 1 rally would have no political agenda, and anybody and everybody was free to join it.
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"I will invite 10,000 students from senior schools to be part of this rally," she said at an administrative meeting held at Netaji Indoor Stadium here.
Significantly, Durga Puja is the biggest festival of West Bengal. This time Durga Puja is being organised after two years after being banned in the Coronavirus pendamic. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the organisers and sculptors this time when the puja is organised again after a long time.