As Durga Puja comes near, the situation is getting severe in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid out plans on holding the Durga puja, one of the biggest festival in West Bengal during the coronavirus pandemic, while showering sops on thousands of puja organizers and hawkers. “We will surely organize the Durga puja this year. We have to avoid crowds at any cost because vultures are sitting out there to blame us if we don’t allow the puja or if any spike occurs after the puja. They have no responsibility,” she said while launching a veiled attack against the opposition.

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The CM stated, “We will put coronavirus in lockdown and hold the puja this year.” This year more than 37,000 pujas would be organized across the state, including more than 2,500 in Kolkata and around 1,700 pujas which are organized by women. The list doesn’t include those organized inside housing societies and houses. She further added, “We are facing hardships and are running short of funds. We have spent more than Rs 2,500 crore. But I know puja committees are in problem and the state would provide you a grant of Rs 50,000 each. I know the finance secretary would be angry. But I would request him to give 81,000 hawkers Rs 2,000 each for the puja month.” 

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The chief minister also declared a few sops for the civic volunteers and ASHA workers. While the festive season has already commenced with the Mahalaya and Viswakarma puja on September 17, the Durga puja would be held between October 22-25.

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