Sambalpur: Forceful ‘chanda’ collection to draw strict actions during festival season
Sambalpur: Festivals Starts and also donation (ଚାନ୍ଦା) season. Organizers go door to door and collect donations. While the receipt books of various puja committees are kept, they are often fake or forged. Less than 5 years ago, there were directives from the state government to keep a watchful eye on donation collection and control it. It has been tightened this year. In some places, people who are underprivileged are beaten up if they don’t give money while collecting money. Even during the festival season, starting from Ganesh Puja, Vishwakarma Puja, Durga Puja etc., lakhs of rupees are spent on every puja festival. Some people collect money by blocking trucks and people on various roads and national highways. There is a possibility of getting killed in the confusion and attack due to such donation.
While the last two years were closed due to the Corona epidemic, again this time with supermarkets. Donations are asked in houses. Even the corporate sector or large companies can be target for donations. It has been said that action will be taken after contacting the district police administration to ask for donations forcefully. In a meeting held yesterday, the District Security Superintendent directed various police officers to keep a strict watch on the persons asking for donations and to take immediate action according to the law. There is no penalty for voluntarily giving contributions for worship.
Preparations are going on vigorously by various puja committees to organize Durga Puja with great show and pomp this year. Lakhs of rupees are spent beautifying the puja mandaps, along with cultural programs and Bisarjan processions during Navaratra. Rabanpodi will be held at 5 places in the city. In this context, various travel committees have become a cause of headache due to huge expenditure. Even if there is a need for money for the bridge, the police are keeping a watchful eye on it so that it is not managed by anti-social persons or oppressed for it.
According to the information, there are 23 mandaps in Sambalpur town thana, 12 in Dhanupali thana, 9 in Khetrajpur, 7 in Ainthapali, 4 in Sadar thana, 10 in Burla thana, and 2 in Hirakud thana, Maa Durga Puja will be held in 67 mandaps in the metropolitan area.
According to this information, There will be Durga Puja and there are 2 mandaps in Sambalpur district Dhama Thana area, 2 in Jujomura, 1 in Charmal, 2 in Naktideul, 2 in Redhakhol, 1 in Kisinda, 2 in Katrabhaga, 1 in Rengali, 1 in Sason, 2 in Thelkoloi, 4 in Gobindpur, 2 in Kuchinda, 2 in Jamankira and 2 in Mehullpali Thanap area.
