Parent concerns: Uncle Buddha dotes on young ‘scholars’

In the avatar of a mentor,the chief minister gave many advice to the students — from fighting the odds of life to coping with pressure of studies.

When a group of tribal students from Jalpaiguri told Bhattacharjee that they were visiting Kolkata for the first time,he told them to be cautious and advised them to move in groups so that they don’t get lost.

He assured the students who had come from every corner of the state that they will not have to face financial constraints anymore. To each student,the chief minister handed over a cheque of Rs 10,000 — up from last year’s scholarship amount of Rs 5,000. This year,the chief minister gave three telephone numbers to the students so that they could contact him whenever they are in a dire situation.

But the students did not let Bhattacharjee go empty handed. They had brought various things for the chief minister. Prasenjit Majhi,who had ranked 50 in the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination,brought rice for the chief minister while siblings Sakini Rabha and Benjamin Rabha brought Uttario for Bhattacharjee.

A group of seven girls from Jhalda in Purulia district who have defied their parents and stood up against child marriage narrated to the chief minister how their parents have shunned them.

“Sir,how long can you pay us? When I asked my uncle to allow me to stay with him,he also refused,” a girl told Bhattacharjee. All the girls,aged between 12 and 14 were given financial aid from the Chief Minister’s relief fund. The chief minister assured them that they will overcome all the odds and their responsibility now rests on him.

Addressing the students,Bhattacharjee said the money is being given to the needy students on two grounds: one they will not leave studies or will not drop out of the school and second that they will have to do well in academics.

This year,Rs 72,01,000 was distributed to about 1,185 students from the Chief Minister Relief and Discretionary Fund. Another 50,000 students of Class IX and X in the Aila-ravaged region were also distributed free books from the CM’s fund.