Mamata Banerjee woos Jangalmahal, offers police jobs to over 500 youths

Kolkata: Inaugurating the 3rd annual Jangalmahal Utsav in West Midnapore, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced jobs in state police for youths from tribal belt in four districts who took part and excelled in sports in south Bengal.

“The 45,000-odd people who participated in the sporting events are the future of our country. Individuals who have emerged as champions and won medals in Jangalmahal will be provided jobs in the state police,” Ms Banerjee said on the occasion of sports meet organised at the behest of police department.

She said that 553 of the 45,000 competing youth will be given state jobs for overall physical fitness. “The decision will be ratified in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday,” a senior administrative official accompanying the CM said.

The four districts under Jangalmahal are Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore and Birbhum. Ms Banerjee also handed prizes to participants in various tournaments in Jangalmahal Cup held earlier. She distributed musical instruments like dhamsa and madal to as many as 480 cultural groups belonging to 24 blocks of Jangalmahal. She said her government is providing stipends to 80,000 folk singers in the state.

“Sporting events have kept tribal youths preoccupied. Jobs will surely help them strive towards excellence,” a legislator said.