West Bengal Reels Under Problems

It looks as if the fortunes of the communist ruled state West Bengal is on a perennial decline. Though home to some of the most patriotic and smartest people in the country, the state's large majority have been suffering from poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. The capital city Kolkata has played host to the largest number of pavement dwellers in the country. The constant flow of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh has further aggravated the problem.

Already poor and troubled the people's woes seem to be getting worse day by day. Last year the Nandigram incident hit the national headlines when farmers protesting against land acquision for establishing industries were fired upon by security forces. The fire of Nandigram had hardly died down when the metropolis of Kolkata was in floods due to excessive rains. Then recently there was the massive fire in the busy wholesale market (Burra Bazaar) area of Kolkata. And the latest is the high incidence of bird flu in poultry of the state.

The government has ordered culling of thousands of heads of poultry across the state. Investors are crying tears of blood as their fortunes go down the drain. The 2008 has begun on a sad note for Bengalis, here is a hope that as the year dawns it becomes better for them.

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