Bhalopahar at present: An Anecdote of sorry state of affairs

An open letter to all the Members,Patronage and Well-wishers of Bhalopahar

Dear all

This is quite an explicit communication, therefore request all to read the full content of the state of fact with little patience.

Genesis of Happenings

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

AGM held on 28^th Nov 2023 primarily for approval and acceptance of Audited Accounts for the financial year 20022-23 and for formation of new Governing Body (GB) to run the society for the year 2023-24. AGM was called by the Secretary, Shri Kamal Chakraborty (Kamal da) complying all rules as mentioned in society By-Laws. None of the members present in the meeting raised any question related to the legitimacy of the AGM held on 28th Nov 2023. In fact majority members preset opined that this was possibly one of the best AGM conducted by inviting all the members in due time both by mail and WA message whose name appeared in the members register which was endorsed by the then President and Secretary. Unfortunately Bhalopahar never maintained Members Register Book, Meeting Notice Book and Resolution Book which are supposed to the Basic Books society should maintain as per society By-Laws. This is the first time in the history of Bhalopahar all these books are prepared by active participation of few members before AGM was called. Accounts was passed as usual with little clarification and New GB also formed through voice but with a major change. Unlike yesteryear this time sitting Secretary of Bhalopahar for last 28 years has been kept out of Executive Body. He, however was honored with a post of Chief Mentor to advise the newly elected GB members for day to day operation of Bhalopahar.

Aftermath of AGM

On formation of new GB  in the AGM, majority of members present noticed a relieved face of Kamal da. Even when a few members along with Kamal da met at Lake Club for tea in the evening of AGM day also found him absolutely relaxed. Please note, unlike yesteryear, this time in secretarial speech Kamal da instead of deliberation of last year activities and achievements, frantically asking for relief from the post of Secretary as he could not cope with numerous day to day society activities primarily because of his old age. It is pertinent to mention here much before the AGM Kamal da used to tell all members, even to non members, that he does not want to continue as Secretary any more time. He even had gone to that extent by threatening few members almost on a regular basis that he will put his resignation in case he is forced to become the Secretory for any more terms. These are seriously discussed among like-minded few members who used to visit Bhalopahar almost once in a month and decided to rise to the occasion by putting their shoulder ignoring their personal challenges so that Kamal da would get relieved. None of them even to their distant dream realized Kamala da’s real desire .

Bhalopahar:Current Status

Currently Bhalopahar is associated with a number of activities like Plantation, Education, Farming, Animal  Husbandry, Hospital, Guest House etc. Over the period of time these areas grew substantially. Today Bhalopahar has around 13 permanent employees who get salaries. There are approximately 12 labour jobs on daily wages. Can any body tell what will happen to these employees in absence of Kamal da? Moreover these salaried staff are underpaid and minimum wages are never provided for the casual labour. Today we are exploiting them by taking advantage of their austerity. Tomorrow they will revolt. Kamal da himself is aware of that. A society could not operate in an autocratic manner. Question is where is the road map to move forward. Kamal da has no answer to that. Majority earning of Bhalopahar comes through donation, virtually begging by Kamal da only which is an unprecedented quality of him and no one can match that. Can this model survive by an 80 year old man alone? How long with a monthly overhead of approximately 3 lac? When we will think about a sustenance model. On the face, Kamal da asks members to come and work at Bhalopahar but in real terms if any member shows interest to work, Kamal da will demean the person with various provocative gestures. The only exception is Jayati Chakraborty, god knows for what reason. Kamal da  has a belief that the Secretary of Bhalopahar has to be present at site on 24×7 basis. This is a myth. In today’s world  remote operation is inevitable. Moreover It had been decided in the AGM that any one of the GB members should present in Bhalopahar throughout the year. In addition to that a Manager will be recruited to look after the mundane jobs on a regular basis which was agreed and finalized by the GB members of the previous committee.

Handing over of Responsibility

Immediately after AGM, new GB members met at Bhalopahar on 10th December 2023 to initiate the handing over procedure. In the said meeting Kamal da participated as Chief Mentor. He provided all kinds of co-operation by signing necessary documents.  He also requested the GB members to complete the handing over process within January 2024 as he wants to leave Bhalopahar for a few months to fulfil some of his personal desire. We request Kamal da to stay at Bhalopahar only so that he can guide BG members with his vast knowledge and experience as requested in AGM. We requisitioned Kamal Da a car for next day for changing of Signatories in SBI Bundawan Branch  which he arranged gracefully.  Bank received us well and was totally satisfied with the documents submitted. Branch Manager confirmed that by next 24hrs the account will be active with revised signatories. Unfortunately the bank didn’t confirm anything even after two days. We called  Bank Branch Manager, who informed that both Kamal Da and Jayati Chakraborty (Illegal Second Signatory) reached Bank at early hours on 11th December and portrayed a nefarious picture about new GB members particularly about President, Secretary and Treasurer and requested Bank verbally non to change signatories. We had fallen from the Crest and the shock numbed our senses.  We sensed the urgency of going go to the other Bank (PNB) at Jamshedpur primarily for changes in signatories and from there to Bhalopahar to follow up Kamal da about handing over procedure as society By Laws governs that the handing over procedure should be completed within 30 days from the date of  AGM.  We reached the home branch of PNB on 21st of December without intimating the current signatories so that Kamal da could not do any further mischief. We were also accepted well at PNB Jamshedpur. Branch manager satisfied with the documents submitted by us and confirmed change in signatories within 2/3 days time. Next day we reached SBI Burdwan to know their stand related  to change in signatories. Because  of our rigorous  follow up, the branch manager spoke to his seniors in front of us and confirmed once again that the account will be regularised the next day. But alas! On 29th December branch manager mailed about their inability to process our request because both Kamal Da as Secretary and Jayati Chakraborty as second signatory submitted a letter dated 26th December to bank requesting not to change the signatories as currently some deputes are prevailing at Bhalopahar.

Next Chronological actions and events:

On 28th December Kamal Da posted a letter to Bhalopahar official group stating that he wants to continue as Secretary because some members desired the same. Question is what he was doing in AGM ?Tamasha! Had he told the house in stead of making drama that he wants to continue as Secretary, no such untoward situation would have arisen.

1. To beak the statement, Secretory of New GB, Shri Subir Pal Mustafi met Kamad da and Ms Jayati Chakrabory at Jemshedpur on 7^thFebruary 2024. But nothing came out successfully.
2. Continuing with the efforts a Special General Meeting was called by the new Secretory on 24^thFebruary 2024 at Bhalopahar. But nothing resolved because of the compromising attitude of Kamal da.
3. On 25^thFebruary Kamal da embroiled into an altercation with few members who were returning to Kolkata after attending Special General Meeting because of the reason that the members hired a car of a person who was once considered as Messiah to Kmamal da now became a bete noire to him. During altercation Kamal da physically attacked one of the female member of the society. His touch was not proper. He twisted her arms and abused her with all kind of filthy language. He even tried to break the looking glass and windshield of the car with a  bamboo stick. The incident shocked the members.

Members then registered a GD against Kamal da at Bundawan thana. Thana subsequently suo moto converted the GD into FIR

5. Above incident traumatized the female member to great extend for next few days. But through the counselling she regained her strength and lodged a FIR against Kamal da in Bundawan Thana.
6. In retaliation to the above incident Ms Jayati Chakraborty lodged a false FIR against few male members on 5^thof May 2024 at Bundawan Thana by fabricating a fake incident of molesting her at Bhalopahar on 3^rd May 2024 when none of the accused were present at Bhalopahar

Our Mission and Appeal

We request all well wisher to heed following mission points with all seriousness.

1. Save Bhalopahar from the clutch of few members having vested interest
2. Re-establish philanthropic activities for which the society was built
3. Regularize all statutes. For last 7 years Bhalopahar has not submitted returns to the Registrar of Society.

4. Establish decentralizationof power and visibility in accounts
5. Stop accepting unanimousdonation as per Income Tax guide line
6. Stop receiving donation of Bhalopahar in personal bank account.
7. All donations should be backed by proper receipt.
8. Resolve disputes related to land as substantial lands are purchased in favour of Kamal Chakraborty and Jayati Chakraborty by using Bhalopahar fund. In fact Bhalopahar school has been built on the land officially owned by Jayati Chakraborty
9. Stop Grabbing Adibashi Land
10. Establish a Road Map so that society does not become indispensable to a particular person and in future society can reach to an esteem and meaningful social organization through the contribution of next generation youths.

Bhalopahar will come out of present doldrums created by two persons with most ulterior vested interest, in time bound manner, with all your good wishes and generous support.

Published by Current G B Members