Month: July 2012

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee on a five-day district visit to North Bengal. Chief Minister took personal initiative to know the ground realities and understand the problems faced by the people across the districts. `I have come to know the problems and difficulties that you all face in managing the administration and I will appreciate if you tell me all the issues as only then I will be able to understand and try to resolve them. I will come again and take stock of the situation`, were the words of the Chief Minister during her last visit and to mark her words, not even a year has gone by she is already on reviewing visits to districts.

Chief Minister began the schedule with her visit to Barasat last week when she reiterated her stand and said that administration will have to reach out to the masses as only then development is possible and urged the administration to be more humane and interactive. It was on this occasion while talking to PRESS the Chief Minister informed that she was in Barasat under her district visit schedule and will be in North Bengal from Tuesday, `I will be in Jalpaiguri on July 10<sup>th</sup> and will be visiting Cooch Behar  on  July 11<sup>th</sup> and subsequently to other districts, I have said before and maintain you cannot run government from Writyers` Building rather need to get interactive and visit the districts`, said Ms. Mamata Banerjee at Barasat.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister began her five-days district tour and reached Bagdogra airport where she interacted with the people waiting to have a glimpse of their favourite Didi. Immediately after this she left for Jalpaiguri where Ms. Banerjee convened a meeting with the district administration at the Art Complex. Issues like health and education was discussed in the meeting which was attended by 21-administrative officials.

`These places have remained deprived of higher education facilities and we have taken initiatives to introduce more polytechnics and ITI here. Chief Minister said that state have sanctioned three-crore rupees for a model village and one point five crore for building an electric crematorium apart from development of roads. There will be also three-medical-colleges on the public private partnership (PPP) module. `We have sanctioned five-crore each for building a college for girls at Dhupguri and Rajganj. We have also plans to build ITI for which we have also sanctioned five-crore`, said Chief Minister who add ed `We have decided to upgrade some of the higher secondary schools to senior secondary schools`.

Chief Minister also stressed on the need to enable the boys and girls to have better education facilities. She informed that the state government will build more collages in the district and will see that the students get all the facilities, `I have brought Bratya Basu alongwith me on this tour, he will take care of the education aspect and will have talks with concerned departments`, said the Chief Minister. The state government has sanctioned 18-crore rupees for roads and other civic amenities. `We will also take up the tourism seriously and I have already sanctioned considerably amount for the same. I want my Hills to develop as they have been depressed for a long time. 

 Ms. Banerjee however expressed her dissatisfaction over the poor condition of National Highway Road No. 31 and 34 said, `I am concerned and aggrieved over the poor roads. We have called a representative of the National Highway Authority and he will be having a detailed discussion with my Chief Secretary as I want to resolve this issue immediately. We are doing what ever possible in the state and I am myself following the working of this office but here we are bound by protocol. We could have done it ourselves but we are bound by protocols as this comes under the Central Government`, added an aggrieved Chief Minister. Apart from that Chief Minister reiterated her stand to give rice two-rupees a kilo to the labours of the tea gardens. `We have planned to open kisan mandis in the Hills`, said Ms. Banerjee.  

`I have never differentiated between the plains and Hills as I personally consider all are a same famil, both of them are like two sisters. I want both the sisters to stay happy and peaceful. I want both to flourish` said Ms. Banerjee quoting the famous lines from Rabindranath Tagore, `Bangla r maati, Bangla r jol, Bangla r bayu, Bangla r phol…punno hok, punno hok, punno hok he Bhogoban` (hail the land of Bengal, may the land, water, wind and fruits of this soil flourish…may God bestow with His blessings upon the motherland) 

Incidentally, the Chief Minister before leaving for her visit to North Bengal she signed a file giving her nod over recruitment of 5000 young boys and girls in the Home Guard services in the Jangalmahal. The initiative a positive step taken in the direction to bring back those youth to the mainstream who had alienated or became a part of the separatists groups. This will be in addition to existing to 10,000 Home Guards in the region.    

Chief Minister will be leaving for Cooch Behar later in the evening. This will be her first visit to Cooch Behar after becoming Chief Minister of the state. Ms. Banerjee will be staying at the Cooch Behar at night and will convene an administrative meeting in the morning. The Chief Minister will preside over series of programmes and will unveil projects at Cooch Behar. However, the Chief Minister informed that she will be going to Kalimpong from Cooch Behar and participate in the function organized on the occasion of birth anniversary of the noted poet Bhanu Bhakta.

Now-a-days, I am not surprised, when I see growing numbers of so-called 'political leaders' having no spines. In my opinion, it has become a potential area of doing research work on this aspect.

Age-old cherished ideals, courage and closest links with the roots of common people of the country are not found. That is why, they have become weak and afraid to fight for the cause of the common people and unveil the truth.

I believe in the responsibility of the leadership to put demands of the people foremost and to grow as human beings. I do hope and expect young generation to realize the present state of poor leadership qualities, devoid of ideals and values.

Let us dedicate ourselves for the common people. I appeal to the young generation to awake, fight, stand up and instill a spirit of mind without fear.

(Excerpts from the official page of Ms. Mamata Banerjee on Facebook, dated: July 7, 2012)

Link of the official page: https://www.facebook.com/MamataBanerjeeOfficial

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee in yet another initiative to develop West Bengal decides to reach out to the NRI fraternity. Ms. Mamata Banerjee requests the `probashi` Bengali community to come forward and share their expertise.

 Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee, in a recorded audio visual message said, `I welcome you all and this is your state, please come and share your ideas, views and give suggestions to make this state better and I know you all love your state and have sentiments attached to the soil. Come and share your expertise in all spheres from education to culture to finance to tourism or whatever you feel can make a comprehensive effect in our state`. The message was played was played at North American Bengali Conference (NABC) in Las Vegas in America.

 The United States India Business Council (USIBC), an associate of the US Chamber of Commerce, one of the biggest trade bodies in the country, has organized an interaction between the Bengal finance minister and the officials of top US companies. West Bengal Finance Minister Dr. Amit Mitra addressed a gathering comprising members of USIBC which includes representatives from Franklyn Templeton, Citi, Cargill, Cognizant, GE, Dow, Boeing, KPMG, PepsiCo, Warburg Pincus, Ford, Adobe, IBM, Bank of America, Amex, Deloitte, KKR, Caterpillar and others. The Finance Minister will take part in a seminar and will address a gathering of CEOs of 450 top US firms after his participation in the North American Bengali Conference (NABC) in Las Vegas.

 Dr. Mitra while commenting on his experience he had during the past few days said, `The experience was positive and immense as many people young and old had come to me and expressed their interest to become a part of the ongoing development back home in West Bengal. I had a young man visiting me who is pursuing his PhD at Princeton University who was willing to set up Information Technology Clout which will be a search engine with data base of research subjects. Another gentleman came up to me said they are managing the security system at the Toronto airport in Canada and would like to extend their expertise back home in West Bengal`.

 The Finance Minister also informed that a NRI Cell was under construction at the Writers` Building which will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister soon and will look after all the development and happening across the NRI fraternity. `This department will have a state-of-the art website and this wilkl be full of information and applications as anybody will be able to interact with the authority just with a press of a key, that is idea behind`, added Dr. Mitra.

The Finance Minister is also scheduled to make a stop over for a day in London on July 9 and is expected to meet the members of United Kingdom India Business Council (UKIBC), representative body of top UK companies operating in India. Dr. Mitra will discuss issues which he took up with it�s counterpart USIBC in America.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee convenes a three and half hour long meeting today with district officials of North 24 Paraganas to measure administrative issues at Barasat. She also inaugurates the 1st women Police Station of North 24 Paraganas.

Speaking to the press Ms. Banerjee said that various issues like administration, health, school, college, madrasah, electricity, roads and bridges, agricultural market, minority, kisan credit card etc has been discussed in the meeting. She announced that different developmental proposals has been taken for North 24 Paraganas. 

Some of them are :

90 acres of land has been acquired at Naihati for an industrial hub.

Habra Hospital will be improved.

Bongao Stadium will be decorated.

Bhatpara will have a new Hospital in PPP model.

Chief Minister will visit Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar on 10th and 11th July respectively.

Kolkata: State Government to set up an Anti Corruption Branch under the Home department. The plan of setting up this branch  was approved  after the cabinet meeting convened at Writers' on Thursday which was presided over by  Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee.

Kolkata: A Bill was passed in the West Bengal Assembly today that will provide 17 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes, other that SC/ST, in two categories.

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee said that that the passing of the West Bengal Backward Classes (other than SC and ST) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Bill, 2012 in the house was historic and had been drafted very carefully and took almost a year.

Making a passing reference to the Singur legislation, Chief Minister said `Singur is not a hasty and a wrong decision. We will show that all promises made in the manifesto are fulfilled.`

Stating that West Bengal has the highest Muslim population in the country, she said that the legislation would provide opportunity to the minorities for getting employment in State Government service.

The Chief Minister also asked Higher Education minister to take initiative for providing higher education to the minorities.

The Assembly also passed The West Bengal Panchayat Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2012, by virtue of which seats would be reserved for women and other weaker sections of the society.

Excerpts from Mamata Banerjee's official Facebook page (Dated July 6, 2012):

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee on her official page on social networking site Facebook wrote,  `Today is a historic day for West Bengal. The Legislative Assembly has passed Bills for setting up of three new universities in West Bengal.

A new state-aided university named Kazi Nazrul University will be set up at Asansol. Another new state-aided university (PBU) will be set up at Cooch Behar.
A new private university `Techno India University will be set up with campus at Salt Lake and Joka, 24-Parganas (South). Roads are now open for private-sector universities to impart education.

The three new universities will provide ample opportunities for the young generation to avail management, engineering and professional education in the State, instead of migrating to other states.

Another landmark Bill passed by the Assembly today is the West Bengal Backward Classes (Other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Sports) Bill, 2012. This Bill will enable maximum numbers (86 categories) of Muslim brothers and sisters amongst the OBC s (17%) to avail facilities of reservation in employment. It will bring a new era in the development and upliftment of Muslim brothers and sisters. A policy decision has also being taken to provide similar facilities for them in education.
West Bengal Legislative Assembly has also passed the West Bengal Panchayat Election Bill, 2012 which provides 50% reservation for women, in elections. We salute the women and stand for our solidarity with the mothers and sisters of Bengal`.  

Kolkata: The state forest department has initiated a census of trees in Kolkata. The census will mainly be conducted by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), but the survey work will be carried out by Calcutta University and some NGOs related to environmental issues.

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee had sworn to make the city greener and more beautiful in her poll manifesto ahead of the 2011 Assembly elections. She has kept her word and has started at the very beginning by ordering a tree census first. The move, forest department officials said, was the most important move towards a scientific approach for making the city greener.

KMC will coordinate with the statistical and botany departments of Calcutta University as well as NGOs who are working in the field of environment. Small groups will be formed to as the counting will begin in 50 KMC wards in the city. KMC has allocated Rs 15,000 for the work for each ward. According to reports available with the KMC, the number of trees in Kolkata has gone down by 5 per less trees in the last one decade.

As work for the census is carried out, KMC will start planting trees as well as raise awareness for protecting and planting trees. Leaflets carrying KMC's message will be distributed.

During the census, the scientific name and the species of the tree counted will be written. The forest department is also gearing up for the tree plantation week between July 7 and 14. The plantation will be carried out in 141 wards of KMC. The trees planted will be fruit-bearing ones to attract birds. The KMC recently surveyed and found that the number of sparrows and other birds has dwindled in the city.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee allotted a four-acre land to South Point School for the extension of its existing campus. She made this announcement during the annual prize distribution ceremony of the school at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

“A 4.2 acres land near the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass behind Ruby General Hospital has been earmarked for this institution. Although there is some legal dispute but it would be soon sorted out. I want the authorities to sign a MoU and start their developmental work. Mr. Lodha (Harsh Vardhan Lodha, trustee, South Point Education Society, and chairman, MP Birla Group) had come to meet me. Rajarhat would have been too far for you. Before coming here, I consulted our records. I would now request the authorities to venture into higher education and constitute degree and management colleges as the next step. In the third step, I would like to see South Point constituting an university to improve the education in the state.“ the chief minister announced to thunderous applause from the audience of students, guardians and teachers.

The chief minister heaped praise on the school for both the quantity and the quality of students it turns out. “Your students are the best in Madhyamik and Higher Secondary exams. I am told you have 12,500 students. South Point is a wonderful institution with possibly 20 to 25 lakh alumni spread all over the world. Why do you have to go to London or other places for higher studies when we can provide the best here? “ she added. She felicitated the members of the care wing of the South Point Ex-Students’ Association for their initiative of providing retired teachers with companionship, medical and financial help.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee attended the convocation and foundation day ceremony of Vivekananda University at Belur Math in Howrah.The programme began with the chanting of `stotra`. People were seen thronging the road to have a glimpse of their favourite Didi and Ms. Banerjee too did not disappoint them and reciprocated their good wishes by shaking hands and exchanging greetings.  

Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Banerjee said that her government would look into the request to exempt the Ramakrishna Mission from School Service Examinations, `I assure you of full cooperation and we will take up the request to exempt you from taking candidates from School Service Examinations. I agree that those who want to take up a job in the educational institutes run by the Ramakrishna Mission must poses certain determination and dedication. I feel that you should be in position to decide and select  the candidates`. The Chief Minister reiterated that the standards of these educational institutes are not only the best in the country but across the world. `I have already gone through the case and am aware of your long struggle over this issue. I will see that this is done`, added Ms. Banerjee.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee assured that she will always available and would consider get fortune to serve the Ramakrishna Mission whenever her services are needed, `Please do not hesitate to call me if you require and feel that I can be of some help. I will be more than happy to be a part of work of such huge magnitude`.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee also stressed on the need of character building and referred to the famous saying of Swami Vivekananda where he had put great emphasis over the character building, `There is a need to read more of Swami Vivekananda and will come to know of this thinking and ideologies`.

Chief Minister stressed on the need to read Swamiji as only then young minds will be driven to fresh and good thinking which will enable a new society to emerge. People will forget all the discrepancies over the caste and religion. `If you recall Swami Vivekananda who did not hesitate to share the `hukkah` (puffing tobacco) from the person belonging to lower caste, when asked he said, `How would I know which is lower or upper caste unless I myself taste both and I am trying to figure out the differences by sharing the same`. Ms. Banerjee comparing the thinking of great people said, `If you look at the saying of Kazi Nazrul Islam who said similar thing, `Jati r naam bodjati shob, jaat jaliyati dekhchey khela` (all wrong doings are practiced in the name of religion and the so-called religious people watch it by becoming a mute spectator). Chief Minister said, `If we take close look then we find that all big people had said the same thing in their own versions`.

Chief Minister also reiterated that steps should be taken to build impart teaching in such a way that will create good human beings. `It is very important that we indulge in creating good human being as it is not an easy task, all educated are not good human being and to do that we need to inculcate fresh and good ideologies among the children`. Ms. Banerjee stressed on the need to take special care and give more attentions to the education of the women. Quoting the famous saying from Swamiji, `Na jagile Bharot lolona, e Bharot jagena jagena` (India will not arise unless and until the women of India awake), Chief Minister said, `This is the words of the great saint and I feel what else I can add but just request you all to continue doing whatever you are doing as I am all in appreciation for your work`.

Chief Minister donated a cheque of one-crore to the Ramakrishna Mission Math for the development programmes.