kerosene

WB Govt launches ‘Amar Dhan Amar Chatal’ – A beneficiary scheme for farmers

The West Bengal government is taking up the agriculture scheme – ‘Amar Dhan Amar Chatal‘ in which sheds will be set up and paddy drying machines will be provided to farmers across the state to protect the procured paddy from getting damaged before it is sent to the rice mills.

The scheme which is under the central government entails farmers to protect paddy by bringing it under a shed and the drying machines will be supplied to farmers to produce rice in the mills. It is more of a post harvesting care for ensuring food security. The scheme will fall under the second green revolution in eastern India.

Farmers from all districts across the state will come under the purview of the scheme. The drying machines, that will be brought from Germany, costs around Rs 10,000 each.

Earlier, the state government slashed the levy imposed on the rice mills for procuring rice from the government from 50% to 25%, with the food and supplies department keeping its procurement target of 22 lakh metric tonne intact for the next procurement season. Food camps will be held in 165 blocks across the state for selling rice to the farmers. The state government will also give 15 paisa of subsidy for procuring per kilogram of rice.

Besides, Agriculture department officials have started working on distributing leaflets to farmers to make them aware on how potato plants could be protected from various kinds of diseases.

Soil has an integral connection with the people: WB CM at Mati Utsav

The seven-day long Mati Utsav was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee at Panagarh, Barddhaman. on 28th January, 2015 at Birudiha, Panagarh in Durgapur sub-division of Burdhaman district. This was the third edition of the unique programme connecting soils with humanity.

To showcase and encourage culture and tradition of rural Bengal, Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee envisaged the ‘Mati Utsav’. The festival is being celebrated since 2013.

In an innovative manner, the Government of West Bengal also enlightens the people about the various services, schemes and programmes launched and run by state government, through this festival. This is a people’s festival and common people will be informed about their various privileges and rights through this festival. Apart from this, the festival will also showcase whole range of village life and the real essence of rural Bengal.

The opening function witnessed the Government’s commitment to the people through a slew of developmental projects and programs. The festival also included laying foundation stones for new projects and inauguration of completed projects.

Over two hundred stalls consisting of various governments’ departments have been put up in this festival.

Highlights of WB CM speech:

  • Land gives us work and it is purer than gold, it defines our culture.
  • I am born in this soil. This soil is my ‘Janma Bhumi’, ‘Karma Bhumi’ and ‘Dharma Bhumi’.
  • Soil has an integral connection with the people.
  • I am proud of the young generation. They are the future of our country.
  • Farmers are our assets. We are proud of them. We are providing them with bicycles, machines and skill development programmes for all round development.
  • I have given away Krishi Ratna and Krishak Samman today.
  • On 9 February we are inaugurating Mati Tirtha at Bardhaman. It will act as a permanent center for dissemination of knowledge and socio‐economic exchanges on soil‐based activities.
  • United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization, for the first time, has decided to celebrate 2015 as the “International Year of Soils”.
  • We are celebrating Mati Utsav in every block and every district.
  • Bengal is number 1 in Skill Development and Small Scale Industries.
  • We have to preserve the environment. We must stop destruction of Nature. We must love Nature.
  • We have kept our commitment of Healthcare for all. We have made all beds free at Govt hospitals.
  • We have opened fair price medicine shops and fair price diagnostic centres. We will also be setting fair price shops in rural Bengal.
  • 40 multi super specialty hospitals are coming up in Bengal.
  • 83 Kisan Bazars have been completed. 100 more are coming up. Farmers will now be able to directly sell their crops in the Kisan Bazar.
  • 500 Karma Tirthas are coming up across the State. These Marketing centers will create new job opportunities.
  •  From ITIs to Polytechnics, we are moving ahead. We will provide free skill development training to 1 lakh people.
  • Bengal shows the way. Our fair price shops are national model now.
  • We are No. 1 in 100 Days’ Work. But Centre is not giving us due funds.
  • I can understand the sentiments of common man. I will always work for my poor people. I will always stand up to protect the rights of common man.
  • CPM incurred huge debts. Centre is taking away a large part of our revenue. We do not have fiscal autonomy.
  • The Centre has taken away Rs 21000 crore in the first year, then Rs 25000 crore in the second year and now Rs 28000 crore in this year.
  • We have increased our revenues. It has increased from Rs 21000 crore to Rs 40000 crore.
  • We believe in courtesy. Our motto is “Badla Noy Bodol Chai” (Change not Revenge).
  • Our courtesy is not our weakness. People who insult the soil of Bengal will not get our respect.
  • Tomorrow I will speak about investment and industry at the business meet in Asansol. I will make further announcements of investments at Industrial Trade Fair tomorrow.
  • Some media houses are criticising us because they want to please Delhi. Reject such adulterated news shops.
  • We will provide skill development training to 10 lakh youths.
  • We received investment proposals worth Rs 2.4 lakh crore at Business Summit. 1 crore jobs will be generated.
  • We are giving unemployment allowance to 1 lakh youths under Yuvashree scheme. We have set up employment bank.
  • As long as I live, I will go across the State and interact with people.

 

 

 

 

Kolkata to become India’s first fully Wi-Fi enabled metro city – Social media cheers the decision

Kolkata will become India’s first fully Wi-Fi enabled metro city in the next two or three months. West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee made the landmark announcement at the inauguration ceremony of the 39th Kolkata International Book Fair.

As soon as WB CM made this announcement in Twitter, tweets started pouring in hailing this landmark decision. The tweets ranged from praise to messages thanking the Chief Minister. Most users were excited that Kolkata would become the first fully Wi-Fi enabled metro city in India.

Here are some of the tweets:

Apart from the flurry of tweets hailing the announcement, Mamata Banerjee’s tweet announcing the decision got over 150 Retweets within an hour.

WB CM and British journalist Anita Anand inaugurate the 39th Kolkata International Book Fair

The 39th International Kolkata Book Fair 2015 was inaugurated at the SBI Auditorium, Milan Mela Prangan, Kolkata by British journalist Ms Anita Anand and West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee. The focal theme of this year’s International Kolkata Book Fair is Great Britain. Mr Rob Lynes, Director, British Council India and litterateur Mr Nemai Bhattacharyya were the special guests at the inaugural ceremony.

Seven books penned by WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee were also released by eminent author Ms Anita Anand.

 Excerpts of the Chief Minister’s speech on the occasion:

  • I welcome all guests, delegates and book lovers to the 39th Kolkata International Book Fair.
  • The book fair is a meeting place for book sellers, publishers, readers and authors.
  • The book fair is a matter of pride for us. We love the book fair. One day Bengal will be the meeting ground for entire world.
  • The book fair has a tinge of nostalgia associated with it. Everyone visits the book fair at least once.
  • You may not like certain things but freedom of expression is very important.
  • I wish you all the best. Do visit the book fair.

Kolkata to become India’s first fully Wi-Fi enabled metro city

Kolkata will become India’s first fully Wi-Fi enabled metro city in the next two or three months. West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee made the landmark announcement at the inauguration ceremony of the 39th Kolkata International Book Fair.

Reliance Jio will be providing Wi-Fi services to people throughout all the 145 municipal wards of the city, starting with Park Street in early February, 2015. The rest of the city will be made Wi-Fi enabled in phases over the next three months.

After making the announcement, the CM tweeted:

Reacting to the announcement, National Spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress, Derek O’Brien tweeted:

The response on the social media after the announcement was overwhelming:  

mati utsab

WB CM to interact with farmers during ‘Krishi Katha’

Krishi Katha’ a three days programme for farmers, will be inaugurated at Bardhaman on 9th February, 2015 organised by the State Government. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will directly meet the farmers and listen to their problems in this programme. She will give the information about many socio-economic development schemes taken up by the State Government. The Chief Minister will also meet the North Bengal farmers in the coming March.

All schemes related to agricultural and farmers’ development will described elaborately by State Government in this program.  Some schemes may also be announced. More than one lakh farmers will participate here. In this three days program, government experts as well as Agricultural University professors will participate.

State Agricultural Minister Mr Purnendu Bose informed that ‘Krishi Katha’ will be turn in to a fair and there will be many agriculture related stalls and the experts who will try to solve problem related to agriculture. Small and medium farmers will be participating along with the big farmers in this program.

The State Government has received the ‘Krishi Kormon’ awards for agricultural development three times. Last year on the 1st of Baishakh, the agriculture calendar was published by the Government.  Farmers can get information about the profitable crops and their diseases and pesticides to be applied from this calendar.

The department of Animal Husbandry will also participate in the three-day programme. The farmers will be able to get information about loans from banks and governmental agencies for animal husbandry from this programme.

WB CM to inaugurate 39th International Kolkata Book Fair

The 39th International Kolkata Book Fair 2015 will be inaugurated today at 4 pm at the SBI Auditorium, Milan Mela Prangan, Kolkata by British radio and television presenter and journalist Ms Anita Anand and West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee.

The focal theme of this year’s International Kolkata Book Fair is Great Britain.

Mr Rob Lynes, Director, British Council India and litterateur Mr Nemai Bhattacharyya will be present at the inaugural ceremony.

Events at the International Kolkata Book Fair 2015

28.1.2015, Wednesday
A) Interactive Session with Anita Anand at 3:15pm at SBI Auditorium
B) In conversation with Shereen El Feki at 5:45 pm at SBI Auditorium

29.1.2015, Thursday
A) Ashoke Kumar Sarkar Memorial Lecture by Zia Haider Rahman, Novelist at 4:30pm. Topic: Freedom of Expression at SBI Auditorium
B) Bangladesh Day

30.1.2015, Friday
A) Screening and discussion of film The Auction House: Ed Owles and Scott F.Wood (British Deputy High Commissioner) at 4:30pm at SBI Auditorium
B) Musical performance by Surojit (Bhumi) at 7pm at SBI Auditorium

31.1.2015, Saturday
Bogola Charit Manas — drama of Badol Sircar to be staged by CFD, Bangalore at 7pm at SBI Auditorium

1.2.2015, Sunday — Children’s Day
Special Program at 3:15pm at SBI Auditorium

2.2.2015, Monday
A) In conversation Viviene Baumfield with Sanjib Chattopadhyay at 2pm at SBI Auditorium
B) In conversation Bill Herbert with Srijato / Amit Chaudhuri at at 4:30pm at SBI Auditorium

3.2.2015, Tuesday
A) Musical performance by Santanu Roychowdhury & Nabanita Roychowdhury at 7pm at SBI Auditorium

04.02.2015, Wednesday
A) Prize Distribution Ceremony at 4:30pm at SBI Auditorium
B) Musical performance by Debojit Bandyopadhyay & Ridhhi Bandyopadyay at 5:45pm at SBI Auditorium
C) ‘Biswacup er adda’ with Saurav Ganguli at 7pm at SBI Auditorium

KOLKATA LITERATURE FESTIVAL — 6 to 8 February 2015

7.2.2015, Saturday
In conversation with Tracy Irish at 5:45pm at Press Corner

8.02.2015, Sunday, 8:30pm

Closing Ceremony

Bengal’s debt conditions improve under Trinamool

West Bengal’s public finance and debt conditions were under adverse conditions when Mamata Banerjee took over the Government. However under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and Amit Mitra, Finance Minister of West Bengal along with a dedicated teams of officials the situation has improved in the last 3 years.

Note: Figures for 2012-13 are Revised Estimates and for 2013-14 are Budget Estimates. The averages used in the RBI Publication include the estimates.

In the RBI publication “State Finances-Study of Budgets 2013-14”, the ‘Debt Sustainability Indicators’ and ‘Debt Servicing Indicators’ have improved  for Bengal.  The results are here for everyone to see:

economy files

The Debt-GSDP ratio was 44% in 2008-09 and 2009-10 has decreased sharply over the years. It stands at 40.1% in 2011-12, 37.5% in 2012-13 and at 34.6% at 2013-14.

economy files

Interest payment to GSDP ratio has fallen down from 3.8% (2005-06 to 2009-10) to 2.8% (2010-11 to 2013-14).

economy files

Interest payment to revenue receipts has also decreased from 37.9% (2005-06 to 2009-10) to 25.8% (2010-11 to 2013-14). Revenue receipts means the taxes, duties and fees levied by the government and also includes interests on investments made by the government or dividends earned by the state.

economy files

The growth of GSDP (g) is higher than the effective rate of interest (i), ie g-i >0. In WB, g-i, is now at 8.3(2010-11 to 2013-14) and has increased from 4.6 (2005-06 to 2009-10).  If GSDP grows at a higher rate than the effective rate of interest, then it reflects a better situation of public finance. The surplus has grown sharply over the years.

Study: Kolkata’s economic performance better than other major cities in India

Kolkata ranks 32 in performance among 300 world cities in the annual 2014 economic rankings of cities worldwide conducted by the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase. It has left behind Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. The only better ranked city of India in the report is Delhi.

A study was conducted of world’s largest 300 cities, which accounted for almost half of global output in 2014. The report is based on two key economic indicators- annualised growth rate of real GDP per capita and annualised growth rate of employment. These indicators were combined into an economic performance index and the metros were ranked.

For India, 5 leading cities viz Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad were considered for the study. Except for Delhi, all cities are ranked below Kolkata.

  • Kolkata has been ranked at 32 out of the 300 cities.
  • The rank for other cities in India are – Delhi (18), Mumbai (52), Chennai (57) ,Hyderabad  (76), and Bengaluru (87).
  • Kolkata: The annualised growth rate of real GDP for 2013-14 is 2.5% and annualised growth rate of employment is 4.7%.

 

City ranking

 

The table above shows the results of the study of Global Metro Monitor 2014 in respect of the 6 Indian cities.

The study commented, “These indicators matter because they reflect the importance that people and policymakers attach to achieving rising incomes and standards of living and generating widespread labour market opportunity.”

 

Debabrata Bandyopadhyay’s statement: My comments were misinterpreted

Statement by D Bandyopadhyay, Rajya Sabha MP:

I am a soldier of Trinamool Congress and a committed party worker. I joined Trinamool inspired by Mamata Banerjee’s honesty and organisational capabilities.

My statement has been misinterpreted. I did not mean it. All I said was that dissenting voices were normal in any democratic party.

Those of us who come from non-political background need to be extra careful in the future in what we say because our general statements are being misconstrued.

I had never meant that the leadership was slack or immune to it. I have the highest regards for Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool. I will be a member of the party till my last breath.

There is no question of my leaving the party… I am 100%… 500% with Trinamool.

রাজ্যসভা সাংসদ দেবব্রত বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের বিবৃতি:

আমি তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের সৈনিক এবং দলের একনিষ্ঠ কর্মী।  মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সততা ও সাংগঠনিক ক্ষমতায় উদ্বুদ্ধ হয়ে আমি তৃণমূলে যোগদান করি।

আমার মন্তব্যের অপব্যাখ্যা করা হয়েছে। আমি যা বলতে চেয়েছি তা হল একটি গণতান্ত্রিক দলে নানা মতাধিকারী থাকতেই পারে। আমি আমার বক্তব্য সব দলের জন্যই বলেছি।

আমরা যারা রাজনীতির বাইরে থেকে এসছি, তাদের ভবিষ্যতে কোনো বক্তব্য রাখার আগে সাবধান হওয়া উচিত কারণ আমাদের সাধারণ বিবৃতিরও ভুল ব্যাখ্যা হচ্ছে।

আমি দলের নেতৃত্বের দিকে আমি কোনো আঙ্গুল তুলিনি। আমি তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস ও মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের প্রতি শ্রদ্ধাশীল। জীবনের শেষ মুহূর্ত পর্যন্ত আমি তৃণমূলে থাকব।

আমার দল ছাড়ার কোনো প্রশ্নই ওঠেনা। আমি ১০০%  কেন, ৫০০% তৃণমূলের সাথে আছি।