Month: January 2015

Centre should not bulldoze regional parties: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Centre should not bulldoze regional parties: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee today slammed the Centre for “maligning the state political personalities of the ruling party.” She said that this was sad for democracy. She also said that the Centre should not bulldoze regional parties and destabilize the federal structure of India.

Here is what she wrote on Facebook:

One particular national political party along with one media house of Bengal is constantly engaged in maligning the state political personalities of the ruling party.

It is very unfortunate that this vilification campaign is being repeatedly spread by quoting different Central agencies and without documents/proof.

It is a sad time for democracy.

The ruling party in the Centre should not bulldoze the regional parties and destabilize the federal structure.

Bengal Leads

WB CM forms core committees for speedy implementation of Bengal Global Summit proposals

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB CM forms core committees for speedy implementation of Bengal Global Summit proposals

Following up on the success of the Bengal Global Business Summit, and to expedite the implementation of investment proposals received during the summit, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee felicitated the industrialists, members of the Chambers of Commerce and the officials who worked hard to make the summit a great success.

The Chief Minister chaired a meeting at Nabanna on Wednesday where she formed sectoral committees for the core sectors during the meeting.

The nine newly formed sectoral committees include that of Manufacturing, Health-Education, Tourism-Entertainment, Food & Food Processing, Urban Development, Infrastructure & Power, Financial Sector, Transport and MSME. These committees will work on the proper channeling investments following the time frame of the Administrative Calendar.

 

primary education

Primary education – Bengal shows the way

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Primary education – Bengal shows the way

West Bengal is steadily coming out of the shadows of the CPM misrule in every sphere, be it education, health or industries.

The Annual Status of Education Reports 2014 (ASER) states that in the fields of reading English and Bengali and solving arithmetic at primary level, students of the State are far ahead of the National Average.

The survey was conducted among 5.70 lakh students aged between 3 and 16, from 16 thousand 497 villages of 577 districts in the country.

In the criteria where third standard students could read books of the first standard, the national average in 2012 had been 40.4 while Bengal’s average was 45.6. In the 2014 survey, the national average is 40.3 whereas the State’s average is 56.2.

In the criteria where fifth standard students could read books of the third standard, the national average in 2012 had been 48.3 while Bengal’s average was 48.9. In the 2014 survey, the national average is 48.1 whereas the State’s average is 53.1.

In the criteria where third standard students could do arithmetic like subtraction, the national average in 2012 had been 19.8 while Bengal’s average was 25.1. In the 2014 Survey, the national average has fallen to 17.3 whereas the State’s average rose to 33.0.

Incidentally, the school dropout rate among girl students has also decreased in the State after the introduction of Kanyashree project in 2012.

 

Image courtesy: The Hindu

Ramakrishna Mission

We must preserve the cultural heritage of Bengal: WB CM

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on We must preserve the cultural heritage of Bengal: WB CM

West Bengal Chief Minister inaugurated a slew of projects at Nimtala Ghat crematorium, which included electric chullis and two environment-friendly wooden chullis. She also inaugurated the renovated memorial for Rabindranath Tagore at Nimtala Ghat and a memorial for Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa at Kashipur Ghat.

 Highlights of her speech on the occasion:

  • Several years passed since independence. No one ever thought of renovating the place where last rites of Ramakrishna was held.
  • We took over Roy Villa in the Hills where she breathed her last. We handed over to the Ramakrishna Mission. It is a heritage.
  • We will not allow any insult to the culture of Bengal. We will maintain the heritage.
  • We asked Rabindra Bharati University to set up another campus so that we could renovate Jorasanko museum.
  • Kazi Nazrul Islam was ignored in West Bengal. He was an iconic poet. We named a university after him.
  • We set up Nazrul Tirtha, Rabindra Tirtha. We are setting up a Centre of Excellence named after Swami Vivekananda.
  • We are building Dhano Dhanye stadium, named after the patriotic song penned by Dwijendralal Roy.
  • Religion does not teach discrimination. Sadbhavana means Sarva Dharma Samannyay.
  • We have built a new temple of Kapil Muni at Gangasagar. We are building a big Gateway to Gangasagar. The priest at Kapil Muni Ashram said the gateway will be called Sarva Dharma Sambhava.
  • No matter how much you abuse me, I will keep working for the people.
  • It is our duty to preserve the spot where Rabindranath Tagore was cremated.
  • There were only 4 electric chullis in Nimtala Ghat. Now there are 12.
  • Today is a holy day. People will take holy dip at Gangasagar from tonight. Lakhs of pilgrims come here for the occasion.
  • We have made arrangements for the pilgrims visiting Gangasagar. We withdrew tax that they had to pay for visiting Gangasagar.
  • Bengal is the only State where we have not levied water tax.
  • CREDAI has given Rs 2.5 crore for development work under CSR. I thank them for the support.
  • We beautified Ganga ghats. We beautified Millennium Park. Like London, Kolkata Eye is coming up soon.
  • We will develop Nimtala Ghat like other ghats in Kolkata.
  • Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevasram Sangha work for all. We believe in harmony of all religions.
  • United we stand, divided we fall. We respect all religions. Ramakrishna Paramhansa said Joto mot, toto poth. We must follow his ideals.

 

Questions have arisen about the conduct of CBI: Partha Chatterjee

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Questions have arisen about the conduct of CBI: Partha Chatterjee

Secretary General of the party, Partha Chatterjee today addressed a press conference at Trinamool Bhavan. He said CBI is being used a political tool for vengeance by BJP.

“BJP is doing politics of vindictiveness. CBI is being used as a political tool. In the name of investigating a chit fund scam, CBI is carrying out political vengeance,” he told reporters.

“We have faith in judiciary. What CBI is doing is not right. We protest against their politicisation. Questions have arisen about the conduct of CBI,” he added.

Partha Chatterjee also informed that the party has appointed Shri Upen Biswas as an advisor for all CBI-related matters. “Upen Biswas will advise the party regarding CBI. Party will take action as per his advise,” he said.

mamata banerjee

Urban poor in Bengal to come under the purview of Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi scheme

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Urban poor in Bengal to come under the purview of Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi scheme

After successfully implementing the Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi scheme for the poor people in rural Bengal, the West Bengal Government has taken the initiative to provide homes and land pattas for the poor people even in the urban areas of the State.

The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held at Nabanna on January 13, 2015.

 

Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi

Landless and homeless rural agricultural labourers, artisans and fishermen families who hold no other land in any capacity and the heirs of such persons, and residing on the land of other persons not having family relation (parental or maternal or in-laws) were earlier eligible for this scheme.

Through this project, BPL card holders in urban areas can now avail the Nija Griha Nija Bhoomi scheme. Ms Chandrima Bhattacharya, State Minister of Law, Judicial Affairs and Health, said that the state municipal affairs and urban development department will provide detailed guidelines regarding this and fix the criteria for the urban poor to get the benefits under this project.

Other Cabinet decisions

The State Cabinet also took a decision to revive State Dairy Durgapur Limited, which produces and markets dairy products.

It was also decided that 200 doctors will be recruited for ESI hospitals. The state government has taken the decision to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62 for ESI doctors.

Another decision was taken today during the state cabinet meeting to set up six new cyber crime police stations in West Bengal.

kerosene

Centre depriving Bengal of paddy, kerosene quota: Food Minister

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Centre depriving Bengal of paddy, kerosene quota: Food Minister

State Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick Tuesday, alleged that the Centre has deprived Bengal by reducing its quota of kerosene as well as withholding funds for procurement of paddy.

“I have taken up the matter with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and she has assured to send the state chief secretary to Delhi if required to expedite release of pending funds. We have already written to Union Food Minister, and an official of the Food and Supplies Department is now in Delhi to expedite the matter. The state food secretary is scheduled to leave for Delhi tomorrow,” said Mr Mullick.

He alleged that the Centre has failed to sanction Rs 11,049 crore that was meant for paddy procurement despite regular submission of utilisation certificates.

“Had we received the funds we could have completed procurement of 15 lakh metric-ton of paddy which in turn would have helped us meet our deadline of procuring 32.36 lakh metric-ton by March,” said Mr Mullick.

Reduction of kerosene quota

Speaking about the next instance of deprivation by the Centre, Mr Mullick said three days ago, the Centre had reduced Bengal’s quota of kerosene by 636 kilolitre whereby the present entitlement is 79,652 kilolitres.

“The quota of no other state has been reduced as much as Bengal. When the Trinamool Congress came to power the state’s quota was 80,292 kilolitres. The UPA II government had reduced it by 4 kilolitres but there has been a substantial reduction this time,” said Mr Mullick.

The sudden reduction will force ration shops to decrease the per person allotment, he said.

West Bengal will roar again like a Bengal Tiger : ASSOCHAM

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on West Bengal will roar again like a Bengal Tiger : ASSOCHAM

ASSOCHAM, India’s apex knowledge chamber, along with YES BANK, the fourth largest private bank of India, joined hands with the Government of West Bengal in the Bengal Global Business Summit, held on 7-8 January, 2015 in Kolkata.

The ASSOCHAM praised the growth story of Bengal in the last three years and said that the State’s economy will again roar like a Royal Bengal Tiger. The Chairman of ASSOCHAM Eastern council, Mr Sanjay Jhunjhunwala felt that Bengal will emerge as the new hub for finance and legal services.

Here is what the Mr Rana Kapoor, President, ASSOCHAM and also the CEO, MD of YES BANK said about the rise of Bengal:

  • The growth of Bengal GSDP in the last three years is higher than the National GDP.
  • Bengal’s economy is well poised to tap the huge investment potential.
  • There are opportunities of accelerated growth in sectors of agri-business, manufacturing, infrastructure, health, education and tourism in Bengal.
  • Business-friendly regulatory framework, easy finance and MSME focus will help the state immensely.
  • State’s industry and economy will soon revive the latent spirit with all the new initiatives taken.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Mr Rana Kapoor also talked about the expansion plans of YES BANK. West Bengal will be made the central hub of operations for 13 states in India and the number of branches will be increased from 15 to 50 in another fiscal.

Jai Hind Bahini logo

Jai Hind Bahini – For the service of people

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Jai Hind Bahini – For the service of people

Jai Hind Bahini was formed as a result of an announcement by party Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee on December 30, 2014. She renamed the Seva Dal after the iconic slogan of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The journey of the newly-reconstructed body of Jai Hind Bahani started on January 12, 2015, on the 153rd birthday of Swami Vivekananda.  Following the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, Jai Hind Bahani will be spreading the ideals of a tolerance and a society free from religious racism.  The birthday of Swami Vivekananda was observed by Jai Hind Bahini across the State through various youth meets, rallies, debates and seminars on the life and teaching of Swamiji.

Jai Hind Bahini will be operating at every block of West Bengal and will strive to provide social justice and spread the oath of Sarva Dharma Samannaya, and maintain religious harmony. Jai Hind Bahini will also celebrate Netaji’s birthday on 23 January, Republic day on 26 January and observe Sampriti Dibas on 30 Jannuary.

Primarily it has been decided that the Jai Hind Bahini will have blue and white uniforms. Youths from various fields will be absorbed for social and cultural events.

North Bengal Secretariat

Business meet to promote Industry in North Bengal

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Business meet to promote Industry in North Bengal

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee will chair a business meet on 19 Jannuary 2015, at Uttar Kanya, Siliguri. North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb informed that about 500 industrialists will be present in the meet. The meet will discuss the prospects for development of industry in the 7 districts of North Bengal.

  • The focus areas will be to set up environment friendly “Green Industry”.
  • An education hub and IT hub will be created near Siliguri.
  • The business meet will be also to promote tea industry, jute industry and tobacco industry.
  • A Safari park near Sevok is being constructed with an investment of about Rs 250 crore.
  • A mega tourist hub is under construction at Gajoldoba, 30 km from Siliguri. The project is estimated to involve an investment in the tune of Rs 2500 crore.
  • One of the leading beverage companies has promised an investment of Rs 200 crores in the coming years.
  • The Coochbehar airport will start its operation within the first half of 2015.
  • A MoU has been signed in the recently concluded Bengal Global Summit, 2015 with the Ambuja group which will set up 5 star resorts at Makaibari tea estate, Kurseong, Ghoom, Darjeeling, Lataguri and Gorumara forest.
  • Income generated by NBSTC (North Bengal State Transport Corporation) has now increased to 8 crores, but a monthly target of 10 crores has been set up.