January 28, 2015
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.
