November 12, 2013
WB CM showers developmental projects for underdeveloped Birbhum district
Carrying on with her policy of taking the Government to the people, the Chief Minister today visited Birbhum and unveiled a slew of developmental projects for the district. Ms. Mamata Banerjee took stock of the work done so far in the district and announced several schemes that would benefit the people. The Chief Minister sent out the message that the Government is always with the people.
Excerpts from Chief Minister’s speech at Ilambazar, Birbhum:
Our Government has initiated developmental works throughout the state. We are trying to help thousands of people. Birbhum has been deprived for long. Mararui, Nalhati, Lavpur, Rampurhat, Khorashor, Rajnagara, Durajpur and several other blocks have been neglected for a long time. Today I have come here to undo some of that. Today I will be distributing pattas for “Nija Bhumi, Nija Griha” scheme, land and forest.
We are bringing in development. We are creating an industrial belt centered on the coal blocks in the region. We will develop IT Hub, Industrial Hub, Food Processing Park, and other Small Scale Industries at Bolpur. Circuit Tourism is being launched in the district. Tribal people in 7 Tribal areas will be getting rice at Rs. 2 per kilo. Water Supply project has also been taken up. We will start constructing polytechnic colleges and ITIs in every block.
The district administration has taken up each and every work in a time-bound manner. I congratulate the officials. I want the youth of this district to enroll themselves in polytechnic colleges or ITIs for better employability.
Within one month, I will personally take initiative to build village roads. All our members of the Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad, Assembly, Parliament, and even officials from the administration will work together for building roads in every village. This will be included in 100 Days work scheme. We will build proper sanitary units in poor households. Government will pay Rs. 10,000 per house for this purpose. This will carried out under the Nirmal Gram Prakalpa.
We will be including several professions under the 100 Days work scheme – helpers for Mid Day Meals at schools, tree planting, sweepers in educational institutions. Those who wish to be a part of the 100 Days work scheme should register at the local BDO office and get a job card made. No one should die of hunger. I instruct the officials to keep an eye so that everybody in the area is employed under this scheme.
Birbhum district has been lagging behind in electrification of households. 22,000 homes will get power supply. 64% of these houses have already been covered. We have already distributed Kisan Credit Cards out of 4 lakh farmers in this district. The rest will also get their cards soon.
Now a system has been made so that the Government can buy paddy directly from the farmers. No one will be denied of their rightful earnings. We are paying Rs 8 to the farmers for potatoes. They used to get Rs. 2 until a few years back.
We have constructed two Fair Price Medicine shops in the district, one at Rampurhat and the other at Suri. Two more such shops will come up at Bolpur and Sainthia. Fair Price Diagnostic Centers are also on the anvil for the district.
We are setting up Fair Price Seed Banks too for farmers. We have started Yuvashree and Kanyashree schemes. We have also started monthly pensions for folk artistes. These schemes will benefit one and all.
My Pronam and Salaam to all; stay well, we will do everything possible for your development. Please remember that we will do everything for the poor. I do not have any family, you are my family. I will protect you with my life. I will come again to take stock of the progress of work in the district.
