December 7, 2012
We are inviting talent investments and innovation with open arms, CM says at Pan IIT Global Conference
I am pleased to address this august gathering of the best minds of the world- the IIT-ians.
You have chosen Kolkata as the venue for this meet after New York. We feel honoured.
Kolkata produced all of the four Nobel Laureates of India � Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore, C. V. Raman, Mother Teresa and Prof. Amartya Sen.
We are determined to eradicate poverty, hunger, educational deprivation, shortfalls in health-care, physical infrastructure and all aspects of socio-economic development. We are inviting talent investments and innovation with open arms.
Our population is very youthful with almost 50% below the age of 25. We are deeply committed to converting this young human resource into a demographic dividend.
You will also be happy to know that the State�s GDP has grown faster during the first quarter of this financial year, as compared to the nation as a whole. While India grew by 5.5% in the first quarter of 2012-13, West Bengal grew by 6.94% in the first quarter. This statistic demonstrates the will of the Government to bring back vibrancy.
The State�s revenue has grown by an unprecedented quantum of 35% between April to September this year due to massive e-governance in taxation.
We are committed to extend e-activities in other critical areas of governance, particularly e-tendering, to ensure transparency and efficiency.
Due to our persistent efforts, we have been able to bring dramatic change in the work culture scenario in the State. You would be happy to know that mandays lost in Bengal due to strike has come down drastically from nearly 68 lakhs in 2009-10 and 66 lakhs in 2010-11 to only 60,000 in 2011-12. During the ongoing 2012-13, such loss of mandays is reportedly around 5000.
A new IT policy in the state is on the anvil that will take the state forward further in the software and hardware sectors. IT hubs and Hardware Parks are coming up extensively in the state.
In agriculture sector, we are No. 1 in the production of rice in India, No. 2 in the production of potatoes and most importantly the second largest producer of fruits and vegetable in the nation.
With this in view, our Government is setting up 341 agri-marketing-cum-cold storage centres in each of the 341 Blocks of the State and that too in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode.
In the social sector, we are setting up 34 super-speciality hospitals across the State.
A unique web-based Employment Bank has been launched – where job seekers and employers can look out for placement opportunities and staffing simultaneously.
We are also giving tremendous emphasis on skill development, particularly in technical and vocational trades. We have taken decision to set up one ITI in every Block and one Polytechnic in every sub-division of the state.
We have also launched a Skill Development Mission and we are inviting collaborations in this field to strengthen our efforts further.
We have enormously rich potential in handicrafts and textiles. 47 clusters are being developed.
Six products of Bengal have achieved Geographical Indication (GI) from the world community and the WTO. These are Darjeeling Tea, Nakshi Kantha, Baluchari Saree, Santipore Saree, Dhaniakhali Saree, Santiniketan Leather Goods. In addition, the famous mangoes like Laxman Bhog Mango, Khirsapati (Himsagar) Mango and Fazli Mango have also qualified for GI.
There is a huge potential in the entertainment industry in the State. Animation, technical capacity building, film cities, cultural complexes � are some of the key areas.
In Tourism Sector, the fascinating Himalayas, the wild Sunderbans, the captivating beaches by the Bay of Bengal, the green forests and wild life sanctuaries of Dooars, the serene Shantiniketan of Tagore and the rich cultural, heritage and divine circuits that adore Bengal pose tremendous scope.
We have already created West Bengal Highway Corporation to develop the road network in the state on the lines of the Golden Quadrilateral project.
There is a huge scope in urban infrastructure development, particularly housing for all, flyovers, city beautification and mass transport systems.
The new airport terminal in Kolkata will soon be unveiled. We are planning to set up more new airports across the State.
I am also very happy to say that West Bengal today has surplus power and power can be wheeled to any destination.
Peace, normalcy and tranquillity in public life have returned to the Darjeeling hills and to the Jungle Mahal areas, which were torn with trouble and violence when our new Government took over.
I believe that where there is a will there is a way. Our strength lies in our people. We are dedicated to the cause of our land, our people, our brothers, mothers and sisters. We call ourselves the Ma Mati Manush Government.
I conclude by urging you to connect with a State that is re-creating the old adage: What Bengal thinks today, India will think tomorrow.
Since the IIT-ians gathered here represent the thought leaders of the world and corporate top brass, it is, indeed, a great pleasure for me to invite you to come and engage with our State.
Thank you.
(Talking points at Pan IIT Global Conference in Kolkata)
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