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Mamata Banerjee leads campaign rally at Khidderpore

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Mamata Banerjee led a campaign procession this afternoon from Mominpur to Khidderpore.

This was the first such procession after the release of the party’s Manifesto on Friday. The campaign rally soon turned into a mass rally with thousand walking beside their favourite  ‘Didi’.

Mamata Banerjee has already addressed three party workers’ meetings, one each in Englishbazar (Malda district), Suti and Lalbag (both in Murshidabad district).  She is expected to hold more than one hundred and fifty rallies across the State, travelling to all the districts from the north to the south.

 

খিদিরপুরে পদযাত্রা মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের

আজ মোমিনপুর থেকে খিদিরপুর পর্যন্ত একটি পদযাত্রা করলেন তৃণমূল নেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। পদযাত্রাটি শুরু হয়েছিল বিকেল ৪.৩০-এ।

শুক্রবার ইস্তেহার প্রকাশের পর এটি মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের প্রথম পদযাত্রা। ইতিমধ্যেই মালদার ইংরেজবাজার-সহ মুর্শিদাবাদের সুতি ও লালবাগ মিলিয়ে মোট তিনটি কর্মীসভা করেছেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

সারা রাজ্য জুড়ে ১৫০টিরও বেশি কর্মীসভা করার কথা রয়েছে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের। উত্তরবঙ্গ থেকে দক্ষিণবঙ্গের সমস্ত জেলাতেই তিনি প্রচার করবেন।

Md Nadimul Haque makes a Special Mention regarding school timings at primary level

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Sir, attendance constitutes the most important factor in children’s learning at all levels of education. Though the overall attendance of students under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has shown improvement from 68.5% in 2006 to 76.2% in 2013 at the primary level, and, from 75.7% in 2006 to 77.8% in 2013 at the upper primary level, a pattern of low attendance still continues to pose a challenge for children’s learning and development at the primary and upper primary levels. One of the reasons for absence of primary and upper primary students from schools has been attributed to children’s requirement to help parents in their agricultural activities. This is particularly required because harvesting of some crops is a labour-intensive process. The problem is further aggravated by the fact that presently there is no adequate system put in place to track students’ attendance during the harvesting season which, in turn, culminates into poor curriculum planning for the year and finally leads to students not only breaking a continuous study momentum for a particular year but also missing important lessons for their learning.

Hence, education being a concurrent subject, we demand from the Government to put in place adequate mechanisms to track the trend of students’ attendance during the harvesting season and to make necessary changes in school timings during the harvesting season to adjust the same as per the needs of the children.

Nadimul Haque speaks on the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill

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Sir, today I stand before the House to discuss the Real Estate Bill. In my opinion, the real estate sector constitutes as the most important building block of a nation, as it provides infrastructure and housing for a better life to all the people residing in the country. However, in our country, a specific law, stating the duties and rights of buyers and promoters involved in the real estate sector, has been largely left unaddressed. Though the consumer in our country could avail the remedies available under the civil, criminal and consumer laws against these players, yet these remedies are not broad enough to address all the issues and concerns of the buyers and consumers of real estate. This situation has led to gross mismanagement and unprofessionalism in the field of real estate, wherein the project developers indulge in tactics of deliberate delays and other wrongdoing. In order to address these issues, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2013. It was later referred to the Standing Committee and then to the Select Committee. Both these Committees have submitted their reports. The Bill, as it stands today, regulates transactions between buyers and promoters of residential real estate projects. It establishes State-level regulatory authorities, called the Real Estate Regulatory Authorities (RERAs). The promoters need to be registered with the RERAs. They cannot book or offer their projects for sale without registering. The real estate agents, dealing in these projects, also need to register with the RERAs. On registration, the promoter must upload the details of the project on their website.

Sir, the Bill also contains the penalty provisions. In case, the promoter fails to register the property, he may be penalized up to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of the project. Failure to do this, despite orders issued by the RERA, will lead to imprisonment up to three years.

He will have to also pay 5 per cent of the estimated cost of the project if he violates any other provisions of the Act. However, Sir, there are some grey areas in this Bill which I would like to point out clause-wise.

Clause 3(2)(a), which relates to the registration of real estate project, of the original Bill mandated that registration was not necessary where the area of the land proposed to be developed does not exceed 1000 square metres or the number of apartments proposed to be developed does not exceed 12. Sir, the Select Committee reduced this to 500 square metres and 8 apartments, and power was given to the appropriate Government to reduce the threshold from 500 square metres and 8 apartments. Sir, it is pertinent to mention that if this clause is passed, then it may lead to the exclusion of middle class or poor class who are vulnerable to a higher rate from the promoters.

Sir, secondly, as per Clause 4(2)(i)(d), the original Bill puts a positive obligation on the promoter to put 50 per cent funds, as notified, in a separate bank account for construction work. Sir, it does not take into account the fact that there might be different situations in different States wherein the cost of land may be higher than the cost of construction.

Sir, Clause 5(2) in the original Bill stated that if the application of the promoter to register is not accepted or rejected in 15 days, then the project shall be deemed to be registered. The Committee recommended that this period be extended to 30 days. Sir, I have to say that the said clause can be subjected to abuse as there might be a lot of instances that the authorities might not be able to register a promoter project due to overburden of work.

Sir, Clause 7(1)(a) states the revocation of registration. The original Bill included ‘wilful default’ on the part of the promoter to do anything under the Act will lead to revocation of the registration. The panel had recommended that the word ‘wilful’ be deleted from the definition. However, Sir, the recommendation of the panel to delete ‘wilful’ is meritorious. At the same time, the recommendation tilts the balance in favour of the buyer and against the promoter. The promoter is now strictly liable under the Bill for any default.

By deleting the word ‘wilful’ from the definition, the promoter is now liable also in a case where he may have acted in good faith. The aforesaid recommendation would equally establish a balance between the right of the buyer as well as that of an honest promoter.

Lastly, Sir, this Bill does not include anything about the sanctioning authorities. For example, even if a project is completed and there is a delay in seeking a completion certificate from the local authority or there is a delay in obtaining electrical and water connections, the project cannot be offered for possession to the buyers on time. For this purpose, Sir, rules and recommendations to the sanctioning authorities have to be incorporated in the Bill.

With this, Sir, I rest my case supporting the Bill. Thank you.

Ahamed Hassan speaks on National Waterways Bill, 2015

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Sir, I thank you for allowing me to speak on the National Waterways Bill, 2015. As we all know, waterways in India have immense potential. Our civilization itself is connected with rivers.

World mein hamere Hindustan ki pahchan nadi se juri huyi hai. Viswa mein Bharat ke ek pehchan yeh hai is desh mein Ganga bahti hai.

Sir, the hon. Chief Minister of my State, West Bengal, Sushree Mamta Banerjiee, has always encouraged the development and the proper use of waterways in our country as well as in our State. It is evident from the statistics that China uses its waterways for 47 per cent of its total transportation, European Union-44 per cent, and even in our neighbouring country Bangladesh, 35 per cent of transportation is done through waterways, while in India, only 3 per cent of total transportation is carried out through waterways. So, we in Trinamool Congress, agree that we have to develop our national waterways to reap the benefits of the modern trade and transportation. But, at the same time, I must say that in the process, we have to address some serious concerns of the States. The Bill has not addressed the roles and the rights of the States or prepared any mechanism to solve or defuse the probable differences between the States and the Union. In the Bill, there are only three lines on this important matter. It stated without elaborating any guidelines or giving any plan for required structure or how to sort out differences, if any, between the Union and the States. There is no modality in the Bill for addressing the problem, if it crops up. In the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, it is merely said; “The enactment of the proposed legislation will in no way impinge on the rights of the State Governments for usage of water, ownership of appurtenant land, minerals, metals, sand etc., rather will usher in development of transportation and tourism in the States. In our view, there should be adequate representation of the concerned States in the nodal agency of waterways which is called ‘Inland Waterways Authority of India’. It is having its headquarters in Delhi. It is the opinion of many experts that the agency should have revamped as it is not running in a professional or proper way.

Our party, Trinamool Congress, feels that care and caution should be followed while implementing the projects after the enactment of the proposed legislation. It should, in no way, impinge the rights of State Governments for usages of water, taking up of additional irrigation projects, ownership of land, mineral, sand etc.

Another recommendation which our Party, Trinamool Congress, endorses is that a State level Water Management Committee, with representation from the State, should be formed to oversee the development of national waterways and resolve the issues at the State level itself. We in West Bengal are really concerned with these issues because as many as 12 rivers and waterways which have been identified for national waterways are from our State. I would like to mention a few, Allahabad-Haldia Stretch of the Ganga Bhagirathi-Hooghly river, Ajoy river, Damodar river, Jalangi river and Sunderbans Waterways.

Sunderbans Waterways, if it is taken up for development on a priority basis, will not only boost the eco-tourism in this magnificent area, but will usher in multi-pronged development of the area also. Tourists will see here famous Royal Bengal Tigers in the forest, Mangroves and crocodiles in the river.

But I will mention here that there are concerns of pollution in the rivers when large vessels and barges, etc., will pass through its water. The Government have to take care of that problem. Some fishermen forums also expressed their anxiety that their traditional occupation may face danger because eco-system of the river may suffer in the process. The Government will also have to look into their concerns, that is, fishermen.

Finally, I will say a few words on the financial implication. The hon. Minister, Shri Nitin Gadkari has said in the Press that the development of the proposed waterways will require Rs. 5 lakh crores. So, how the hon. Minister will procure these large sums of money, he should give us some hints or some indications. A few newspapers quoted the Minister saying that 26 per cent of the financial stakes would have to be borne by the States. I don’t know whether this proposal or the idea has been discussed with the concerned States.

In the end, I will say, we support the National Waterways Bill, 2015 for the bright future and the larger interest of the country.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy speaks on the Short Duration Discussion on prevailing agrarian crisis in the country

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Sir, with your kind permission, I would like to speak in Bengali. Before that, I will speak a few lines in English. Some figures have been given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture in the other House on 1st March, 2016 in reply to Unstarred Question No.913 and it appears from the reply that the total farmers suicide cases reported during 2015 all over the country are only 1,690, and out of which 725 farmers committed suicide in Maharashtra alone. But one report published in The Hindu on 14th January, 2016, inter alia, states that, and I quote one line with your permission, “The data obtained from the Government shows Vidarbha was the worst hit last year, with around 1,541 farmers from Amravati and Nagpur division committing suicides.”

Yeh Government data ka ullekh karke bol rahe hai, yeh Sarkar ki taraf se kuchh alag hai, jisme asman-zamin ka fark hai.

Now, Sir, I would like to switch over to Bengali in view of the fact that * Sir, the condition of the farmers engaged in jute cultivation in our State has become precarious owing to the wrong policies adopted by the Central government. Sir, I want to tell that just before the new government was formed, BJP declared on page 28 of its election manifesto, “BJP will take steps to enhance the profitability in agriculture by ensuring a minimum 50 per cent profit over the cost of production.” Many Hon’ble Members said that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for jute has no scientific basis for evaluation. No scientific system is being followed to fix Minimum Support Price, Sir; it is rather being done in a haphazard way. MSP is being fixed on the data provided by different organizations and agencies. Even there is no scientific assessment on the quantum of jute farming and production in West Bengal – Jute Corporation of India provides some data, Jute Baler’s Association gives another data and IJMA provides yet another differing account. So I appeal to the government through you, Sir, to assess the reasons why jute production is alarmingly decreasing in our State. It is not a matter that concerns West Bengal only; there are 7 States in India where cultivation of jute has been going on for centuries together. Jute is being cultivated across 8 lakh hectares of land in our State and as you know well, Sir, jute is an essential commodity. There are 77 jute mills spread across the country. Iam happy to state that the oldest jute mill of the country and also the largest number of jute mills can be found in West Bengal. Unfortunately, Sir, the government has not been providing adequate Minimum Support Price for jute and so, thousands of jute industry workers and jute farmers along with their families are languishing in a terrible pool of distress. But the government did not pay heed to their distress. I would request the government through you, Sir, to fix the Minimum Support Price for jute at a level higher than the ‘mandi’ or market price so that the farmers feel encouraged to cultivate and produce more jute. During the last 2 years, the Minimum Support Price for jute was at such a low level and added to that the price of jute dipped in such a way that the jute growers had no other option than to agree to distress sells. So our Hon’ble Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee provided an additional compensation of Rs.500 per quintal to the jute cultivators. We had repeatedly appealed to the Central government at that time but it fell on deaf ears.

So once again I take this opportunity to request the government through you Sir, to fix the Minimum Support Price of jute above the ‘mandi’ price or market price. It should not be applicable to our State only; it should rather be applicable to all 7 jute-producing States of the country. I want to stress the fact that the Minimum Support Price announced for this season too is not all adequate. The condition has turned more unbearable because a group of jute mill owners have hiked the price of raw jute in an artificial way; they have artificially created a crisis of jute availability and have been deceiving the jute farmers. We cannot tolerate the unfair means by which these jute mill owners are making profit. We appeal to the government through you, Sir that the Minimum Support Price of jute must be increased to a level above the market price; otherwise the growers will not take interest in cultivation of raw jute.

Sir, in conclusion let me say that BJP had declared in its manifesto – I am quoting from the manifesto of the BJP – “Genetically modified food will not be allowed without full scientific evaluation.” Yet we do not know what kind of evaluation is being done on GM crop. Public in general has been kept in the dark on this aspect. All the information regarding evaluation should be published in the website of the Ministry of Agriculture so that public can become aware of the evaluation and they can voice their opinion about GM crop and take decisive steps in choosing the right one. The farmer community of the country should be consulted before taking any decision on GM crop; otherwise we will face similar kind of crisis that saw widespread destruction due to cultivation of Bt cotton in Vidarbha region in Maharashtra. The farmers of the country will have no choice other than committing suicide like the farmers in Vidarbha – we can never tolerate this kind of wretched condition. So I appeal through you to the government to make public all the information regarding scientific evaluation of GM crop.

Thank you, Sir.

Pratima Mandal speaks on Railway Budget 2016

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Madam,

It is mentioned in the Railway Budget that Wi-Fi connection will be made available in four hundred stations. Madam, you cannot imagine the despicable condition of toilets at railway station. Especially in rural areas, there is no water facility.  Railway stations are not properly cleaned even after an interval of six months or more.

With due regards to the Make In India, Digital India projects, I specially believe that cleaning the toilets is a priority. Sufficient water, especially safe drinking water should be made available in all railway stations and their restrooms. Food provided on board should be adequate and shall meet minimum health requirements. The provisions for food must be available at all railway stations and specially on long duration.

Madam, I want to speak about another major and shameful problem, that of sexual harassment of female passengers. The Government should ensure proper security and safety. In case of any violation or complains, appropriate actions must be taken to efficiently redress grievances of the victims.

Madam, I would like to place my demands to which I had already placed in this House before the Hon’ble Minister Prabhu ji and also wrote to him but did not get any positive results from his end. I once again like to place my demands. My first demand is for shuttle train services from New Garia to Canning, from New Garia to Lakshmikantapur, from New Garia to Diamond Harbour and one local train service from Sealdah to Joynagar-Majilpur and construction of level crossings at Piyali Railway Station on Sealdah-Canning railway track. Three Railway projects, which are the dream projects of the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee. One railway project is from Canning to Gadkhali via Bhanganthali, another is Joynagar to Moipith via Jamtala and the third is from Namkhana to Bakkhali.

Thank you Madam for giving me an opportunity.

Nadimul Haque speaks on the delay in appointment of the Chairperson and other Members of the Law Commission during Zero Hour

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Sir, today, I would like to draw the attention of the House towards the delay in appointment of the Chairperson and other Members of the Law Commission. The Ministry of Law and Justice, vide its Notification dated 14th September, 2015, had notified the constitution of the 21st Law Commission of India for a period of three years from September1, 2015, to August, 2018.

However, almost six months have passed, but the Government has not appointed the Chairman and other Members of the Law Commission till date.

Sir, the active and regular functioning of the Law Commission is of utmost importance, especially focusing on their role of providing suggestions and recommendations on legal reforms required in our country. Therefore, the aforesaid delay will have its adverse impact on the working of the Commission as they will have six months less to complete their assigned tasks.

Sir, I want to ask this Government: Why is there a delay in the appointment of the Members of the Law Commission, especially when they equate high importance to good governance in our country?

Hence, I would request the Government to appoint all the Members of the Law Commission expeditiously, so that the promise of good governance through legal and judicial reforms can become operative in nature.

Thank you.

Mumtaz Sanghamita speaks on the Railway Budget

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Hon’ble Railway Minister have placed many dreamy proposals regarding passenger services, safety, amenities and modernization of stations establishment of freight corridor, new locomotive factory and so on. He has also expressed concern regarding expenditure without much income or provision of income generation provision.

70% of our Railway passengers belong to low and middle income groups. Railways are the major transport in sub-urban and local trains for poor and middle class. The benefit of passenger as well as railway department. The main thing is to increase the passenger load, betterment of passenger amenities, cleanliness of platform and railway tracks as well as train compartments. Most important about Railway journey is punctuality, less time consuming.

The Distribution of clean hygienic bed roles, safe drinking water facilities, clean toilets are more important. Use of SMS to call for toilet cleaning is impractical. Many local trains running 2 to 3 hours as well as even inter-district trains (local) running 6 to 8 hours are lacking toilet facilities. Proper pantry and cooking facilities have been withdrawn from many long distant trains (ex.- Kanchanjunga Express from Sealdah to Guwahati). Bus junction or even Taluka level stations should be provided with lift or escalator facilities and at least pay-toilets at platform.

Instead of making very many new projects like bullet trains, new locomotive factories, unfinished proposal in these regards to be looked after first. Instead of RCTC stalls selling junk food at platforms, there should be provision of Janata canteen supplying local staple foods.

Many of the Railway hospitals are giving high standard service. If this service can be extended to public on payment basis that can generate some income. If Krishi Mandi can be established by Dept. of Railways, it can generate income from this service. No Provision of Superfast trains in big cities and connecting Smart cities with local places would popularize railways.

Many local trains have no toilet facility. Number of female railway police should be increased. Provision of natural gas or solar power running trains trial at least in sub-urban trains can help to reduce environmental pollution and may be cost effective also.

Trinamool MPs pay tribute to women on International Women’s Day

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Trinamool Congress today paid rich tributes to women and spoke at length about gender equality and women’s right in the Parliament during the discussion on the occasion of the International Women’s Day at Lok Sabha.

Dr Sugata Bose, in his short speech, appealed to the Speaker to ensure that women have just representation in the Lok Sabha in the future. “We will stand in solidarity with the women and fight shoulder to shoulder with you to end gender discrimination in our country once and for all”, he said.

Shatabdi Roy in her speech sought equal rights for women. She said that women do not want seats reserved for them in public buses but would rather like to drive buses themselves.

Ratna De Nag, recalled the struggle of Mamata Banerjee during her speech. “There is a need to ensure gender equality and it is not going to be an easy task. We live in a world where inequality prevails and to be very frank, inequality is in our psyche, she said.  To come out of this mold is not easy and is arduous and women have the capacity to excel in whatever they do, whatever they aspire for”, she said.

Trinamool MP Aparupa Poddar urged the Government to initiate schemes for skill development and empowerment of women.

Ratna De Nag speaks on the occasion of International Women’s Day

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Madam,

There is a need to ensure gender equality and it is not going to be an easy task. We live in a world where inequality prevails. To be very frank, inequality is in our psyche. To come out of this mould is not easy.  It is arduous. It needs lots of guts and courage and what not.

Women have the capacity to excel in whatever they do, whatever they aspire for.

Our hon. Speaker Smt Sumitra Mahajan is a good example how women can achieve with hard work, sincerity and perseverance. Our country has produced many eminent women leaders, starting from Indira Gandhi, our former President Pratibha Patil, and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

My party, the Trinamool Congress is headed by a woman, Mamata Banerjee, who faced all odds to come to this position and became the Chief Minister of West Bengal. We should take up the cause when we come across any injustice. We should not let it go.

I would like to quote the message of Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General on International Women’s Day 2016: “We have shattered so many glass ceilings we created a carpet of shards. Now we are sweeping away the assumptions and bias of the past so women can advance across new frontiers.”

Before I conclude, Madam, I would like to convey my regards to you and all the honourable members of this House and all the women in my State, in my country and outside the country.