Seven books penned by Mamata Banerjee released at Kolkata International Book Fair today. The book fair has entered its 43rd year this year.
One of the seven books written by her contains shayaris written in Urdu. Among the others, two books contain essays and two are books on poetry.
Her books have been bestsellers in previous years, and this year too it is hoped that her books will become bestsellers.
Source: Millennium Post
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The Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi (PBA), which comes under the aegis of the State Information & Cultural Affairs Department, will soon publish a directory of the little magazines being published in Bangla so that the government can provide assistance to them in times of need.
The aim is to release the directory on February 21, which is observed as Bhasha Divas, or International Mother Language Day, throughput the world, and which has its origin in the Language Movement of the 1950s in Bangladesh, started in favour of making Bengali the national language of the country.
The academy is presently collecting names and addresses of the little magazines spanning across the State. The matter of inviting details of the little magazines has been published in various newspapers and the response has been quite good.
The State, and particularly Kolkata, has a thriving tradition of little magazines – comparatively cheap but quality magazines concentrating on stories, poems and articles – which are mostly published in Bengali. Many famous literary personalities writing in Bengali have come up the ranks of little magazines.
Source: Millennium Post
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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurates the 43rd International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) today at Central Park, Salt Lake. This year the Book Fair is being held from January 31 to February 11.
Among other distinguished guests at the inauguration was Euda Morales, an eminent author from Guatemala, as the Central American nation is the theme country this year. There will be books in 24 local languages of Guatemala.
The sixth edition of the Kolkata Literature Festival is also going to be held for a few days of the fair at the same venue. Distinguished writers, poets, directors, historians and other personalities from various fields will grace the occasion.
The focus tribe this year is Lepcha, and February 2 will be celebrated as Lepcha Day. From this year, the organisers of the IKBF have decided to showcase the literature and culture of one scheduled tribe every year.
There will be more than 600 book stalls and about 200 little magazine stalls.
Highlights of Chief Minister’s speech:
The book fair is very close to our heart. It is a lifeline for those who love books a lot.
This is the age of social media. There’s internet, Facebook, Twitter and other mediums where people write poetry or other essays.
Books are irreplaceable. Books are our stepping stone to learning and discovering new literature.
It would not be an exaggeration if I say Kolkata Book Fair is the best book fair in the world. This is nothing short of a festival.
Last year 2.2 million people visited the book fair. I hope the book fair becomes bigger and bigger in future.
Bangla celebrates all festivals with equal fervour. Durga Puja is celebrated in a grand manner. Christmas is celebrated across the world, but the celebrations in Bangla are on a different level.
This year, seven of my books have been published. One of them is political, titled ‘Biponno Bharat’. Other books are for children and poetry. Till date 87 of my books have been published. By next year, I will try to complete a century.
We have lost several icons this year. I remember sharing the stage with Nirendranath Chakraborty the year before last. Dwijen Da is also no more.
Do not allow any ‘dushtu’ people to spoil the magic of and charm of the ‘mishti’ book fair.
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This year, the State Transport Department has taken a novel approach towards the International Kolkata Book Fair – organising a Book Fair-centred package tour.
The South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) is responsible for the project. This project was taken up following the success of the Durga Puja package tours, which start right from the day of Mahalaya.
This year the Book Fair is being held from January 31 to February 11. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be inaugurating the fair today. A literary festival, the Kolkata Literature Festival, is also going to be held for a few days of the fair at the same venue.
Like every year, this year too the Transport Department is organising special buses for the hundreds of thousands of people who will be visiting the fair in Salt Lake, among whom are foreign tourists too.
Last year, 120 buses had been arranged. This year that number has gone up to 190. There are both non-AC and AC buses, and government as well as private buses.
Buses will be running between Salt Lake and Dharmatala, Howrah, Sealdah, Santragachi, Bali Rajchandrapur, Thakurpukur, Parnashree, Garia, Kamalgazi, Baruipur, Barasat, Dum Dum and a few other places.
Source: Ei Samay
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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today launched the Krishak Bandhu scheme at a public meeting in Birbhum district. She had announced this scheme on December 31, 2018. The CM handed over cheques to farmers at Rampurhat to formally start this scheme.
The finance department has already allocated Rs 4,150 crore for this scheme; out of which Rs 4,000 crore have been allocated to help the farmers in cultivation. The remaining Rs 150 crore will be given as financial assistance to the families of families of farmers in case of farmer deaths.
The finance department has sent the funds to the state co-operative banks. All farmers will start receiving the money from February 1, 2019. To distribute the benefits of this scheme, camps have been set up in 341 blocks across the State. Seventeen thousand farmers have already enrolled for this scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said:
Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several schemes at Rampurhat in Birbhum district today. She also distributed government benefits on the occasion.
Highlights of Chief Minister’s speech:
Birbhum is the land of rangamati (red soil). This is a holy land. This is land of Rabindranath, Shakti peeth and also Patharchapari.
We have distributed direct government benefits to 10,000 people today. On the occasion of Kenduli Mela, we had handed over benefits to 12,000 people.
A lot of developmental work is happening in Birbhum district. We have set up the Tarapith Development Authority.
When I was the Railway Minister, I had developed the Tarapith railway station modelled after the Tarapith Temple.
The first phase of renovation work at Tarapith Temple is over. Lakhs of devotees come here regularly. But no one took the initiative to develop this place. Why did our Comrades never take the initiative to renovate Tarapith temple?
We have constructed houses for 30 lakh people. We have constructed toilets at 90% places.
We have started medical insurance scheme for journalists. We have the Swasthya Sathi scheme, which covers even cable operators, ICDS and ASHA workers now.
Healthcare is free in Bangla. A super speciality hospital has been set up Rampurhat, Suri, Bolpur.
We have started schemes for every stage of life from birth to death. We have started Sikshashree scholarship for SC/ST students. We distribute Sabooj Sathi cycles to students.
We even give financial assistance to poor families to cremate/bury their near and dear ones. We have renovated burial grounds and crematoriums.
We have started the Lok Prasar Prakalpa which benefits 1.94 lakh folk artistes. The BJP only cares for them during elections. For the rest of the year, they are neglected.
Every girl is now eligible for Kanyashree. We have extended the scheme to universities also.
We have given scholarships to 1.7 crore minority students. This is the highest in India.
We have also started Swami Vivekananda merit-cum-means scholarship for general category students.
We have ensured food security for 8.5 crore people under Khadya Sathi scheme. Special assistance is also provided to the people of Jangalmahal and Hill areas, Aila-affected areas, farmers of Singur, tea garden workers & Toto tribe.
We have fulfilled our promises. They are still saying they will do developmental work in the future.
Bangla is number one in skill development. We have reduced unemployment by 40% while two crore people lost jobs in the country.
We are number one in constructing rural roads.
From the 25th position among States, Bangla is now number one in many spheres.
Satyameva Jayate. Fight for the truth. Bangla will show the way to the rest of country in the days to come.
Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today slammed the ‘half-educated’ leaders of BJP for insulting Bangla and Bengali culture. She was speaking at a public meeting at Rampurhat in Birbhum district.
She said, “Some ill-informed uneducated leaders of Delhi, who have zero knowledge about Bangla and its culture, are saying we have copied Kanyashree scheme. I challenge them. Kanyashree scheme was launched in 2013, and Beti Bachao scheme started in 2015. They cannot even implement the schemes properly.”
We have spent more than Rs 7,000 crore for Kanyashree scheme already. How much have they spent? Rs 3-4 crore per State, a pittance, the CM added.
“Those who had a role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, are pretending to be saints today. Bangla cannot be intimidated with fear tactics. We do not make false promises. Our actions speak louder than words,” she added.
The Chief Minister commented that the Left destroyed Bangla for 34 years, Congress always neglected the State. And BJP only incites riots, and never does any constructive work.
“In our State we celebrate Durga Pujo, Saraswati Pujo, Eid, Christmas with equal fervour. The less-educated leaders of Delhi must prove their allegations against Bangla or quit politics,” she challenged the BJP.
The CM said the Centre sent IT notices to the clubs which perform Durga Pujo. Can they send the same notices to Ganapati organisers in Mumbai, she demanded to know.
They are indulging in lies. They are spreading falsehoods. They are insulting Bangla’s culture. They are threatening to send Bengali people away. I dare them to do so.
Regarding the personal attacks on her, Mamata Banerjee said, “People of Bengal know me very well. They will give me character certificate. I do not need certificates from a party of goons and cheats. If I paint they say it is corruption. If I write, they say it is corruption. They have no other agenda.”
“I have struggled all my life. Many attempts have been made at my life. I am not afraid. As long as I am alive, I will live with my head held high. I challenge them to show Mamata Banerjee has taken even a single penny for the paintings sold. Our party has already given notice for defamation,” she added.
She said the expiry date of the Central Government has arrived.
January 30 is the death anniversary of the ‘Father of the Nation’, Mahatma Gandhi. His connection with Bangla had always been spiritual. The Bangla Government observes Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2 and his death anniversary on January 30, with due honour every year.
When India gained independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi had been residing in Gandhi Bhavan in Beliaghata, Kolkata. At present, Gandhi Bhavan also comprises a museum which showcases the charkha (spinning wheel) which he used when he resided here. Rare pictures of the Mahatma can also be found hung across the museum walls.
On the occasion of his death anniversary, here are some highlights of the Bangla Government’s tributary efforts towards Mahatma Gandhi:
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The State Fisheries Department has crossed the benchmark it had set for 2018 – 1 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of exports. In fact, the figure has reached 1.05 lakh MT, as of November 2018.
This was announced by the advisor to the chief minister on agriculture and allied sectors during the course of his speech at the inauguration of Bengal Fish Fest in January.
The figure is expected to touch a new high by the end of financial year 2018-19, that is, March 31, 2019.
Meanwhile, Bangla Government is on course to build one of the world’s largest quality control labs to help increase the production of shrimps.
Source: The Statesman
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The Bangla Government has roped in research scholars from various agricultural universities in the State to help increase productivity of rice and other foodgrains.
The research wing of the State Agriculture Department has tied up with two State-owned agricultural universities – Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya – to carry out the research work.
As part of the collaboration, officials of the department will hold meetings with the researchers involved at regular intervals to determine future steps that need to be taken to increase productivity.
The Agricultural Department is also preparing a road map to ensure that the suggested steps coming out of the collaboration are followed through.
One of the main objectives of the initiative is to impart expertise to farmers on how to sow seeds in a more scientific way.
According to the Agriculture Department, overall paddy cultivation has increased in the last couple of years due to the introduction of various social schemes for the farmers and of advanced and sturdier varieties of seeds, and of cultivation of rarer varieties like tulaipanji, gobindabhog and kalonunia over larger areas.
The State Government has also introduced vocational training courses in different aspects of agriculture, such as soil testing and other things to widen the options of job-oriented skill development programmes.
As a result of these, compared to financial year 2010-11, the income of farmers has increased by three times. The State has also won the national-level award, Krishi Karman for five consecutive years.
Source: Millennium Post
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