Author: AITC

The West Bengal Government celebrated theInternational Literacy Day today through a colourful padayatra from the base of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi atDharmatala to Rabindra Sadan. The main function to commemorate the day was heldat Rabindra Sadan.

The padayatrawas inaugurated by Janab Abdul Karim Chiwdhury, Minister for Mass Education andLibraries. The commemorative programme, organised by the department of mass educationwas inaugurated by the state Education Minister Mr Partha Chatterjee. Ministerfor Science and Technology, Mr Rabiranjan Chatterjee was the Chief Guest at theprogramme.

Incidentally, the department of mass educationtook major initiatives for modernisation of the facilities in 147 sponsored andacademically-recognised special schools. A 12-member panel, comprising eminentteachers and scientists, was formally launched Oct 1, 2013 to highlight theareas that need improvement and also provide solutions to different areasincluding mass education.

All India Trinamool Yuva today organised ahuge rally at Bowbazar in support of the party candidate Nayana Bandyopadhyayfor the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Chowringhee. Senior party leaders likePartha Chatterjee, Subrata Bakshi, Sonali Guha, Firhad Hakim, Saugata Roy,Tapas Roy, Ashok Deb and others were present on the occasion.

Speaking at the rally, West Bengal StatePresident of the party, Subrata Bakshi said, “Opposition parties, with the helpof a section of the media, are maligning the WB government. We have to counterthe smear campaign against the WB Government by winning this by-election.”

Party MP from Dumdum, Saugata Roy slammedthe BJP for having a murder-accused as the party chief. He said that thecurrent BJP Chief was sent to jail and back then BJP used to call the CBI “CongressBureau of Investigation”.

“We took action in Saradha scam. We sentour MP to jail and formed a commission to return money. The Centre has notresponded to our request for debt moratorium. They have not allotted funds formetro projects in Kolkata,” he added.

Party MP from Diamond Harbour, and theNational President of Yuva, Abhishek Banerjee lashed out at the BJP and asection of the media for starting a smear campaign against West BengalGovernment. 

Highlights of Abhishek Banerjee's speech:

• The slogan for 13 September is – Chupchap joraphooley chhap.

• Prior to 2011, could the Opposition in Bengalhold rallies freely? Yesterday BJP held a rally here. Don't you want such anatmosphere?

• This government came to power in 2011 withthe support of the people. You voted for Mamata Banerjee because you saw herstruggle. We are focussed on the future, not the past.

• Mamata Banerjee did not politicise Sharadaissue. Instead, she took steps to return people's money.

• BJP plays communal politics. People shouldshow them the way out.

• BJP does not understand the Bengalisentiment. Ram naam newar aage 14 bochorbonobas koruk BJP.

• Media houses that are maligning WB governmentshould produce their balance sheets. How much money have they taken fromSaradha ads?

• If there is an unbiased investigation ofSaradha scam, Mamata Banerjee will support it.

• What did Modi do in 100 days? They did notpunish criminals; they did not grant Bengal the deserved money.

• BJP failed to check price rise. Who isbenefiting from the Achhe Din? BJP or common people of India?

• A BJP functionary was head of Saradha inTezpur, Assam. Why should he not go to jail? Why is Didi alone being targeted?

• It is difficult for a section of the mediato accept Mamata Banerjee, with a humble background, as the CM. So they aretargeting her.

• Vote for Trinamool to continue the surge ofdevelopment in Bengal.

Trinamool Congress Vice President andLeader of the party in Lok Sabha Mr Sudip Bandopadhyay Sunday stated that 45MPs of Trinamool Congress will stage a “dharna” in front of the PrimeMinister's residence if the CBI continues to act as a “political wing” ofthe Central government.

“We have 45 MPs from both Lok Sabhaand Rajya Sabha and we will go to the Prime Minister's residence demandingCBI's unbiased role in the probe,” he said.

“We will also take up the issue on thefloor of the Parliament if the CBI acts politically at the behestof the Centre,” he added.

“Weare keeping a close watch on each and every movement by the CBI regarding itsprobe in the multi-crore Saradha scam to see if the ruling BJP at the Centre isplaying any behind-the-scene politics. We shall not make any comment orspecific complaint right now,” Mr Bandyopadhyay told reporters.

“There should not be any politics on CBI.It should be allowed to work impartially without any political pressure. ThePrime Minister should ensure that the CBI is not a pawn in the hands of theparty in power at the Centre,” he said.

“Let the CBI complete its probe and filecharge sheet against the accused without any influence or political pressure,”Mr Bandyopadhyay said.

“Ifthe BJP-led government at the Centre is involved in any conspiracy against us,it will also face the consequence,” Mr Bandyopadhyay cautioned.

West Bengal Government has decided to forma Steering Committee for industry which will be chaired by the Chief Secretaryof the State and co-chaired by industrialist Sanjeev Goenka. This uniqueinitiative was decided upon in a meeting of the Chief Minister with adelegation of industrialists at Nabanna.

The formation of the committee wasannounced in a press conference at Nabanna addressed jointly by Ministry forfinance, IT, Industry and Commerce, Dr Amit Mitra and Chairman of RPGEnterprises, Shri Sanjeev Goenka.

BusinessSynergy Centre

The Chief Minister will inaugurate aBusiness Synergy Centre on September 11, 2014, with the purpose of promotingBengal as an investment destination. This is the outcome of the visit toSingapore and the first Synergy centre will be between Bengal and Singapore. TheSynergy Centre will operate from WBIDC.

“No where in India would you find govt andindustry working together,” said Dr Mitra. Mr Goenka said that to hisknowledge, this was the first time any State or Central Government had formed apanel with representatives from both the government and the industry.

Follow-upon Singapore success

After her successful business trip toSingapore, the Chief Minister had called a follow-up meeting in the last weekof August where ideas were exchanged to take the projects inked at Singapore forward.It was also decided to crystallize those meetings later in September. Today'smeeting was held on account of that.

Sectortalcommittees

Apart from the Steering Committee, severalsectoral committees were also announced. Each sectoral group has the concerned secretary, and a nominee ofindustry who will co chair. The idea isto have the recommendatory role towards policy making, towards making Bengal abetter investment destination, towards making Bengal a more pleasant experienceto invest in. 

The sectoral committeesare as follows:

GlobalInvestors' Summit

The WB Government will also organise aglobal summit of investors in Kolkata on 7-8 January, 2015. It will have peoplewho have invested in Bengal share their experience; it will have a sessionspecially for non-resident Bengalis. It will also have a session for GlobalCEOs who will come and speak. All of these will be followed by a response bythe Hon'ble Chief Minister. She willhear everyone over 3-4 hours and at that spot respond.

Second day there is going to be a sessionof MSMEs. There is going to be eightbreak away round table on different sectors and there will be a B2B session,eventually to be concluded by the Chief Minister.

“On behalf of the industry I can say thatwe are grateful that the Government of West Bengal is giving us this opportunityand also allowing us to shape policy along with the Government, to make our recommendationsin free, frank and forthright manner. I think this is something which will go along way in building confidence and credibility,” said Mr Goenka.

State Urban Development and Municipal AffairsMinister Mr Firhad Hakim will visit Chennai to apprise financial institutionsregarding the facilities available at New Town financial hub for setting upoffices.

He said 35 acres of lands at New Town isready for setting up offices for the financial institutions and sufficientinfrastructure was developed for this purpose. “Eleven financial institutions were already accommodated at New Townfinancial hub. More plots are available for setting up office there,” he said.

Mr Hakim will leave for Chennai on 15September.  He will speak to seniorofficials of several South Indian bank and financial institutions. He hadalready visited Mumbai and spoke to the officials of several financialinstitutions and companies for setting up offices in West Bengal.

“Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee'sSingapore visit to bring investment for the state has created a good impact andseveral companies have shown interest to set up their offices here,” he said.Senior official of the Bank of India, Canada Bank, GIC, LIC, HDFC and KotakMahindra are interested to set up offices at New Town financial hub. “We are asking the companies to visit thefinancial hub before singing an MoU,” he said.

The authorities of a financial institutionwill meet Mr Hakim on Saturday for starting the activities. Mr Hakim said hewill prepare a report regarding Lavasa township project. “I have visited theplace and collected documents regarding Lavasa Township project. Stategovernment is keen to set up such kind of township project near hill station,”he said. Around 50 new Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM)buses will ply from New Towns to several places, he said. “We have launched1,200 buses from New Towns to Kolkata and other places till date,” the Ministersaid.

Parliamentarians are in for a visual treatcome 2015. Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Jogen Chowdhury, who is a veteran painter,has been asked by the Secretary General of Rajya Sabha to do twelve sketcheswith the Parliament as the theme.

These sketches will be compiled in the formof a calendar for 2015 and will be distributed among all members of the LokSabha and the Rajya Sabha as well as to the senior Parliament officials. Thecalendar will be ready in December, 2014 for distribution.

“I am thrilled and excited. I readilyagreed to the proposal of the Secretary General when he approached me,” saidJogen Chowdhury, who will be beginning his work next month. Trinamool family isextremely happy and proud of the iconic painter of Bengal.

Artistin Residence

Chowdhury is the first 'Artist inResidence' at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the 'In-Residence Scheme forWriters and Artists' started by President Pranab Mukherjee, since August 4.Incidentally, his first stint in Delhi was also at Rashtrapati Bhavan back in1972, where he was curator of art for 15 years.

Drawinghis colleagues

While most parliamentarians draw on theirdebating skills, Trinamool MP in Rajya Sabha Jogen Chowdhury prefers to drawhis debating colleagues.

Jogen Chowdhury, an eminent painter andmaster of line drawing, has been quietly at work, seated in the back rows ofthe opposition benches. Even while following the proceedings and taking downnotes, he has been closely observing fellow members of the upper House andsketching them.

RajyaSabha Diary

Though he has completed only 25-oddsketches since he joined the House in April, Chowdhury hopes to be able tocapture more of the 245 MPs and their moods over his six-year term. He plans topublish his collection in the form of a Rajya Sabha Diary. The compilation islikely to be a unique documentation of contemporary politics, whenever it isready.

Among those he has sketched are CPM leaderSitaram Yechury, Congress's Ghulam Nabi Azad, RS deputy chairman P J Kurien,home minister Rajnath Singh, nominated member and lyricist Javed Akhtar, HRDminister Smriti Irani, JD(U) MP Ramnath Thakur and CPI leader D Raja, amongothers.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataBanerjee visited the site for the proposed animal safari park at Shorea NaturePark, around 7 km from Siliguri. She stopped by the site on her way fromKalimpong to Bagdora Airport, from where she flew to Kolkata.

“The Park will be a tourist attraction. Itis a big project. The safari park will be set up on 700 acres of land and theproject cost is Rs 255 crore. The project will be complete within two years,”the Chief Minister said.

Talking to officials there, she enquiredabout the infrastructure of the project of which she had laid the foundationstone from Darjeeling on 17 July. “The park will have various animals,including tigers, and a separate zone for birds. The Central Zoo Authority ofIndia has already given its nod for the project. A dedicated officer would bein charge of the park. Visitors can walk on the path for them to reach theanimals that are harmless, while there will be bus rides for watching otheranimals,” she said.

The cost of the first phase of the projectis Rs 78 crore and it is likely to be completed within next year.

The park will house tigers, leopards,jungle cats, Himalayan black bears, rhinos, a variety of reptiles including thecrocodile, and birds. The park has been named as the North Bengal Wild AnimalPark. A director will be in charge of the park.

Around 100 people visit the Shorea Parkevery day at present. Members of the forest protection committee todayfelicitated the Chief Minister who had, during her visit to north Bengal inJuly 2012, suggested forest officials to set up such a park in the region.

Several mega projects to boost the tourismindustry are on the cards in the picturesque districts of north Bengal. “I willvisit Sandakphu next time to see how the place can be developed. This apart, wewill work to build a 'new Darjeeling' near Algara in Kalimpong. We are alsoworking to identify sports activities for the tourism industry,” the ChiefMinister said.

The party leadership on Wednesday appointeda five-member advisory committee, headed by housing minister Aroop Biswas, tomentor the students' wing of the party and decide the course of TMCPactivities.

The advisory committee will include veteranlegislators Asoke Deb and Tapas Ray and leaders Boishwanor Chatterjee, SouravChakraborty and Rahul Roy (who had recently defected from Congress). Thisadvisory committee will now have the final say in all matters relating to TMCP.

In a few other changes, Barasat MP KakoliGhosh Dastidar will now head the party's national women's wing and veteran MPSaugata Roy has been tasked to look after the ruling party's state employees' union.