Author: AITC

WB CM greets people on the occasion of Independence Day

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WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee greeted people on the occasion of Independence Day on her Facebook page. She wrote:

I salute our martyrs, our soldiers, our leaders and our countrymen who fought gallantly for our country's freedom.

Let's stand committed to our great country and to all my brothers and sisters.

Heartiest greetings and best wishes to all.

WB CM will be taking part in the Independence Day parade at Red Road today. After Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee came to power she changed the location of the Independence Day function to Red Road, instead of at Writers' Buildings and started the ritual of Independence Day parades.

The state government has decided to showerflowers from helicopters during the Independence Day ceremony to be held on RedRoad on 15 August. This is for the first time that helicopters will be used inthe Independence Day ceremony to shower flowers.

The state transport department will beproviding a helicopter. Apart from that, four departments willshowcase their tableaus – the tourism department, the information and culturalaffairs department, the women and social welfare department and the labourdepartment.

A senior official of the state governmentadded that the tableaus representing eco-tourism will also be highlighted atthe Independence Day ceremony.

Apart from these, a tableau of Kanyashree Prakalpa, a flagship projectfor the girl child which has been represented at the Girls Summit 2014, will behighlighted at the Independence Day ceremony.

KanyashreeePrakalpa, launched last year, has already enrolled1.4 million girls in the 13-18 age group, and for most of them the bankpassbook and the deposits are a new possession. Kanyashree-II has given Rs25,000 to each of the 83,039 older, unmarried girls. Both schemes are for girlswhose family income is Rs 1,20,000 or under, a condition waived for physicallychallenged girls or residents of social welfare homes and mental institutes.

The tableau of the Yuvashree scheme which has been launched for the employment ofyouths will also be highlighted at the ceremony.

US diplomat meets WB CM, praises development of Kolkata

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a meeting with US charge` d'affaires for India Kathleen Stephens at her Nabanna office on Thursday duringthe latter's first visit to Kolkata.

The Chief Minister and the diplomat discussed aboutindustrial process and employment issues in the State. It may be recalled thatin May 2012, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton had been to the city to meetthe Bengal CM. Former US ambassador Nancy Powell also met her. Insiders said itshows that Mamata has her own importance to foreign diplomats. Even BritishPremier David Cameron had been to the city in November 2013 and met Ms MamataBanerjee.

After the meeting, Kathleen said, “I am very happy to be inBengal. We discussed about development issues.”

She described the meeting as a fruitful one. “The meetingwas for promoting improved ties with Bengal,” she said, adding that that thetwo also spoke on collaboration for economic development. “We need to work forsustainable economic growth.”

She said that the best stage of Indo-US relationship is yetto come and both the countries have a common goal. “I stayed in Kolkata fortwo-and-a-half days. I am impressed with the beauty of Kolkata and especiallyhonoured to meet the CM. We are proud of the history of Bengal.”

Derek O’Brien speaks on the Centre’s decision to implement MGNREGA in a few blocks only | Transcript

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West Bengal’s approved budget for the implementation of MGNREGA in the previous financial year was Rs 6124.98 crores of which the central share was supposed to be Rs 5512 crores. The State received only Rs 2894.38 crores against the promised Rs 5500 crores.

On account of reduced funding from the centre, the state share payable fell to Rs 321.60 crores. However, the state government released an enhanced share of Rs 424.44 crores to make up for the Centre’s shortfall in an understanding that it would be adjusted during 2014-15.

2014-2015, again began with a pending liability of Rs 1962.15 crores. The first tranche of the central share was released in April 2014 and the state received only Rs 1782.99 crores, a sum not enough to cover even the Centre’s liability from the previous year. The State Government once again released an additional sum of Rs 400 crores. As of today, the Centre’s liability towards West Bengal stands at Rs 1962.67 crores.

The Ministry of Rural Development has asked states to identify 2500 backward blocks for an Intensive Participatory Planning Exercise for MGNREGA for the coming financial year. There are 124 such blocks in West Bengal. The stated objective of the exercise is to intensify planning in the identified blocks. There are apprehensions that all future MGNREGA activities would be concentrated in these blocks only. Such a measure would be against the spirit of the MGNREGA which stipulates 100 days assured employment on demand to every job card-holder.

In 2012-13, West Bengal had achieved a total man days of about 20 crores which was 109% higher than the national target. In 2013-14, the State was able to exceed its target once again. The West Bengal Government is committed to the MGNREGA program and could have made giant strides in implementing the scheme had the state not been starved of funds. The Government must implement the scheme in its true spirit and not resort to the intensification of the scheme in a few blocks to the neglect of others.

Derek O’Brien speaks on the ‘retirement’ of radio jockeys | Transcript

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Sir, spreading message through FM or on smartphones and other such devices is very good. The people who actually spread the message are the Radio Jockeys or the RJs. Is the Minister aware, and if he is, what is the solution to this, that in some stations across the country young men and women have been asked to ‘retire’ after they reach the age of 35. What great biological change takes place that RJs across the country are asked to retire? RJs are the people who take radio message across to millions of people. What is the reason to retire all these young boys and girls at 35, as we read in the media in last two weeks?

Thank you Sir.

Second outlet of Biswa Bangla store opens at Dakshinapan

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataBanerjee inaugurated the second outlet of the Biswa Bangla chain of stores at Dakshinapan Shopping Centre inSouth Kolkata. The government-run chain of stores is the brainchild of WestBengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee and has been set up by the micro andsmall-scale enterprises and textiles department to showcase all handicrafts,handloom and other traditional and famous products of the State.

The first Biswa Bangla store, which opened in the domestic section of the Dumdumin the last week of February, is already a hit with fliers. Daily sales havebeen more than Rs 1 lakh on an average so far.

For the first time, all exclusive productsof Bengal, from sweets to muslin saris, have been made available under oneumbrella. The marketing strategy is different from the familiar Manjusha or Tantuja stores.

Products

Sweets: Rosogolla, nolen gurersandesh, langcha and mihidana are the popular picks here. Langcha is procured from Shaktigarh and mihidana from Burdhaman.

Thisand that: Darjeeling tea, apparel, amsotto and kasundi (both from Malda), jute bags and brass and silver jewelleryare available. The prices of items in the jewellery section range between Rs150 and Rs 10,000. Jute bags with an 'I love Bengal' logo on them have beenspecially designed for the store Indigo-dyed saris are being produced byweavers in Nadia's Phulia. The hand spun and hand-woven yarn is dyed in indigoand then woven into Jamdani saris.Khadi shirts for men, silk kurtis forwomen, Kantha and Jamdani matka saris, and shawls areavailable at the store.  Special-editionCDs of Bengali folk music, Tagore, Nazrul and baul songs, and MahsishasurMardini have been produced for the store..

The department of micro and small-scaleenterprises and textiles has handpicked artisans and weavers from across Bengalto supply products to its Biswa Banglastore. Nearly 1,000 artisans and weavers have been trained so far.

The design consultants travel to thevillages to meet the weavers and artisans and discuss exclusive designs forvarious Biswa Bangla products.

BrandBangla

The state government had hired a team ofeight consultants through a bidding process to develop niche handicraft andhandloom products. The team's brief was to establish Biswa Bangla as a brand, give the concept shape and set up therequired infrastructure over six months. There are designers and consultantsworking on shop management, branding, packaging and marketing. Around 15 storeemployees conversant in English and Hindi work in two shifts. The idea is totrain them in such a way that if a flier enquires, any of the employees shouldbe able to explain the specialty of a patachitradesign from Midnapore or the uniqueness of a particular variety of rice.

Kanyashree will be a global model: WB CM

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The first Kanyashreee Dibas was celebrated today in every block of the State. West Bengal Chief Minister MsMamata Banerjee had earlier announced that August 14, 2014 will be celebratedas the Kanyashree Dibas.

Today at the State-level celebrations atthe Netaji Indoor Stadium, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee ceremonially transferred the grants of Kanyashreeto the bank accounts of almost four lakh girl students around the state. Shealso present the girl students with KanyashreeBangles.

The Chief Minister felicitated fiftygirl students for their achievement in different competitions, as well asdistributed prizes to three best districts, three best schools and three bestcolleges for their contribution to the Kanyashreescheme. Around ten thousand students as well as teachers of different schools fromacross Bengal were present at the programme.

The brainchild of Ms Mamata Banerjee, the Kanyashree scheme aims at improving thestatus and well being of girl child by:

  • Discouraging early marriage of girls toensure compliance with the legal provisions pertaining to the minimum age atmarriage
  • Incentivize through scholarships, thecontinuation of education of the girl child in Secondary and Higher Secondaryclasses and those undergoing vocational training or sports training
  • Improving IMR and MMR by delaying the ageof marriage and consequently increasing the median age of first birth
  • Reducing the incidence of drop outs,especially amongst girls from poor families
  • Eradicating under-nutrition and malnutritionof girl child
  • Preventing trafficking and exploitation ofthe girl child

The scheme launched for the unmarried girlsstudents of the age group from 13-18 years and whose family income is less thanor equal to Rs 1,20,000 per annum except if the girls is physicallyHandicapped, both of her parents are deceased or if the applicant is an inmateof a J.J. Home, will receive Rs 500 annually and upon reaching the age of 18 years,they will receive Rs 25,000 as one time grant.

Highlights of the Chief Minister's speech:

  • Girls are the light of the world. They are our assets. They are our pride.
  • I congratulate you all. My best wishes are with you.
  • About 4 lakh girls have received the financial assistance for Kanyashree scheme today.
  • 16 lakh girls have been registered under Kanyashree scheme from across 1200 schools.
  • Kanyashree scheme will now be a global model.
  • I am delighted the representative of UNICEF is here. They are a part of this programme. We convey our regards to them.
  • We are privileged that UNICEF is present here today.
  • If anyone wants to set up industry in Bengal, they are most welcome. We have also started the initiative of skill development. Companies like Samsung and Raymonds are partnering with us.
  • The fees for girl students will be slashed by 50% at entrance tests for polytechnics / ITI vocational courses
  • Girls will get 30% reservation in vocational training programmes while those registered under Kanyashree scheme will get priority

Outstanding IAS/IPS officers to be conferred Chief Minister`s medals on Independence Day

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This year onward, the West Bengal Governmenthas decided to award Chief Minister's Medals to outstanding officers for theirservice to the State. The government is planning to acknowledge 'excellent'services rendered by senior IAS and IPS officers by introducing three awards.The medals will be given away on Independence Day by West Bengal Chief MinisterMs Mamata Banerjee at Red Road, during the celebration of the 68th IndependenceDay.

Four IAS officers will be given the ChiefMinister's award for excellence in public service and three IPS officers willbe given the Chief Minister's medal for outstanding service. Three more IPSofficers will be given the Chief Minister's award for commendable service.

The shortlisted administrative officershead the four departments – MSME, power, panchayat and women and child welfare.

Central Govt concedes to Trinamool`s demand: FDI in Insurance Bill sent to Select Committee

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first so-called 'big ticket reform' received a big jolt in Parliament. The Insurance Amendment Bill has been sent to a 15-member Select Committee and cannot be passed in this Session of the Parliament. Trinamool has consistently opposed FDI in Insurance, Defense and Railways and party MPs have been vocal on the issue inside and outside the House.


On August 13, 2014 during the Question Hour, Trinamool Chief Whip Derek O'Brien had asked the Union Minister of Commerce about the measures Govt was planning to take for the security of insurers in India in case a Lehman or AIG kind of crash happens. Earlier the party MP had said, “FDI is not the solution to all problems. FDI is Foreign Direct instruction. It is Foreign Direct Intrusion.”


The Rajya Sabha referred the Insurance Amendment Bill to a select committee for further scrutiny. A Select Committee is made up of members from political parties in proportion to their strength in the House. Trinamool Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien will be the party's representative in this Committee.


The Bill, which proposes to increase the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance joint ventures to 49% from 26%, has been vocally opposed by Trinamool in the Rajya Sabha. West Bengal Chief Minister herself is opposed to FDI. After the Cabinet cleared FDI in Railways and Defense, she had reacted on Facebook saying that the country's future is at stake.


Trinamool raises the issue of forced retirement of Radio Jockeys in Rajya Sabha

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Trinamool raised the issue of forcedretirement of radio jockeys today during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.Party's Chief Whip Derek O'Brien asked the Union Minister of Information andBroadcasting why some radio jockeys were sent on retirement at the age of 35.

“What great biological changes take placeat the age of 35 that these young boys and girls have been asked to retire?” heasked.

All India Radio (AIR) has terminated theservices of around 100 casual RJs above the age of 35 years at its Kolkatastation. Apart from jockeying, these presenters are also engaged in sounddesigning, script writing and production. Many of them have been with thesechannels right from the beginning of FM.

“It is absolutely irrational toterminate our services just because we have crossed 35. There is no scientificreasoning that says that once a person crosses 35, the voice modulation ceasesto sound good. Moreover, most of us feed our families from our income. About85% of us are women,” said Avantika Ghosh, honorary general secretary, AIRBroadcasters' Welfare Association, Kolkata (AIRBWAK).

“There is a mystique to the voice, and thischarm of radio is tainted by the knowledge of what the presenter looks like orhow old he is. Unless there is tremor in a voice, how can you guess the age?”asks Sunil Varma, a part of the fraternity opposed to the move.

Responding to Mr O'Brien's question, theMinister assured that he will take action in this regard.

Fulltranscript of Derek O'Brien's speech:

Sir, spreading messagethrough FM or on smartphones and other such devices is very good.  The people who actually spread the messageare the Radio Jockeys or the RJs. Is the Minister aware, and if he is, what isthe solution to this, that in some stations across the country young men and womenhave been asked to 'retire' after they reach the age of 35. What greatbiological change takes place that RJs across the country are asked to retire? RJsare the people who take radio message across to millions of people.  What is the reason to retire all these youngboys and girls at 35, as we read in the media in last two weeks?

Thank you Sir.

Trinamool raises the issue of bad condition of National Highways in Lok Sabha

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Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudipbandyopadhyay today raised the issue of bad condition of National Highways inWest Bengal. Speaking during the Question Hour he said that 34 MPs met the hon.Union Minister for Roadways at his office and discussed about the deterioratingcondition of National Highways in Bengal, specially the NH-6 and NH-34.

“Two days ago our CM was travelled via roadapproximately 400 km from Kolkata to Raiganj. It took more than nine hours tocover this distance via the National Highways. This was big news in the localmedia in West Bengal,” Mr Banerjee said.

“You gave a proposal that either CM cancome to Delhi for discussion or you, along with all your officials, will go toKolkata to discuss the matter with the District Magistrates of the districtsinvolved. I discussed with the CM and she told me to write to you a letterconveying that she is prepared as per your convenience anytime between 25th and29th of this month. I want to ask the hon. Minister whether you are willing togo to West Bengal in the scheduled period to discuss the wretched condition ofthe National Highways,” he added.