Author: AITC

Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced on herFacebook page that the government would launch `Karma Tirtha` hubs across thestate that will be a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs to market their productsdirectly to the consumers in rural areas.

A total of 229 such hubs have been sanctioned and 44 of themwill be flagged off by the CM on August 1.

“Creating job and self-employment opportunities havealways been a priority area for our government. During last 3 years, lakhs ofjobs have been created and my brothers and sisters in huge numbers have gotemployment as engineers, doctors, officers, teachers, nurses, technicians,assistants and in so many other categories. Bengal has tremendous scope inrural businesses, given the abundance of natural resources and the availabilityof a skilled workforce. To strike a synergy between the two and move towardssuccessful and sustainable entrepreneurship, we are about to launch a uniquebusiness hub – “Karma Tirtha”. It will be a one-stop shop whereentrepreneurs will market their products directly to buyers,” the CMposted on her Facebook page.

“Our government is providing all support to set up theinfrastructure, provide training, finance and create market linkages withprospective buyers, so that doing business in Bengal for our youth will receivea new thrust and a new dimension. Individuals, self-help groups, co-operativeenterprises, particularly women, artisans, weavers, minority community and SC,ST, OBC youth entrepreneurs availing self-employment schemes of the governmentwill benefit significantly under this scheme,” the CM posted further.

“Right now, 229 Karma Tirtha hubs have already beensanctioned all over the State. 44 are ready and will be flagged off in phasesfrom August 1 onwards when I will be at Bankura. Our government plans to set upat least one Karma Tirtha in every Block of the state within next year,”the CM posted.

The government has been giving much stress on developing themicro, small and medium scale industries in the state to create more jobopportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly women. Already 152 new MSMEclusters have been set up across the state where entrepreneurs and women self-helpgroups are being benefitted by setting up business on their own. The `KarmaTirtha` hubs will further help entrepreneurs in the rural areas of the state tocome in contact with consumers directly. The government has already set up afew outlets to promote the Biswa Bangla Brand with its handicrafts, handloomsand other products.

West Bengal government will roll-out a newcomputer-based system to track rural activities in the state. The technology tostore and analyse data for specific geographic locations across 1,000 grampanchayats will also bring in more accountability for all activities undertakenby rural units.

Scheduledto be implemented across nine districts, the Geographic Information System(GIS)-based project will also ensure people`s participation in developmentalactivities and panchayat meetings by keeping regular tabs on the progressstatus. The project will be taken up on a pilot basis in Burdwan district andthe entire project will be rolled out in the third quarter of the year.

Throughthis, the Government shall track all physical activities taken up as part ofvarious schemes. For example, photographs will be taken at the beginning of aproject. Then through the various stages, all the data will be updated anduploaded on the GIS server. This will improve accountability as well.Additionally, the venture will tackle the issues of fudged figures of people`sparticipation in village meetings.

Thegovernment has been getting complaints that participation data are manipulated.Through GIS, it will get reconfirmation of participation of villagers in themeetings and discussions. This will also boost their participation.

As part of efforts to enhance medicalfacilities, the West Bengal government will open 20 new burn units.

“This is the state`s gradual expansionplan where 20 new burn units will be set up,” West Bengal Women and ChildWelfare Minister Sashi Panja told reporters.

Besides treating burn victims, acid-attackvictims would also be attended at these units, she said, adding that, a newunit would shortly be opened at the Bangur facility.

“At state general hospitalsacid-attack victims are treated free of cost. But it would be great if burnunits are opened at the district-level… We don`t have many units to treatburn patients at the districts,” she rued.

“Being a doctor I can understand thetrauma and pain of a victim. We have to lend moral support towards them andmake the law stricter for the attackers,” she said.

West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra today announced that the government will give five lakh rupees to Commonwealth gold medalist Sukhen Dey. Here is what he said:

West Bengal has set an ambitious target togarner a 10 per cent share of the country`s electronics production from around4 per cent at present.

The state is targeting the third slot inelectronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM), IT and ITeS by 2020 and thekey areas of focus will be lighting, smart meters, security systems manufacturing,LCD, plasma device and solar photovoltaics.

State IT and industries minister Dr AmitMitra has sought Korean and Taiwanese expertise and investments to drivecompetition in electronics. Members of the Korea Trade-Investment PromotionAgency (KOTRA) were taken on a recce of the electronics manufacturing clusterbeing set up on 70 acres at Naihati today. A second cluster, spread across 58acres, is on the anvil at Falta.

“Three major segments by 2020 will betelecom production and equipment, semi conductor design and IT systems andhardware. Yes, the state`s share in national electronics goods output is rathersmall at approximately 4 per cent. And I would like to submit that we musttarget 10 per cent within a very short, well planned period of time,” Dr Mitrasaid. He was speaking at the India ESDM conclave organised by the IndianChamber of Commerce.

The domestic electronics industry isprojected to grow 22 per cent a year, which is seven times the average globalgrowth rate.

West Bengal Chief Minister on Friday postedon her Facebook page that Bengal has secured the first rank among States instrengthening rural connectivity. This is what she wrote:

“Strengtheningrural connectivity is perhaps the most important parameter of sustainable ruraldevelopment.

WestBengal is No. 1 in the country in terms of strengthening rural connectivity andconnecting habitations by rural roads network under Pradhan Mantri Gram SarakYojana, as reports show.

Bengalhas connected 235 habitations during the year 2013-14 for the month endingMarch, 2013 and 464 habitations during the year 2014-15 for the month endingMarch, 2014.”

For the corresponding periods, number ofhabitations connected by other states may be seen here.

Kolkata will soon become a garbage vat freecity. Steps are being taken to abolish the open vats throughout the city andput in the service of solid waste compactors. The whole project is being carriedout as an initiative called 'Clean City' under 'Kolkata My City' campaign.

This year KMC will set up 78 compactorstations. 39 new mobile compactors are also being bought by the Kolkata MunicipalCorporation (KMC). A new compactor has come up at DN Mitra Square.

16 portable compactors and 5 prime movershad been purchased by KEIP under ADB scheme. The locations that are using thenew facilities are Lake Kalibari, Ballygunge Circular Road, Gobinda Addy Road,Charu Market and Tallah Park.

KMC would introduce the movable compactor system in areas likeMajerhat, SN Park and Bengal Chemical area.

On December 21, 2012 the Kolkata MunicipalCorporation introduced its first scientific solid waste compactor station andmodern portable compactors at Kalighat Park.

Advantagesof compactor station and portable compactor:

• Restriction of accessibility of birds,animals and rain water

• Transport more garbage due to compactionsystem

• Odourless transportation from compactorstation to Dhapa dumping ground

• Stoppage of rag picking

• No spilling of garbage duringtransportation

• No seepage of water during transportationdue to water tight sysyem

• Eradication of open vat

• Facilitates night transportation of solidwaste etc.

Trinamool MP Vivek Gupta today made aSpecial Mention in Rajya Sabha on the jute industry in Bengal. The juteindustry employs over 2.5 lakh people, specially belonging to the lower strataof the society. “The discontent of the workers is alarming and growing everyday.  The industry faces a very difficultsituation over the last three years primarily due to synthetic packaging, cheapjute from Nepal and Bangladesh and inconsistency in supply of raw jute. Thisindustry is now in doldrums” lamented Mr Gupta.

“The Jute Packaging Materials Act, 1987supports the survival of jute industry by providing provisioning of compulsorypackaging of grains, 20% of sugar produced in FCI produced in India.  However it is not being followed in truespirit.  The large orders of thegovernment to the jute mills two years ago – I don`t know for whatever reasonsbest known to the government at that time – was given when they knew the jutemills could never supply the quantity because capacity was not there.  This was in the following year used as anexcuse to dilute the jute packaging order and substantially slash the ordersgiven to the jute mills.  They have nowno orders and forced to shut down the units leading to social unrest andhardship to mill workers” he added.

To prevent such a scenario fromdeteriorating any further it is urgent need of the hour that the centralgovernment must add potato and other items in JPMA i.e. Jute PackagingMaterials Act and rescue the jute sector, suggested Mr Gupta. “I urge the government to provide trainingand focus on skill development along with technology modernization” he said.