WB Govt launches five-point programme to handle rogue taxi drivers

WB Govt launches five-point programme to handle rogue taxi drivers

Posted on July 16, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

The State government announced a five-pointprogramme to handle rogue taxi drivers and cases of taxi refusals in and aroundthe Kolkata. Transport Minister Mr Madan Mitra laid down the five tenets aftermeeting police officers and taxi union representatives.

Taxi owners have tosend details of the drivers to local police stations – The details will includea copy of the driver`s ID card. “The owner can`t justmake money. He has to be responsible as well,” Mr Mitra said. The details willhelp the cops track down errant drivers.

Drivers to beslapped a spot fine of Rs 3,000 for refusing passengers – The minister said an errant driver would be arrested if he failed to pay thefine. “Why should an owner face the music for an offence committed by thedriver? The drivers should feel the pinch,” Mr Mitra said. “If a driver refusesfive times in a day, he would be fined on as many occasions.”

Crackdown orderedon shuttle cabs – “The police should seize shuttle cabs and arrest thedrivers,” said Mr Mitra.

Driving schools tohave a government representative each – 'The representatives will keep tabs onthe training,” Mr Mitra said.

Orientation campfor taxi drivers – Kolkata Police has been organizing such camps.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay speaks in Lok Sabha on the Union Budget 2014

Posted on July 16, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, ShriSudip Bandyopadhyay today spoke on behalf of the party on the Union Budget2014. At the very outset he began by comparing the Interim Budget by UPA and the Union Budget by NDA and said that the two documents were indistinguishable.

Saying that he was offering constructive criticism and not opposing forthe sake of opposing, Sudip Banerjee went on to detail out the demands ofBengal in his speech. He said that that eastern India, specially, Bengal hasbeen a “sufferer of regional imbalances”.

He said that due to the 34 year old rule ofthe Left, Bengal has become a debt-trapped state. He also cited the FinanceCommission report which classified Bengal, Punjab and Kerala and debt-stressedstates. He demanded that provisions for waiving debt instalments be made in theBudget.

On the allocation of funds for variousprojects, he cited the example of Kanyashree scheme. He informed the House thatKanyashree scheme of the West Bengal Government, which has receivedinternational acclaim, was allocated Rs 1000 crore by the State Govt while theunion finance minister only allocated Rs 100 crore for a similar project `BetiBachao, Beti Padhao`.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay attacked the Centreover the FDI issue. He cautioned them over raising FDI limit in Defence, sayingit will jeopardise national security. He also demanded that 49% FDI ininsurance be withdrawn. He questioned the Finance Minister if he would introduceFDI in retail too.

Mr Banerjee also requested the Centre tomake provisions for the ailing jute and tea industry in Bengal. He urged theFinance Minister to include Bengal in the proposal to set up textile clustersas well as the Namami Ganga project.

“We want to assure the Govt whenever apro-people decision will be taken, Trinamool will extend a hand of support” theleader of the party in Lok Sabha said. He concluded saying, “The previous Govtdid nothing to help Bengal overcome the debt-stress. Hope the new Govt come tothe aid of WB Govt.”

Derek O’Brien speaks on TRAI (Amendment) Bill | Transcript

Posted on July 15, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Sir, when you have a simple, clear, transparent point to make you don’t need 6 minutes. I think we have been granted 6 minutes, we will make it in three or four minutes. The simple point here, Sir, is that on behalf of my party, the Trinamool Congress, we want to call a spade a spade, because we believe, in true Trinamool style, it always helps to be transparent and straight talking.

There are two sides to this argument Sir. The first we heard from the government that there are other statutory bodies which have certain other requirements; so they wanted to provide some logic to match TRAI and the Chairman of TRAI. This is one way of looking at it, and that is why they have brought an Ordinance and a Bill. The first good thing they did… they did not bypass the Parliament

The first point that this side is making is, yes, there are other statutory bodies and we want to bring them up to level playing field. The second point, on the other side which is being made – I am sharing this with you because this is the way we debated it within the party – the second point being made is that this has only been done for one person and this would never happen if this wasn’t for that one person.

Sir to be frank…let us not be coy, let us not be bashful, this was done for one person. If it was done for one person, who was this person? This person is no less a person than the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Now here, unlike some people who generally feel that Trinamool Congress will play a role of a destructive Opposition – you show us the flag and we will say no no – no Sir, we are a constructive Opposition. We are going to give you at the end of it all three good reasons why we are behind this.

Because at the end of it, it is not about statutory bodies; that is all hogwash. It is not about one person bending a rule, it is about having one person, a key person you need to have there, the Prime Minister needs this person and why does he need this person? Our simple understanding is he needs him for three reasons… and the three reasons will only take me ten seconds…

First reason is good governance. The second reason is good governance and third reason is good governance. I will leave it at that Sir. Thank you

Industrial sector on a process of rejuvenation in Bengal, shows Economic Review

Posted on July 15, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Written by: Arupratan Charaborty

The West Bengal Government under the ableleadership of Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has shown positive intentionsto revive the state of industries in West Bengal. Recently, the Changhi AirportAuthority, which is instrumental in setting up the Andal Airport has said thatthe environment for industries in West Bengal is perfect. The Chief Ministermay visit Singapore after an official invitation from the Singapore Government.

The state of industries in West Bengal ison a process of rejuvenation. According to Economic Review (2013-14), theperiod from April 2013 to January 2014 saw an investment of Rs 17732.01 crorein 150 units in the State. The total employment during this period is 129364.The State Government has also undertaken some specific steps like givingHolding Land clearances above Ceiling Limit. Seven companies have alreadyreceived such clearances. Rs 7125.62 crore have been invested in the State as aresult. The Economic Review states that the rate of industrial development inthe State is higher than the national average.

It is absolutely certain that therejuvenation process for Bengal`s industrial sector is going on in full swing. What itneeds is more time. It may be pointed out that the Trinamool Government had tostart from scratch as there was no proper industrial infrastructure in most ofthe places. The state Government is inclined to fit in its own resources andskills to bring in more industry, rather than depending upon the aids of theCentral Government, which is denying even the rightful claims.

From the bottom of the table, Bengal has risen to the top now: WB CM at Kolaghat

Posted on July 15, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataBanerjee chaired an administrative meeting today at Kolaghat to review thedevelopmental works being taken up in Purba Medinipur. Administrativeofficials from the district as well as the State Secretariat were present atthe meeting.

The review meetings are innovative measures where the CM takesstock of ongoing projects, clears hurdles by taking immediate decision andplans for newer developmental processes by inspecting the needs of the regionat a firsthand basis.

The Chief Minister also addressed a publicmeeting at Kolaghat KTPS Ground where she inaugurated several projects. Thecompleted projects include new roads, polytechnic colleges, barracks forhome-guards, irrigation projects, pipelined water supply projects, girl`sschools and hostels, a 33/11 KV power station at Jinandapur, SNCU unit in Egra MahakumaHospital and other such projects.

West Bengal Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for projects like new roads, carpet clusters, marketing hubs,hostels for boys and girls. She also distributed benefits like Kanyashree, Yuvashree, Indiara Awas Yojna,Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha, land pattas,agro-machineries and various other such grants and loans.

Excerpts from the Chief Minister`s speech:

I welcome all my brothers and sisters whoare present here. Today we will conduct a block and panchayat leveladministrative review meeting for this district. This will be our 65thadministrative review meeting in different districts of the State. The peoplefrom districts no longer need to go to Kolkata for official work; theSecretariat visits the districts now. We will complete such meetings in rest ofthe districts by mid-August. We will celebrate Kanyashree Dibas on August 14 at block level. We will complete registration of 13 lakh Kanyashree beneficiaries by August 14.

We are setting up several polytechniccolleges, ITIs, Kisan Mandis and marketing hubs for this district. We aresetting up 500 marketing hubs across Bengal. One lakh people will getemployment. We are calling this project KarmaTirtha. Fifty such hubs have been inaugurated already.

We have opened 6 fair price medicine shopsin this district. Work for Kisan Mandis is going on in 5 blocks. 2 new fairprice medicine shops will start operating at Egra and Digha. We offer 60-70%discount at fair price medicine shops. Two new fair price diagnostic centreswill come up at Nandigram and Tamluk. A Critical Care Unit will startfunctioning at Tamluk district hospital. Twenty SNSUs are also coming up there.We are setting up an IT hub and Industrial Hub in Haldia.

Floods are the biggest concern for thisdistrict. We have undertaken a project for flood control. We have asked IITKharagpur to prepare a project report regarding Ghatal Master Plan for floodcontrol. Kolaghat bridge was in utter disarray earlier. Roads were in badshape. We have repaired them.

As Rail Minister I did a lot for thisdistrict. The Centre has deprived Bengal in this year`s Budget. Both UPA andNDA have deprived Bengal in their Railway Budgets. We do not want alms. We willsurvive on our own. Nijera korbo, NijeraLorbo, Nijera Gorbo.

We have made Nandigram a health district.We are against forceful acquisition of land. We have land banks. We will allotland for projects from our bank. This region has huge tourism potential. DighaDevelopment Corporation is doing a good job in boosting the infrastructure.

We are setting up a women`s college inTamluk named after Matangini Hazra. Till 2011 Bengal had only 38 Govt colleges.In 3 years, we have set up 31 new Govt colleges. The Left Front Govt set uponly 3 universities in 34 years. We set up 8 new universities in 3 years. TheMCI cancelled 1045 medical seats in Bengal. We fought and got all seatsrestored.

From 17th rank we have come to the rank 1in 100 Days Work Scheme. Welfare of poor people is our responsibility. Thisdistrict has achieved 100% coverage of mid-day meal scheme. Our Govt. has evenbrought out schemes to help poor folk artistes so that they can earn alivelihood.

We have increased the revenue of our State.Our GSDP and growth in industrial as well as service sector are more thannational average. We have to pay huge amount as debt interest. In spite of thefinancial crunch, we have instituted projects like Kanyashree and Yuvashree.

Central Government has allotted Rs 3 crore for each state in their project foryoung girls, our population in WB is 8 crore. What will each girl get? We haveallotted Rs 1000 crore for our Kanyashreescheme. Every work should be done in a proper manner. From the bottom of the table, Bengal has risen to the top in a number of sectors.

I will not leave the side of the people; Iwill fight for their respect. I will fight for our Maa, Mati, Manush. This is the land of Rabindranath, Nazrul,Dwijendralal, Atulprasad and Matangini Hazra. We will fight for our soil; wewill not let anybody to disrespect it.

I wish you the best on the occasion of theforthcoming festivities.

Trinamool MPs Dinesh Trivedi and Suvendu Adhikari oppose the Railway Budget in Lok Sabha

Posted on July 15, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress on Monday launched averbal protest in Lok Sabha against the deprivation of Bengal in Railway Budget.During a debate on Rail Budget 2014, Trinamool MPs Mr Suvendu Adhkari and MrDinesh Trivedi protested against the Rail Budget with facts and figures.

In the Lok Sabha, Trinamool MP Mr SuvenduAdhikari said that the 2014 Rail Budget was aimless, visionless, baseless andanti-people. He pointed out that several metro projects for Kolkata – the MetroExtension Project from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V, BBD Bag to Joka,Noapara to Barasat, New Garia to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose InternationalAirport – were declared in 2009-10 and sanctioned by the Railway Board and thePlanning Commission. The cost of the projects was Rs 11,257 crore. Thebudgetary allocation in 2014-15 has been only Rs 538 crore whereas the balancerequired to complete the work is Rs 10,719 crore.

He also pointed out that thewagon industry in Haldia, which was announced in 2011-12 needed Rs 36.36 crorewhere as the allotment in Budget has been only Rs 24.80 crore and it stillneeds Rs 11.56 crore. He gave many other such examples where the State has beencompletely ignored in cases of most of the ongoing projects. He pointed outthat the Central Government is trying to destroy all the thirty four projectsin the State.

Suvendu Adhikari also said that West Bengaldoes not need any projects as alms. The Railway Ministry should concentrate oncomplete the ongoing projects within the stipulated time, he said. He added thatwhen the party Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee was the Union Rail Minister shemade it sure that the common people are not burdened. She had started the Izzattickets for the backward classes.

Former Railway Minister and Trinamool MP MrDinesh Trivedi in his speech said that the idea of Bullet trains were a part ofVision 2020 document made by former Railway Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee. Healso urged the Rail Minister to share the revenue model of the PPP projectsthat are to be undertaken. Mr Trivedi strongly protested the introduction ofFDI in Indian Railways. He argued that the budgetary allocation of Govt ofIndia should be increased. He cited the example of China and Japan where majorshare of the expenses of Railways came from the Government. He added that Railwaysshould be run as a medium of social welfare rather than thinking aboutcommercial viability.

Click here to read the transcript of their speeches.

Click here to watch the videos of their speeches.

WB Govt to form a welfare board for transgenders

Posted on July 15, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Government is going to set up aseparate welfare board for transgenders, Minister for Women and Social Welfare,Dr Shashi Panja told reporters. The board will function under her department,she added. The Minister said that the State Government is very much inclined tohelp the transgender people and protect their rights.

The Government is taking steps to draw aplan for the welfare of the transgender people by roping in NGOs. Initially theGovernment will ascertain the number of people belonging to the third genderand provide them with the required health facilities.

The Department will also organise discussionprogrammes on various transgender issues. The minister said that all NGOsworking for transgenders will be asked to share their suggestions and opinionsregarding the functioning and working areas of the board.

Once the board starts functioning, peoplebelonging to transgender community will be given identification cards and willbe entitled to government schemes like IndiaraAwas Yojna, government grants, ration cards, health services and other suchfacilities.

Bengal has a proposed investment of Rs. 1.2 lakh crore: WB CM

Posted on July 14, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataBanerjee held an administrative meeting in Paschim Medinipur today. Shealso addressed a public meeting at the Kachchari Maidan in Salboni fromwhere she innaugurated 37 projects. The Chief Minister also laid the foundationstones for 28 new developmental projects and gave away services to the peopleof the district.

The 37 projects that were inaugurated by the Chief Minister a CT Scan unit at Jhargram District Hospital, pipelinedwater supply projects , women`s wings of Jhargram, Shalboni and Lalgarhcolleges, polytechnic colleges, women`s hostels, schools for girls, new roads amonga host of other projects.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundationstones for important projects like super specialty hospitals, marketing hubsand training centres, solar-powered irrigation projects, hostels etc. She distributed cheques of schemes like Kanyashree, Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griho, Kisan Credit Cards, Anandadhara, pension for folk artistes.

The Chief Minister will chair anotheradministrative meeting at Purba Medinipur on July 15, 2014.

Ms Banerjee, who inaugurated a plant of OCLIndia in Bengal`s Salboni today, said she would visit Singapore accompanied byrepresentatives of various chambers of commerce and said her visit was aimed atbringing in foreign investments to the state.

Ms Banerjee said Paschim Medinipur district hadalready received investments amounting to Rs 40,000 crore, adding that thearea had huge investment potential.

The Chief Minister said the governmentalready had a land bank of 1,000 acres at Goaltore in West Midnapur for settingup industries.

The state had a proposed investment of Rs.1.2 lakh crore which had huge job creation potential, she said.

Comparing state and national figures, shesaid that West Bengal`s growth in domestic product terms was higher than thatof the country as well as that of industry and services sectors.

There were 35,000 MSME units in the stateemploying 3.5 lakh persons, she said.

The state witnessed zero man-days lost ascompared to 78 lakh during the Left Front`s era, she said, adding that thegovernment was opposed to bandhs and closure.

She also pointed out that the Centre haddeducted Rs. 1 lakh crore as debt and interest payment, “but still we aregrowing. We should work with a positive mindset and grow peacefully,” shesaid.

MNCs to groom ITI students in Bengal

Posted on July 14, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

Innovative measures to modernize theexisting systems have been a benchmark of the Trinamool Government. Now, tomake the students of the ITIs trained in a better way, the technical educationdepartment of the State will associate itself with the Korean multinationalelectronic giant Samsung.

The MNC will look after the all roundactivities of 5 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in the State, right fromadmission to employment. The ITIs are Gariahat, Gariahat (Women), Howrah Homes (Shibpur),Kalyani and Chandannagar (Women.

Samsung will associate itself with counselling,admission, courses and employment of the students in these ITIs. It will alsointroduce contemporary courses for students. The state government is in a dialoguewith a few more such companies that have shown their interests in groomingstate ITI students.

Preparations for Maa, Mati, Manush Dibas rally on July 21 underway

Posted on July 14, 2014 | by AITC | Leave a Comment

The Trinamool Congress has convened ameeting today at Trinamool Bhavan where MLAs belonging to Howrah, Nadia, Northand South 24-Parganas would also be present to discuss about observation of theMartyrs` day on 21 July.

The meeting would be addressed by theTrinamool Congress All India General Secretary. Trinamool Congresssupporters even from outside the state especially from Assam, Manipur andTripura will attend the party programme to observe 21 July as Martyr`s day atEsplanade.

It is learnt that he would discuss aboutthe arrangement where about four lakh party activists and supporters aresupposed to attend the meeting. This year on 21 July, the party would alsocelebrate its victory in the last Lok Sabha poll where the Trinamool Congresswon 34 seats. The party did notcelebrate its victory or take out any victory rally after the Lok Sabha pollresults were out. So on 21 July, people from different parts of the districtespecially from the Hills, North Bengal and Jangalmahal would throng at theEsplanade.

Theparty is trying to book special trains to bring its supporters from NorthBengal and Junglemahal. Today, the party would discuss accommodation and foodfor those who will arrive a day before the occasion.

Mr Roy would specifically assign thecouncillors and MLAs from Kolkata and Howrah to attend the party supporters whoare coming from North Bengal, Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum and West Midnapore atHowrah and Sealdah stations and would accommodate them in Netaji Indoor stadiumand other private lodges in Burrabazar areas. The party has instructed thedistrict presidents and MLAs to bring the party activists and supporters fromneighbouring districts on the day of the programme.