Bengal has turned out into an investment destination: WB CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. MamataBanerjee chaired a meeting of the industry core-committee at Rajarhat Eco Park.The pre-scheduled meeting at the unique and picturesque location was planned bythe chief minister herself. The Chief Minister, cabinet ministers and theindustrialists traveled in motorized country boats and a floating jetty forabout 500 m to reach the venue.

The core committee on industry meeting wasrepresented by chambers and businessmen of the metropolis and the ChiefMinister herself. After the over 90-minute meeting, Ms. Banerjee told reportersthat a detailed discussion on development and industry was held. “Onlywork on jute and export policy is due. We are moving ahead and thus Bengal hasturned out into an investment destination from manufacturing to infrastructure,”she said.

Ms. Banerjee also laid emphasis onfisheries, eco-tourism and food processing sectors during the meeting. Industryand finance minister Amit Mitra gave an update to industrialists on theindustrial achievements in the state.

West Bengal received a boost with 156investment proposals worth Rs 28,300 crore in 2013-14. Between June 2011 andJanuary 2014, 296 projects were either in initiation or under implementationentailing a total investment of Rs 78,092 crore.

The Chief Minister laid the foundation of aconvention centre at Rajarhat with a seating capacity of 3000 on a 10-acre plotwhich would be ready in the next 28 months.

Only one farmer suicide in Bengal due to debt in the last three years

About 15000 thousand debt-stressed farmershad committed suicide in Bengal between 1977 and 2010, during the Left Frontrule. In the last three years, 2011-13, only one farmer committed suicide dueto debt burden. Minister for Agriculture, Arup Roy, informed the House duringthe debate on Agriculture Budget in the West Bengal Assembly.

He also informed the members that not onlyhas agricultural production of paddy, potatoes and jute increased during thelast fiscal year, but the farmers have also received the proper prices fortheir produce.

The minister said that the Government hasensured that farmers get the right prices for all their products and have takenseveral initiatives for the same. He mentioned the setting up of 4 Krishak Bazaars. 95 more such bazaars are under construction and 81 Krishak Bazaars are being planned forthe second phase. The Government has also sanctioned licenses for 12 new coldstorages and 16 more are in the pipeline. Their cumulative capacity would be 28lakh metric tons.

Speaking about Kisan Mandis, the minister said that a committee will be formed forrunning these mandis. The committeeswould include SDOs, BDOs, Chairman of the PanchayatSamiti and representatives of the farmers.

WB Govt hikes rice production target by 6 lakh tonnes

The West Bengal government has set a targetto produce 156 lakh tonnes of rice in the current fiscal, a jump of 6 lakhtonnes from the present annual average production.

The State Agriculture Minister Arup Roy, who presented the agriculture budgettoday, said the target was set keeping in mind the increasing demand for ricethat is projected to reach 170 lakh tonnes by 2016-17.

“We have taken several initiatives like giving financial assistance tosmall and marginal farmers, aid for electrification of pump sets, promotion offarm mechanization. We are sure all these will help us achieve the target,” the Minister said.

In 2011-12, the annual production was 146 lakh tonnes and the figure was 150lakh tonnes in 2012-13. It has been projected that rice production would bearound 149 lakh tonnes in 2013-14. Under the new initiatives by the stategovernment, farmers can enrol themselves by July 31 if they want to bring theircrops under the insurance. But over the past few years, the cultivation periodin Bengal has been deferred to the last week of August because of an irregularrainfall pattern.

The State Government has decided to write to the Centre to extend the cut-offdate as the farming season has been deferred to August-end. Crop insurance isextremely important as it encourages farmers to invest in agriculture, thestate Agriculture Minister said.

Five member Trinamool delegation to visit Madhya Pradesh where an Adivasi woman was gangraped

A five member team of Trinamool CongressMPs is set to visit BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh where a tribal woman was allegedlygangraped by ten people and paraded naked in her village.

“It has been decided that a fivemember delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs will visit Bhiali Kheda village ofMadhya Pradesh, where a tribal woman was gangraped and paraded naked few daysback,” Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said.

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee yesteraysaid she too would send her party MPs to BJP-ruled states if there was any incidentof violence there.

Sukhendu Sekhar Ray will be accompanied byparty MPs Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Arpita Ghosh, Uma Soren and Rajya Sabha MPNadimul Haque.

“We will visit the place within nexttwo to three days and submit the report to our party supremo after returning.Our mission is to visit the place and get the first hand information about whathappened and what steps are being taken regarding the arrests and safety of thevictim,” Ray said.

A tribal woman in Madhya Pradesh was allegedlygangraped by 10 people, including her husband, paraded naked and forced todrink urine in front of her minor son on June 13 in the village following aland dispute.

After the woman lodged a complaint allegingthat the attack was carried out at the behest of her husband, all the accusedwere nabbed.

Trinamool observes Black Day today

A high level team of Trinamool Congresscomprising the party`s Secretary General, All India General Secretary, South 24Parganas District President and MPs – Partha Chatterjee, SovanChatterjee, CM Jatua and Abhishek Banerjee – Sunday visited the bereavedfamilies of four Trinamool Congress activists at Raidighi in South 24 Parganasand later the team met the injured party workers who are undergoing treatmentat Diamond Harbour district hospital.

 AnFIR has been lodged against 21 persons and four were arrested who have beenremanded in police custody for 10 days. The Trinamool Congress SecretaryGeneral accused the CPI-M of conspiring with the BJP to attack its workers andkilling four of its activists at Raidighi.

“The CPI-M is indulging in violence intandem with the BJP,” Partha Chatterjee told the reporters condemning themurder of its four activists last night.

“We will ask the government and ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjee to ensure strict action against those directlyinvolved and also those who are instigating such incidents through theirspeeches and statements,” he said.

Mr Chatterjee announced that protestmarches would be held by party workers in different parts of the state on Monday and all party workers and supporters will wear black badges andmarch with black flags to protest against the CPI-M and the BJP`s jointconspiracy. The party would also observe `anti-violenceday` on Tuesday, he added.

The Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjeesaid, “Why are they trying to disturb a state? It is unfortunate. I don`t wantthis.”

“If the Centre can indulge in non-cooperationwith the state, the state can also choose not to cooperate with the Centre. Itwill not brook well for anyone. The Government and party are differententities,” the CM said, adding, everyone should keep away from vengeance.

On Saturday night a group of goons hadkilled four Trinamool activists named Hafizul Gazi (40), Hasan Gazi (35), AtiarMollah (32) and Chopu Mollah (25) at Khanri of Raiydighi when they werereturning from a party meeting held at Kashinagar.

Politics of violence will not be tolerated in the State: WB CM

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjeecondemned the brutal killing of the CEO of North Brook jute mill and said thatshe has asked the district administration to take severe action against thosewho killed the CEO and also against those who “instigated” them to committhe crime.

On the instructions of the Chief Minister,state Industry Minister Dr Amit Mitra called upon the family of Mr. Maheswariand promised all supports from the Government.



Here is what the Chief Minister said:

  • I have inquired into the incident from policeand local sources. It is very unfortunate. I heard that the members of theunions of the CPI-M and the BJP assembled at the jute mill with their demandsand CEO H K Maheswari came out to hear them when he was beaten up mercilessly.On way to hospital he succumbed to his injuries.
  • I got reports that the CITU and BMS activistsgathered at the spot and unleashed terror. There was hardly any presence ofINTTUC there.
  • Within a month the Centre has sent two teamsand are trying to give a political colour to any family feud or property dispute.The Centre should do their work. They should not interfere in the work ofBengal Govt.
  • The politics of violence will not betolerated in Bengal. The Opposition is trying to create an atmosphere of terrorin Bengal.
  • Our courtesy should not be misinterpretedas weakness.

WB Govt aiming for a SDP growth of 10 per cent

The West Bengal government is aiming for a state domesticproduct (SDP) growth of 10 per cent, twice the economic growth of the entirecountry, according to the finance minister Amit Mitra.

The SDP for West Bengal during 2013-14 was 7.71 per cent.His comments come at a time when the World Bank has scaled down its estimatefor India`s economic growth for this financial year to 5.5 per cent from 5.7per cent projected in April.

“The growth rate of industrial production, agricultureoutput in West Bengal is above the national average. Our nation has seen growthbut without jobs. In West Bengal, both economic growth and job creation aregiven equal importance. The Mamata Banerjee-led government wants growth. Wewant 10 per cent rate of growth in Bengal,” Amit Mitra, also the state`scommerce and industries, and information technology minister, said during hisspeech in a banking seminar organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).He added the government was actively considering investment proposals fromcorporate houses that will promote growth and create jobs in the state.

Dr Mitra said global food processing firms will set up collectioncentres in the park and source farm products directly from farmers. “Thiswill remove middlemen and ultimately will help farmers,” he said.

The minister also said the state government will also offerfacilities like office space to banks to promote financial inclusion in WestBengal. The government plans to offer300-400 square feet of space at Re 1 permonth to banks to set up their branches in unbanked gram panchayats. Dr Mitrasaid currently there are 742 gram panchayats in West Bengal where bankingservices are not available.

WB Govt to launch an integrated financial management system

The Mamata Banerjee-led Government is also looking to havean integrated financial management system for monitoring the expenses andreceipts of the State.

The system is likely to be in place over the next threemonths.

“A national-level IT company will implement theintegrated financial management system most likely within the next threemonths. The move is likely to bring in greater transparency in governmentworking,” West Bengal Finance, Commerce & Industries and IT Minister,Amit Mitra said.

The West Bengal Government is committed towards bringingtransparency in governance. Over the last three years, several e-governancemeasures have been successfully launched and implemented, which has also led togreater revenue generation. This system is one more step towards transparentgovernance system.

WB Govt to help banks set up branches in rural areas

The West Bengal Government is looking to help banks set upbranches in unbanked areas of the State.

According to West Bengal Finance, Commerce & Industriesand IT Minister, Amit Mitra, the government will provide around 300-400 sq feetof space at the various gram panchayat offices at a minimal rate of Re 1 permonth.

Currently, there are 742 gram panchayats in the State whichdo not have any bank branches.

“We are looking to have banks across allthese 742 gram panchayats by the end of this year. We will look to help banksby providing them with space and minimal rent,” he told reporters on thesidelines of the ICC Banking Summit here in the city.

WB Govt launches Sikhashree scheme for SC/ST students

The State Cabinet Friday approved the Sikhashree scheme to encourage studentsof schedule castes (SC) and schedule tribes (ST) to go to schools and tominimise the number of school drop outs.

ST students from Class V to Class VIII areeligible for a one time grant of Rs 800 while SC students from Class V to ClassVIII are eligible for a one time grant of Rs 500-Rs 800 depending upon theincome of the parents.

The scheme will be effective from 25 Juneonwards. The decision was taken in order to encourage students from the SC andST community to go to schools and ensure minimum school drop outs.

Mr Partha Chatterjee, state educationminister, said that the initiative has been taken to encourage students of thiscommunity and to work on educational development.  

In October 2013, the West Bengal governmenthad launched Kanyashree scheme, aprogramme initiated to prevent girls from being married off at a young age byencouraging education. It has benefited almost 9 lakh girls, since its launch.The state government has already allocated Rs 287 crore for the Kanyashree programme for 2013-2014.

According to the Kanyashree Prakalpa, unmarried girls between 13 and 18, studying betweenClass VIII – Class XII in an institute affiliated to the state government areeligible for a Rs 500 annual stipend. Class VIII had been identified as theclass where most girl students drop out of school. The one time Rs 25, 000grant for unmarried girls between 18 and 19, is also offered to enable them topursue higher education or a vocational course or a sports course in astate-government affiliated institute.