Author: AITC

Idrish Ali is the Trinamool candidate for the Basirhat LokSabha constituency.

Janab Ali is a renowned law practitioner and associatedwith the Minority cell of the Trinamool Congress. He was also the Chairman ofAll India Minority Forum.

Arupratan Chakraborty of Trinamool web team joined Idrish Ali during his campaign trail on April 2, 2014.

2:30 PM: Kheriabari

Having spent the last two days in Hingalganj and campaigningin every Panchayat, Idrish da  is charged up for today`s roadshow. He isgreeted by people at several places as his entourage makes its way to the venue.Idrish da gets off at Aminpur andmingles with the crowd. He again gets off his car at Deganga Bazar and greetspeople.

Idrish da at a campaign meeting

3:30 PM: BasirhatTown Hall

The Town Hall is packed to its capacity with hundreds ofpeople standing outside. The workers` meeting organized by Trinamool Yuva has ahuge participation of women. The local party leader Mr Narayan Biswas urges allworkers to connect with people and spread awareness about the developmentinitiatives taken by the Trinamool Government. During the meeting, an electedCongress Panchayat Samiti leader from Hasnabad joined Trinamool Congress witharound fifty supporters.

Idrish da addressing party workers at a campaign meeting

Idrish da, in hisbrief speech, urges all party activists to connect with people by visiting theirhomes. He asks everybody to deliver the booklet on the achievements of the WestBengal Government in the last 1000 days to every household. He urges everyoneto work united and keep their personal animosity aside. He reiterates that IdrishAli, as an individual is insubstantial and every vote would be in favour of Ms.Mamata Banerjee.

A packed auditorium at Basirhat

4:15 PM: CollegeMaidan, Basirhat

Minister for Food & Supplies, Jyotipriya Mullick joins Idrishda. There is a sea of humanity at the venue of the meeting. Never before hadBasirhat town seen such a huge turnout for a roadshow. The procession startswith Idrish da riding a hoodlessjeep. The 8 km long road show starts and moves along the Itinda Road. 

Idrish da and Jyotipriya Mullick at a roadshow

As theprocession moves along, Bowbazar, Jamrultala, Kachchari and Purono bazar, morepeople join the procession. The colourful rally has people on `Rano-pa` and a person dressed as Chota Bheem flaunting the party flag.People on both sides of the road wave at the candidate. Slogans are chanted bythe young and the old, men and women. The roadshow ends at Chowmatha, nearBasirhat Jail.

Colourful tableaus at the roadshow

6:30 PM: On the banksof Ichamati River, Chowmatha, Basirhat

The core campaign team meets for a huddle at the partyoffice. The day`s activities are assessed by the leadership. There is of coursea jovial mood. Nobody had anticipated such a huge turnout. However theleadership warns the party workers against becoming too over-confident. Thestrategy for campaigning for the upcoming days are also discussed.

Supporters cheering for Idrish Ali

8:30 PM: Allama RahulAmin Foundation, Jamrultla, Basirhat

Idrish da, alongwith his companions, pays a visit to the famous Dargah and seek divineblessings. On the way, he meets several well wishers.

9:30 PM: TowardsMalancha, via Taki Road

More street side meetings are held on the way toBasirhat-Malancha Road. People stop Idrish da`scar and offer him fruits and tea.

Idrish da at a campaign meeting

11:30 PM: Towards Ghatakpukur,via Bhangar

It is finally time to call it a day. Idrish da does not look much tired though. Heis busy on calls throughout the journey. Another strenuous day awaits him tomorrow.

Enthusiastic supporters walking in support of Idrish Ali

Sudip Bandopadhyay, Leader of Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in the 15th Lok Sabaha, is the Trinamool Congress candidate for the Kolkata Uttar constituency. 

Sudip da has a very close connection with people of his constituency, which consists of Chowranghee, Entally, Beleghata, Jorasanko, Shyampukur, Maniktala and Kashipur-Belgachhia Assembly segments. 

 

As an MP, Sudip Bandyopadhay had 85% attendance in the Parliament. He has been involved in several debates in the House.

 

 

 

During the final phase of his campaign on May 9, 2014, Arupratan Chakraborty of Trinamool Congress Web team accompanied Sudip da throughout the day on his campaign trail in the Beleghata constituency.

Sudip Bandopadhyay at Beleghata

7:45 AM: Bhatikhana More, Ward No.35, Beleghata Area

Sudip da at Beleghata Bhatikhana area

 

 

The area around Netaji Subhas Park in Beleghata Bhatikhana was all spic and span. The lanes and by-lanes were buzzing with activity. Paresh Pal, the local MLA was there to check the final preparation of the padayatra scheduled for the day.

8:30 AM: Bhatikhana – Nabab Bagan area, Belghata

Sudip da at Nabab Bagan, Beleghata

 

 

Sudip da, accompanied by Nayana di, reaches out to the people in every household of the Bhatikhana area. Local people gathered to greet them. They thanked Sudip da, garlanded him and expressed their support.

9:00 AM: Rakhal Ghosh Lane – Sarkar Bazar area, Belghata

The mercury was soaring. The discomfort factor had already crossed permissible limits, but there was no stopping Sudip da. An old lady rushed to him to present him with mangoes from her tree. Sudip da accepted them and said that he would always remember her sweet gesture.

Sudip da being offered mangoes by an elderly resident

 

 

The crowd had already soared in number and crossed at least thousand. With the Trinamool flag fluttering in most of the hands and the supporters adorning party colours on their caps, this was a rally which showed support and solidarity.

The huge rally crossed the street and entered Sarkar Bazar area. The Bustee Committee greeted Sudip da once again. People from every household came out of their homes and young children garlanded him.

Sudip da being garlanded by a little boy

 

 

10:10 AM: Kabi Sukanta Road, Beleghata area

Sudip da speaks during the roadshow

A hood-less jeep arrived at the Sarkar Bazar crossing. Sudip da, Nayana di and Paresh Pal boarded the jeep. It was time to stage a road show. A convoy of jeeps, followed by around 200 supporters and admirers covered the entire stretch of Kabi Sukanta Road. At a 4-point crossing, Sudip Da stopped the jeep for a brief speech.

He said that he had scheduled the campaigning in this area in the last and final phase because it was one of the most important areas in his constituencies. The rally went through KG Bose Sarani and Harimohan Ghosh Lane to stop at the Bangalpara-CIT Road juncture.

Graffiti at Kabi Sukanta Road, Beleghata

 

 

10:45 am: Bangalpara,Ward No.35. Beleghata

Sudip da got off the jeep and mingled with people at Bangalpara. An old lady, probably in her seventies, greeted the leader and blessed her. The padayatra proceeded through Panchanan Mitra Lane and came to an end at Netaji Subhas Park.

An elderly resident blesses Sudip da at Bangalpara

 

 

11:30 AM: Railway Quarters, Narkeldanga Main Road

Sudip da seeks blessings from all near Rail Quarter

 

 

Sudip da was on the jeep again, this time touring areas near the Narkeldanga Main Road, adjoining the Railway Quarters. He stopped occasionally to talk to people who greeted him. The 15 km rally finally ended around 12 noon.

5:00 PM: Kankurgachi APC Park, Maniktala Assembly segment

Gathering at APC Park Kankurgachi

The gala rally, attended by almost 10,000 people, was actually arranged in a short notice of 24 hours, thanks to Paresh Pal. Sudip da was accompanied by the local MLA and state Minister Sadhan Pandey and Paresh da, the MLA of Beleghata.

Rally at Kakurgachi APC Park in support of Sudip da

 

Sudip da, was scheduled to join the Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee at a rally in Tala Park at 7 pm and had to leave the meeting early. In his brief speech, Sudip da talked about how the development of the state had reached a sky-high under the Trinamool Government and the role Trinamool Congress played in the Parliament.

Sudip da speaks at the Kakurgachi rally

The department of Information and Culturehas had a remarkable list of achievements in the last three years. For thefirst-time ever in this state, eminent personalities were honoured with Bangabibhusan, Bangabhusan, Mahanayak Samman,Sangeet Mahasamman, Sangeet-Samman, Shilpi Mahasamman, Shilpi Samman andother awards. 

At the initiative of this government, Kolkata International FilmFestival has been extended to a greater reach. For the first-time ever,Children`s Film Festival has been organised at the state level.

Here are some of the achievements of thedepartment in the last 1000 days:

Constitutionof Tele Akademi: For the first time ever in thisstate, Tele Akademi has been constituted with a view to developing TelevisionIndustry and 90 eminent personalities have been awarded Tele Samman award. Inorder to protect cinema industry, the Audio-Video Piracy Act has been come intoforce for the first time ever in this state. Construction of Tele Akademibuilding has been started.

Formationof Academies: In order to preserve and extend thelanguages and culture of various ethnic groups, Rajbanshi Bhasa Akademi andBirsa Munda Akademi have been formed. The Hindi Academy has been reconstructed.Paschimbanga Kazi Nazrul Islam Akademi has also been formed.

Revitalisationof folk art: In order to revitalisation of the folkarts of Bengal, identity cards were issued to the folk artists` arrangements oftheir livelihood were made and financial assistance to the destitute folkartist was given. Till date more than thousand folk artists have beenbenefited.

Renovationand Construction: Work for a thorough renovation ofheritage sites including Minerva Theatre, Mahajati Sadan, University InstituteHall, Rathindra Mancha, Rabindra-Okakura Bhaban, State Music Academy etc. isgoing on. Besides these, work for renovation of 32 Rabindra Bhabans, has beentaken up. Reconstruction of Nazral Mancha has also been done.

ComprehensiveFilm-City: For the first-time in the state, stepshave been taken to construct two comprehensive Film-Cities with one at Dabgramin Jalpaiguri and the other at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas.

Digitizationof manuscripts and other creations: Digitization ofmanuscripts and letters of eminent authors of Bengal has been complete. Workfor digitization of music, cinema, paintings etc. is on.

HealthInsurance: Arrangements have been made for bringing10,000 artistes and technicians associated with cinema and television and themembers of their families under the Health Insurance cover. Initiatives havebeen taken to give monthly pension to cultural personalities. So far, more than150 personalities have availed of this pension.

CulturalHub: Work for building up a comprehensive culturalhub taking Rabindra Sadan-Nandan- Bangla Academy precincts into one has beenstarted.

For the complete list of achievements, click here.

Dr Amit Mitra, the National Spokesperson of Trinamool Congress and the Minister of Finance, Commerce and Industry Minister of West Bengal Government today addressed thepress regarding the Supreme Court decision in Saradha case. Here is thestatement:

• The decision of the SC comes just 2 days before the major and final roundof polls in West Bengal. However, we respect the Constitution and theJudiciary. West Bengal Government welcomes the Supreme Court (SC) judgment onSaradha scam.
• We are happy to hear that the SC has praised the work of the SpecialInvestigation Team (SIT) appointed by the West Bengal Government. We have alsocome to know that the SC has decided that SIT will keep investigating the caseswhere it has lodged charge sheets already.
• Several cases like the murders in Netai and murders in Nandigram are beinginvestigated by CBI but they have failed to do justice for years. Hope CBI willbe successful in the investigation of Saradha case.
• What we have learnt is that SC entrusted the probe to CBI becauseinvestigation has to be carried out in other States and Other Countries of theworld on matters like money laundering.
• Hope the CBI will also shed light and bring to books the perpetrators of Sanchayitathat happened in 1980s. People were duped & have not got their money backeven today.
• Saradha started its operations in 2006 when the Left Front, led by CPI(M) wasin power. I have myself tabled in WB Assembly pictures of CPI(M) leadersholding hands with Saradha bosses at several events. CPI(M) mouthpiece Ganashaktinewspaper has received funds from Saradha in the form of advertisements foryears. This must be probed. The publication of Ganashakti called the Dialreceived advertisement from Saradha pages after pages, year after year. Thistoo must be probed.
• Our government took an unprecedented step of forming a Commission to returnmoney to people duped by Saradha. Nowhere in the world has a Commission everbeen made to return money to people duped by ponzi schemes.
• 4 lakh people have already got their money back. 2.5 lakh people more willget money back as processed before the Code of Conduct came into effect. Thiscan be implemented after the Elections.
• It is our Government that arrestedour own MP. Which other Party has done so in the wake of all the corruptioncharges in the Nation.
• We hope the probe by the CBI will be free and fair and justice will be doneto all the people duped by Saradha.
• Additionally, the media must highlight the fact that SC has said that SITis free to carry on their investigation as per their charge sheets.
• We are happy that the SC has appreciated the initiative taken by the WBGovt to return money to people.
• Our Government passed a Bill in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly to legallyempower the State to act against chit funds. We sent it to the Centre forPresidential assent. Accepting the advice of the Centre, we passed a secondBill with modification the Centre suggested. Yet, the Centre is still sittingover our Bill against chit funds. They have to answer why they are doing so.
• People must know the chit fund scams started during Left Front regime. Wedo not know of any amount of money returned to the investors of Sanchayitascam. What action did the Left Front take against Saradha, after it was foundedin 2006?
• In 2009, the Left Front passed a faultyBill against chit funds which was rejected by the Centre.
• The Bill we sent to Centre for Presidential assent could have empowered theState machinery to act against chit funds. But the Centre has still notapproved our Bill. Our hands are tied behind our back. Even then we have formeda Commission, we have constituted SIT. We have arrested and filed chargesagainst perpetrators. We have returned money to 4 lakh poor people who wereduped and another 2.5 lakh await being compensated by the State.
• With full confidence I say, what Bengal has done today what the rest of Indiaand the world will follow tomorrow.

The fast pace of urbanization in the State hasthrown a serious challenge to the urban planners. One of the major challengesis to provide basic municipal services and to develop appropriateinfrastructures that are often severely deficient in the growing urban centers.After years of neglect for over three decades, things have began to change inthe last two and a half years.

In last 34 months the government has broughtseveral schemes and policies with the purpose of improving the infrastructureof the municipalities:

Visiondocument of municipalities

As per instructions of the State Government,124 municipalities have already released a vision document for the developmentof their own municipal areas.

Constitutionof a new municipality

A new municipality has been constituted atHaringhata in the district of Nadia. As a result the number municipalities inthe state have become 128.

Drinkingwater for all the city-dwellers

• Water supply project has been undertaken in 20cities. 
• In order to supply drinking water to theinhabitants of drought-prone areas of the state, several projects have been sanctionedwith budgeted allocation of Rs 210 crore in 5 cities (i.e. Purulia,Raghunathpur, Bishnupur, Sonamukhi and Kharagpur). 
• In the last two and a half years, water supplyproject in 12 small and medium towns has been completed. About 7 lakh ofcity-dwellers will be benefited out of this project.
• The water supply projects in 5 municipal areashave been completed. 
• Another 3 lakh city- dwellers will be benefitedfrom this project.

 Constructionof dwelling house for slum-dwellers and urban poor people

• Rs 926 crore has been allocated in 94 projectsfor 80 municipalities outside the jurisdiction of Kolkata MunicipalityCorporation for the construction of houses for slum dwellers and urban poorpeople. 
• Construction of 10,168 houses is going on.During the last two and a half years construction of 15,137 houses has beencompleted. Besides this, the government has sanctioned another 287 new houses.

 UrbanBeautification

• Under the supervision of State UrbanDevelopment Agency and Municipal Engineering Directorate, the installation ofdecorative lamp-posts in 52 municipalities including Navadiganta IndustrialTownship has been completed.
• The installation of decorative lamp poststhroughout the entire stretch of Belgharia Expressway has been completed. 
• The installation of decorative lamp in morethan 20 kilometres of NH-34 (at both sides of the road), between Ultadanga andBarasat and on Jessore Road between R.G.Kar Hospital and Airport gate No. 1 hasbeen completed. 
• The Kolkata Municipal Corporation hascompleted the development work on river-bank in between Princep Ghat andBabughat, Armenian Ghat and Millenium Park at the eastern side of the riverHooghly. 
• The Kolkata Municipal Corporation hascompleted the renovation work of 14 `ghats` on the river Hooghly and has donethe beautification work of 16 main thoroughfare. Besides, KMC also undertookthe preservation and development work of Ramakrishna crematorium, BhukailashRajbari extension and beautification of Nimtala crematorium. 
• KMC also erected a large gate on the KalighatRoad. 

SwarnajayantiShahari Rojgar Yojona

Toeradicate poverty in cities, the government has taken this scheme, with theobjective of making unemployed and low-income group people self sufficient. Three-tierlocal people committee and community development organizations have been put upin place. In last two and a half years 1, 02,292 below poverty level unemployedyouth have been trained in this scheme. The self help groups have participatedin various fairs in assistance with municipalities and the State Government.

Rightto Public Services Act, 2013

As per theRight to Public Services Act 2013, 105 municipalities have already publishedrequisite notice for providing different services to the citizens.

Civicamenities through e-governance

• Significantprogress has been made possible in providing civic amenities through integratede-governance system.
• Birth andDeath Certificates, Trade License is issued in 73 municipal bodies includingKolkata Municipal Corporation. 
• In somemunicipalities, this system has been introduced for making building plans andcollecting Municipal Taxes

 Wastemanagement

KolkataMunicipal Corporation has established Compactor Stations in different areas ofthe city for waste management.

CivicAmenities

Anotification has been published in Kolkata Gazette; they have fixed definite targetsin the fields of water supply, waste management, drainage and sewage

SocialAssistance Schemes

• Old agepension are provided to 3, 01,918 BPL people .
• Rs 21.59crore have been distributed to the family members of 20,682 BPL people after theiraccidental or normal death. 
• 1, 01,262 BPLwidows whose age is in between 40 to 59 years are getting widow pension. 
• 9,514 BPL DisabledPersons are provided with financial aid.

Preparationof City Development Plan

For preparingCity development Plan for the next five years, direction and training have beenprovided to all the municipalities.