Author: AITC

Trinamool Chairperson felicitated by Adivasi community at Mukutmanipur

Posted on | by AITC

At a function organised by an Adivasi organisation at Mukutmanipur in Bankura district, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee was felicitated for the vast amount of development initiatives taken by the Government for the tribal community. Speaking on the occasion, Didi highlighted her commitment towards upliftment of backward classes and developmental work done by the Government in Bankura district.

Excerpts from the Chairperson`s speech:

I am honoured to be felicitated by my Adivasi brothers and sisters. Thank you all.

Mukutmanipur, Jhilimili, Ayodhya Hills, Susunia Hills – these areas have great tourism potential. I feel I have come into the lap of Nature.

 

We are doing a lot of work for the Bankura district. This is one of best districts in the State. There has been a wave of development. I have fulfilled most of my promises, including the setting up of a university in Jhilimili area. From setting up of multi-super specialty hospitals to ITIs, polytechnic colleges to Kisan Bazars – a lot of work is going on. People can get free medicines from rural health centres. We are giving rice at Rs 2 per kilo to 3.2 crore people of the State.

 

We are setting up a drinking water project for 24 blocks at the cost of Rs 2000 crores. We are setting up 11 model schools in Bankura. Students are very talented in this district. We have given 1.49 lakh BPL families electric supply free of cost. We have started onion cultivation in this district. We want that the rights of the forest should remain with the tribal people as they can protect the forest in the best possible manner.

 

My candidate for Bankura, Moonmoon Sen, is a globally renowned actor. Her mother was Bengal`s pride. Purulia`s Chhau dance got first prize at Delhi`s Republic Day parade. We are proud of our folk art and we honoured them with Mahasangeet Samman.

 

We have given cycles to tribal girls, houses under Geetanjali scheme to the poor people, decreased the work load for women under 100-days job scheme. We have made reservations for tribal people. Bankura is one of the best districts in the country in 100-days job scheme.

I thank my Adivasi Vikas Parishad for extending support to us. We have started schools in Al-Chiki scripts. Peace has returned to Jangalmahal and Darjeeling. The state is in peace. There are no more bloodbaths. Bengal has immense resources and potential. We will move forward.

 

Trinamool Chairperson bats for peace and development in Purulia

Posted on | by AITC

Addressing a rally at Kotshila in Purulia district, the Trinamool Chairperson today congratulated the people of Purulia for the prevailing peaceful conditions in the district. She also iterated that under no circumstances will there be any tolerance of incidents of violence. She laid stress on developing Purulia as a tourist destination and talked about all-round development of the state.

Excerpts from the Chairperson`s speech:

My dear brothers and sisters, thank you for coming here despite the heat. I welcome you all.

 

Peace has been restored in Purulia. We have tied up with Japan to provide drinking water to people in Purulia. The project cost us Rs 1200 crore.  Gone are the days of politics with bullets. Now we are a model to the nation. If anybody tries to disturb the peace of Jangalmahal, people will not spare them.

 

A section of people are asking you to boycott the election. File your complaint against them, there is nothing to fear. Days of violence and reign of terror of the CPI(M) are over. In democracy, people vote freely and fearlessly. Earlier there used to be 500-600 deaths in Jangalmahal every year. Democracy has been restored in Jangalmahal. Whenever I visit Jangalmahal, people tell me they feel safe now.

 

Do not vote for Congress. They are hiking prices of everything. We have restored peace in Jangalmahal and Darjeeling. Won`t allow anyone to disturb peace anymore. BJP talks of small states. What have they done for Jharkhand? There have been 9 governments in 13 years, there have been no development.

 

We gave 28 lakh Kisan Credit Cards, 2 lakh pattas, 2.5 lakh cycles to girl students. We are building marketing hubs in every district, so that people get employment. We have introduced reservation for backward classes and minorities without touching general seats.

 

I went to Tripura for campaign. The CPI(M) tried to disrupt our meetings. Why is the EC not taking action against hoardings and banners of Opposition? Why is there action against only my party? I am being targeted because of my humble background. I am the only person who protested when everybody kept silent. I know what the Constitution says. I respect the Constitution.

 

We have started Kanyashree scheme for girls. They will get financial assistance to pursue education. One lakh youths can sign up in employment bank. Once they get jobs, another one lakh can sign up. Folk artists and cultural performers are being honoured. Our team of Chhau dancers got first prize at Republic Day parade. We have started schools with Al-Chiki script as medium of instruction.

 

We are setting up a multi super speciality hospital in Purulia. Fair price medicine shops have been set up. We have started ambulance services to ferry pregnant ladies to hospitals for delivery from remote areas. We are setting up ITIs in every block. Polytechnic colleges are being set up in every subdivision.  Film shoots are taking place in these areas because now there is peace. We are setting up a tourism circuit in Purulia with Ayodhya Hills as focus. Raghunathpur has received huge investments.

 

CPI(M) incurred huge debts. Centre is taking away major share of our revenue. Yet, we are working for the people. We have started ambulance services to ferry pregnant ladies to hospitals for delivery from remote areas. No matter how many tricks and blackmail tactics they use, I will not stop working for people.

 

Our farmers are getting proper price for their crops. We have set up Kisan Mandis. We have started cultivation of onions in these not-so-fertile lands. Agricultural institutes are being set up in these areas. 1.42 lakh families have got electricity. We have given houses to BPL families under Geetanjali scheme. Local people will get jobs here. Everything takes time, but we are doing our best.

 

I will not tolerate any insult to Bengal. The more they attack us, the more they hatch conspiracies, the stronger our joraphool will be. I have been struggling all my life. I will keep struggling for the love I get from the people.  Now we can say that we will get all the 42 seats in Bengal.

 

I respect all religions. I celebrate Durga Puja, Adivasi festivals as well as Eid and Christmas. I am honoured that the tribal community is felicitating me today at Mukutmanipur. I never discriminate against anyone based on religion.

 

CPI(M)-BJP-Congress have come together to divide votes, so that we are defeated. I want all to work as hard as I do. This will result in proper development of the state. Let us work for the future generation. We have reserved 50% seats for women in Panchayats.

 

 I urge you all to vote for Trinamool Congress, to build a better Bengal.

1000 days at a glance: Expanding Irrigation services

Posted on | by AITC

Under the leadership of Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal Government has made rapid developments in the irrigation sector. Not only has the 5-year target set for Jal Dharo Jal Bharo been met, but overshot by a handsome margin in just two years. 

Entire state is being provided with irrigation services and means of communication through waterways are being strengthened. The government has undertaken the work of providing water to the dry areas of Paschimanchal, building embankments at flood-porne areas. Use of technology is also among the highlights of the department.

Here are the achievements of the Irrigation and Waterways Department:

Irrigation – Water is the strength of the farmer:

  • Irrigation water is being supplied to 1.34 acres of land through canals in the western districts, which remained victims of negligence for the last few decades.
  • Projects have been taken up to bring 58,000 acres of land in the current financial year and 1.24 lakh more acres of land in the coming financial year.
  • In all, 8.95 lakh acres of land are being fed with irrigation water across the state through big and medium-sized irrigation projects in the current rabi/boro season. This is the highest quantum in the last seven years.
  • In a never-before attempt, almost 1.10 lakh acres of land are being fed with irrigation water during rabi/boro seasons under the Teesta Barrage Project in North Bengal.
  • 14 check dams are being built up in the remote areas of drought-prone Purulia so that rain-harvested water can be utilised. In the coming financial year, 23 more check-dams are proposed for implementation.

More canals to be reclaimed:

  • Work for reclaiming canals measuring 330 km, specially in the South Bengal districts, has been taken up in the financial years, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The projects that are remarkable in this respect are:
  • Canals adjoining Keleghai, Kapaleswari and Chandia rivers, and Hijli Tidal Canal in West and East Midnapore, Damodar Short Cut Channel, Nayabaaz Canal and Bigachhi Canal in Howrah, Upper and Lower Bagjola Canals, Tollygunj Panchannagram Canal system, canal adjoining Ichhamati river and Beleghata Canal in North and South 24 Parganas and Kolkata.
  • Besides all these, a bunch of projects for reclaiming canals like Denan-Dehati, Shankarara, Damodar, Kestopur Bhangarkata, Noai, Monikhali, and others have been approved.
  • The much-awaited Ghatal Master Plan is waiting for the approval of the union government. The state government is determined for its speedy implementation.
  • The finished and partly-finished projects have readily yielded better results. Despite very heavy rainfall last year, water receded at a rapid pace from the lower catchments areas of Keleghai and Kapaleswari rivers, which historically have been prone to floods, and other areas, and thus attained the hearty blessings of the local people.

Protection of river banks and dams, and thus the security of common people:

  • A huge amount of work in relation to the prevention of river-bank and coastal erosion and to the protection of dams is going on across the state.
  • In the last two-and-a-half years, projects for preventing erosion and strengthening dams, including those damaged by the cyclone Aila in the Sundarbans, have been implemented along 518 km and work for the same is on in another 100-km stretch.
  • The most remarkable of the finished and nearly finished projects are protection of the historic Tamluk town from the erosion of the Rupnarayan river and the beautification as well as anti-erosion measures of the Digha-Sankarpur coast.
  • More advanced technology like geo-synthetic filter and bag and concrete blocks are being applied for arresting erosion.
  • Initiative is being taken to implement the Kandi Master Plan in Murshidabad district by phases.

Building of roads and bridges, provision for communication:

  • In the last two-and-a-half years, the work for 30 concrete bridges has been completed and they are being used by the people.
  • Projects for building 95 new bridges over various major and minor rivers and canals in remote rural areas, in keeping with the increasing demand, have been taken up. This is without precedence in the history of the state`s irrigation and waterways.
  • Work for 43 bridges is on with a thrust in different districts of South Bengal. The Lalgarh Bridge over the Kansavati river is a remarkable example. 52 more bridges have been approved recently, work for which will begin shortly.
  • Apart from these, work for replacing old dilapidated bridges with new concrete ones will be taken up in the coming financial year on a priority basis.
  • Bituminous roads measuring 73 km have been constructed within three-and-a-half months along the banks of the rivers Mahananda and Fulahar in Malda district.

Application of technology for the purpose of enhancing overall efficiency, transparency and accountability:

  • The use of e-tendering system has been extended to the spheres of already existing major work involving an expenditure of Rs 5 lakh.
  • Initiative is being taken to introduce e-governance in the district offices in phases.
  • A 24×7 toll-free helpline has been operational in the district headquarters control room for South Bengal in Bidhannagar and for North Bengal in Jalpaiguri in order to exchange flood-related news during the rainy season and to directly communicate with people.

Ready to go to jail, but will not transfer officials on EC order: WB CM at Pandua

Posted on | by AITC

At an election rally at Pandua held earlier today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday questioned the Election Commission`s decision to transfer government officers. She accused it of playing into the hands of Congress and BJP and said transfers had been ordered without consulting the state government.

“I came to know this meeting that the EC has given order for transfer of five SPs without consulting state government and the names of their replacement have also been announced (by EC). I respect the Election Commission. But I will not bow down. I ask, will you only listen to what Congress will say in order to facilitate victory of Congress, BJP?” Ms. Banerjee said.

She said that she would not transfer any official as long as she is the Chief Minister and reminded the EC that it has its limitations. “Let you take the role of Chief Minister. Mamata Banerjee doesn`t care for power.”

“It is a conspiracy by a media house, central government, Congress, EC, BJP and CPI-M. I will fight alone and I don`t care for your conspiracy. I only care for the people,” she said.

The West Bengal CM said she had no objection if the EC controls the law and order. “Don`t blame Mamata Banerjee if there is any problem. Either Mamata Banerjee will look after law and order or EC will look after law and order,” she said.

“You take care of law and order then but I will not take any responsibility. I have not come to power by your mercy or Congress, she said, adding she is prepared to be arrested and go to jail. I challenge the Election Commission which I have never done before. You go and take steps in Narendra Modi`s state or from where Sonia Gandhi is contesting. After that you lay your hands on us,” she said.

Daring the EC, Ms. Banerjee said, “What will they do to me for saying this? I will be arrested and go to jail at most.”

She warned that if there was any law and order breakdown in Jangalamahal (former Maoist stronghold) after the transfers without consulting the state, the EC had to take the responsibility.

“It is the people who will vote,” she said wondering why the EC had kept silent in the last 35 years during the Left Front rule. The EC should remember that it cannot insult the masses, she said, adding it has its limitations.

In Tripura, she pointed out, the elections are being held in two days for two seats, while in Bengal the elections are not only being held in five phases but over more than two months.

“Mamata Banerjee doesn`t care for power. Power cares for Mamata Banerjee. You can do whatever you want to do. You can put me in jail. I will not shift a single SP. You better go and become Chief Minister,” the Chairperson said.

Help us win all 42 seats in Bengal: Trinamool Chairperson in Jamalpur

Posted on | by AITC

Trinamool Chairperson today slammed the Left Front for taking Bengal bakcwards and unleashing a reign of terror when they were in power. She also attacked the Centre for refusing to release funds for the State. The Chairperson was speaking at a rally in Jamalpur, where she asked people to vote for Trinamool. Highlighting the development initiatives taken by the Ma, Mati, Manush Government in the last three years, she urged people to make it possible for Trinamool to win 42 out of 42 seats from Bengal.

Excerpts from the Chairperson`s speech:

I thank you all for braving the heat and making it to the rally. The way phases of elections has been decided, it raises questions. In Gujarat it is one phase. In Bengal some districts have 2-phase polls. A lot of malicious campaign is going on. Do not step into the trap of the Opposition. They are running a false campaign.

 

Prices of petrol, diesel, LPG are being raised, value of human lives has reached an all time low.  Leaders of Congress are refusing to release funds for Bengal. I wish to tell them, we are not beggars asking for alms. CPI(M) had run a reign of murder and terror. We brought peace in the State. We will not allow any disturbance to the law and order situation.

 

Regional parties are being targeted. Nobody dares to raise voices against Congress or BJP. After today, common people will vote for Trinamool Congress so that it may win 42 out of 42 seats in Bengal. 

 

Bardhaman district is progressing. We have given away 28 lakh Kisan Credit cards, 2 lakh pattas in two and half years. We have started Kanyashree Scheme for girl students, 11 lakh students have already registered. One lakh youth have enrolled in the employment bank.

 

Investments are opening up for Bardhaman, many youths will be employed. 5 lakh people will be able to open up shops in the Marketing Hubs being set up in this district.

 

Trinamool Congress is fighting a war of ethics and honesty. It is fighting to uphold the right policies, to convert Bengal into a global brand – Biswa Bangla. Do not give a single vote to Congress, BJP or CPI(M), they all have an understanding. They want to divide our Bengal. Trinamool Congress is fighting a lone war against them.

 

I know I am not alone. People are my strength. We are paying off the loans made by the CPI(M) government. There has been no development during the previous regime. We have made reservation for backward classes and minority community students without touching the General category. We can do much more work and we will do it.

 

From Kisan Mandi to polytechnic colleges and ITIs, Bardhaman is being developed like never before. Farmers are getting proper price for their products now. I urge you to stand united against the conspiracies being hatched up to stop the developmental processes.

 

Have faith on us. Trinamool will lead the way in Delhi. Give us your blessings, help us win in all the 42 seats. Vote for joraphool.

Left took Bengal backwards. Vote for Trinamool for progress: Didi at Balagarh

Posted on | by AITC

The Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee today addressed an election rally at Balagarh in Hooghly district in support of the candidates from the district: Afreen Ali and Ratna De Nag. While speaking the Chief Minister highlighted the atrocities committed by the Left Front government on the people of Hooghly. She talked at length about the neglect shown by the Central Government towards Bengal. Didi also asked people not to vote for the communal ideology of BJP.

Excerpts from the Chairperson`s speech:

 

I welcome all those who are present here despite of the scorching sun and heat.

 

We have started helicopter services in the state and will be setting up a number of airports. We are developing the communication process from one district to another. We are laying stress on a number of developmental schemes.

 

Hooghly district is dependent on agriculture. Farmers have always been a focus of our policies. They are getting much better prices for their products now. We have made schemes for the weavers too since tant is an important product in this district. Six Marketing Hubs are being set up here. 5 lakh people will be able to set up shops in these hubs.

 

We have given Kisan Credit Cards to around 28 lakh farmers. We gave pattas to 2 lakh people in two and a half years.  57 lakh minority students received scholarships. We have given cycles to girl students. I started two railway factories in Dankuni as Rail Minister. We are also setting up ITIs in every block and polytechnic colleges in every sub division.

 

We have already started a Kisan Bazar named after Tapasi Malik at Singur. A trauma care centre is being set up there. Fair price medicine shops have already been set up. Poor people are getting medicines for free at rural health centres. Ambulance service for rural people in distant areas is now a reality.

 

We have started the Kanyasharee and Yuvashree schemes. Kanyashree has now 9 lakh applicants and our target is reaching out to 16 lakh girls. One lakh youth have enrolled in the employment bank. We have started the Sishusathi scheme for free heart operations of children. We have set up Milk Banks for babies.

 

We are setting up an environment-friendly eco-tourism centre at Sobuj Dweep. A big coal hub and industrial estate is coming up at Bardhaman. 5 lakh people will get employment here besides industrial hubs in Bardhaman and Panagarh.

 

During teacher recruitment, 10% of those recruited will be parateachers. We have started reservation for backward classes and minorities without touching General category seats. We have devised a policy for economically backward sections of the society.

 

We are working hard for the people. It is the faith of people on us that has brought us here. We cannot let them down. The Opposition only sits in TV studios and criticizes us. What work have they done during their tenure?

 

BJP-CPI(M) and Congress are all together. BJP talks of smaller states for better governance. Why is Jharkhand still so backward? Darjeeling is the pride of Bengal. It is an integral part of the State. We will not let anyone divide Bengal. Darjeeling is smiling. Jangalmahal is smiling. My Adivasi brothers and sisters are happy.

 

We have not forgotten about the atrocities committed on the people in Hooghly during previous regime. There are so many channels today covering every small incident across Bengal today. There was no coverage during Left rule. They talk about free and fair elections now. Everyone knows how free elections were when they were in power. The Left regime took Bengal backwards in every sphere – from education to industry. They betrayed the farmers.

 

We were number 1 in MNREGA. The Centre has stopped paying us funds for 100-days job scheme. We do not need alms from the Centre. We are asking for our right, not begging for money. Some people say Gujarat is the model for India. NO. Bengal is doing better than Gujarat. Infant mortality rate in Gujarat is 42%. In Bengal it is only 31%. Bengal is ahead of Gujarat in MSME sector. Our growth was 105%. Gujarat is below 50%.

 

Despite paucity of funds, we are working hard for people. They are our assets. We have faith in people. The Left Government has made huge loans. Why do we have to bear the brunt of the debt them? Why is the Centre not paying us funds we deserve? The Centre has not paid us Rs 86000 crores. Had they not taken away the funds, we could have done a lot of work. There are zero mandays lost now in the state.

 

In two and half years we have opened 31 colleges. 66 years after independence, there were only 38 opened. We have set up 8 universities in 2.5 years. Left opened only 2 in 34 years. We give rice at Rs 2 per kilo to 3.2 crore poor people in the State. We will convert Bengal into a global model in future. We will become Biswa Bangla.

 

I will continue to serve people till my last breath. I have never compromised in my fight for the people. I have no family. The Ma, Mati, Manush are my family. When I am on the chair of Chief Minister, I do not discriminate between people based on caste, creed, religion or gender. A true leader works for all. They are acceptable to all sections of the society. We follow the ideals of Ramkrishna Paramhansa. He preached about equality of all religions.

 

The Centre hiked the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG. They have sold the country. BJP is a party of rioters. They want to divide the nation. We cannot allow that. We want peace & progress. We will not allow politics in the name of religion. We will not tolerate division of people for the sake of votes. Just like I participate in Durga Puja, I participate in Eid and Christmas too.

 

I urge you all to vote for joraphool. Vote for Trinamool for making Bengal the number 1 state in India. Give a fitting reply to the malicious campaign launched against us by casting your vote for joraphool.

Blogs by IIM interns to highlight the development in Bengal

Posted on | by AITC

Blogs are an important medium to communicate with people and so Trinamool is making a foray into the blogosphere from today. Trinamool believes in 360 degree approach towards communication. From wall paintings, flex boards, advertisements on television to the digital space, the party believes in communicating with voters on all mediums.
Thirty-one graduate students from IIM, Calcutta had applied for an internship program with Trinamool. Of these, two have been selected to assist the digital team of the party which is run by volunteers. The interns will be writing 40 blogs to highlight the developmental workdone by the West Bengal Government in various sectors – right from Kanyashree and Jal Dharo Jal Bharo to the maintenance of law and order in Jangalmahal.
The party strongly believes in reaching out to people in any possible way, and will continue to innovate and experiment with all forms of communicative tools and technologies to staying by the side of the people.
The blogs written by the interns deal with only facts and no faff.

Trinamool`s mobile app: Here`s what the media said

Posted on | by AITC

Led by the Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress may be organizing rallies and roadshows at every nook and corner of the state, but its digital war room has become busier than ever to revolutionize ways and means to reach out to voters. Be it the social media or new apps, Trinamool is leaving no stone unturned to rule the virtual world.

While Trinamool has been active on social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter, on Sunday, Trinamool took a step ahead and launched its mobile app – AITC. The app, downloadable on the Android and iOS platforms, will deliver all party-related news.


Here`s how the mainstream media reported about the launch of party`s mobile app:

The report in Anandabazar Patrika


The IANS story in Business Standard and The  Economic Times carrying the PTI story

The coverage in India Today

The Times of India Report on the app

Mamata cough syrup – An unwarranted gimmick

Posted on | by AITC

Come election season, several businesses try to cash in on the campaign frenzy with gimmicks and marketing tricks. From sarees to sweets – not a single product has been left untouched by the election fever.


A pharmaceutical company has joined the fray by naming medicines after a few leaders from the two big national parties. And the name of the Chairperson of the Trinamool Congress has also not been spared. After Ragaflame and NaMoni, they have named a cough syrup after Ms. Mamata Banerjee, hoping her name will get buyers interested in their product.


A popular marketing consultant has said that this is an innovative approach in marketing and the response from the users has been magnificent. However, Trinamool Congress is strongly against such gimmicks for temporary gains. A senior MP of the party has commented, “Didi is the only leader from Bengal with a huge national following. It is natural that people will try to commercially exploit her name. But this is not done. This is a plain gimmick.”


Speaking to the Trinamool web team a journalist who did not wish to be named said, “What if the medicine does not work or shows some harmful side-effects? Mamata Banerjee`s name will be sullied in that case. These gimmicks are completely unwarranted.”


1000 days at a glance: Land and land reforms

Posted on | by AITC

Land has been a bone of contention in the past in West Bengal. Forcible land acquisition in SIngur and Nandigram, among other places, gave rise to several movements against the then Left Front Government. After the new Ma, Mati, Manush Government came into power it was decided that no land will be acquired by the government for private companies. With a new land bank, provision of land for industries is also not a problem.

Here are the achievements of the land and land reforms department:

Distribution of pattas: During the last two-and-a-half years, the state government has created an unparalled precedence by distributing pattas to 1,92,000 thousand landless families. In this regard it is worth mentioning that while 5670 and 37,723pattas were distributed during 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively, during the tenure of the present government, a record number of 1,06,264 landless families were distributed pattas.

Revenue collection: While the revenue collection of the Land and Land Reforms Department was only Rs 380 crore during 2011-12, it has increased to Rs 480 crore during 2012-13. During 2013-14, up to the mouth of January, land revenue collection amounted to Rs 312.27 crore. At the end of the current financial year, it will exceed Rs 500 crore.

E-governance initiative: People can easily access maps of landed property and particulars relating to titles on the website of the Land and Land Reforms Department. At the same time common people can now directly collect land records (parcha) within a few hours through over-the-counter service under the e-governance initiative from BLLR offices at the block level, which could not be thought of during the past.

Providing land for setting up industries: Decision has been taken to relax land ceiling for setting up 15 types of industries subject to the condition of purchasing land on the basis of applications of the entrepreneurs for setting up industries through transparent procedures as per Section 14Y of West Bengal Land Reforms Act.

Besides, in order to assist earmarking of suitable land for setting up of industries, a Land Use Map has been prepared where single-crop land, multi-crop land and densely populated areas have been marked.

Click here for the complete list of achievements.