Author: AITC

Mamata Banerjee asks TMC MLAs to campaign about WB Govt`s development projects

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WB CM and Trinamool Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee attended the meeting of the Trinamool Congress Legislative Party meeting at the State Assembly on Friday. 
She asked party MLAs to behave consciously and graciously with the public as the party is reflected through the behaviour of its MLAs.
She asked TMC MLAs to be even more sincere, committed and dedicated to the party and should enhance public relationship. She urged the party MLAs to work more for the poor and the downtrodden. We are 1 and the people are 99, they recognize us for our work, she said.
The Chief Minister also asked the MLAs to start campaigning in their areas about the state government's development projects. She categorically asked them to be vigilant in the House.

WB Govt to develop the infrastructure of soil testing laboratories

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The state government is going to develop the infrastructure of the soil-testing laboratories.
“Soil testing was totally neglected so farmers did not get the benefit. Around 200 scientists were appointed for running those laboratories, but the project was stopped by then Left Front government,” Purnendu Bose, State Agriculture Minister said.

Data bank of soil testing
A data bank will also be made for keeping the soil testing record. Soil and water layer will be tested for the benefit of the cultivation.
“This will help to know the ingredient of the soil. The purpose of soil-testing in high-yield farming is to determine the relative ability of a soil to supply crop nutrients during a particular growing season,” he said.
These laboratories would also help to determine lime needs, and for diagnosing problems such as excessive salinity or alkalinity. Soil testing result will be also used to guide nutrient management decisions related to manure and sludge application with the objective of maximizing economic/agronomic benefits while minimizing the potential for negative impacts on water quality.
Boost for investment
Block wise data bank will be made, which could be used for farming round the year. As the state government is encouraging the farmers for alternative farming, so soil testing result will help to determine which alternative crops could be sowed after drought and flood. 
The soil-testing laboratories will help industrialists to decide for investment, as they could know about the fertility of any particular land of any area through data bank.
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Four new universities to come up in Bengal

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The Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal government has given the go-ahead to Ambuja Neotia Group and JIS Group to set up universities in Diamond Harbour and North 24 Parganas' Agarpara. The state also plans to set up a university on its own in Raigunj.
A seven-member committee headed by Moloyendu Saha, vice-chairman, West Bengal State Council of Higher Secondary Education, has already scrutinized the proposals and given its go-ahead. Three separate bills in this regard will be introduced in the state assembly next week.
The government will also bring the West Bengal University of Teachers' Training, Education, Planning and Administration Bill-2014 in the House on November 10.
The state had earlier given its nod paving way for three private universities The Techno India University, Seacom Skills University and Adamas University.
Education minister Partha Chaterjee said, “Three bills will be introduced for consideration in the assembly next week. These are the Neotia University Bill, JIS University Bill and Raigunj University Bill. The business advisory committee of the assembly had agreed to it.”
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Protest march in Barasat against BJP`s agenda of disturbing peace in Bengal : Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar

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BJP supporters attacked a peaceful procession and beat up Trinamool Congress supporters at Barasat College today. 3 persons had to be hospitalized.

This is what veteran Trinamool leader and the MP from Barasat Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had to say:

  • Trinamool Congress believes in democracy.
  • Our leader has taught us peaceful coexistence.
  • We are taking out a protest march in Barasat on November 8 from 4 pm from Sethpukur Maidan against BJPs agenda of disturbing peace in Bengal.

No more attestation/affidavit in most government work from December 1 in Bengal

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In what may come as a major relief to citizens, the government has decided to do away with the necessity of filing affidavits from a gazetted officer or a notary for a big chunk of government-related work and instead to promote self-attestation of documents. This will come into effect from December 1, 2014.
Addressing the press after a Cabinet meeting, WB CM said that unless there was any legal requirement, in most government work, self-attestation or declaration would be sufficient.
“Getting an affidavit is a very cumbersome process. People have to pay a lot of money for getting affidavits from a notary. For people belonging to villages and remote areas it is even more difficult,” the Chief Minister said.
“Some ministries have adopted the provision of self-certification of documents like marksheet, birth certificate, etc by the applicants or stakeholders instead of asking for an attested copy of the documents by a gazetted officer or filing of affidavits,” she added.
The Chief Minister said that respective ministries have been asked to come up with a text for the declaration to be signed by people. The government will give advertisements in all newspapers to make people aware, she said.
Government websites will soon carry all the necessary information.

WB CM gives away Sharad Samman 2014

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WB CM today gave away the Sharad Samman (Durga Puja Awards) for this year at Nazrul Mancha today. The award ceremony had been jointly organized by the Department of Information and Culture, West Bengal Government, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the Kolkata Police.
Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman
West Bengal Government widened the reach of its Durga Puja awards this year by introducing Biswa Bangla Sharad Samman. The government is going to reach give 10 awards to the puja committees abroad.
Ten more awards will be given to Puja organisers in Indian cities outside Bengal. The tradition of giving awards to Puja organisers in Kolkata and West Bengal districts under different categories will continue.
The government has been giving awards to Puja organisers in Kolkata and the districts since coming to power in 2011. The new set of awards would include a memento and a cash prize.
Going global
Foreign entries include those from New York, London, Chicago, Toronto, Singapore, Sydney and Bahrain. Four entries from London, three from Singapore and two from Dhaka have added the competition in the foreign section.
The pan-India entries include those from Navi Mumbai Bengali Association, Srinibaspuri Puja Committee from New Delhi, Maruti Vihar Puja Committee from Kalapakkam, Rabindra Palli Puja Committee from Faizabad in Lucknow, Chhatrabondhu Club from Agartala and from other states.

Bengal can be No. 1: WB CM at FICCI meet

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee addressed the National Executive Meet of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) today.

Sidharth Birla, President, FICCI said: “Initiatives of WB Govt like time-bound clearance, PPP and MSME policy will bring prosperity to the State. I hope Bengal Leads 2015 will be a huge success. FICCI will support the summit. The Singapore visit of the CM was a great step. FICCI will support industrialisation of Bengal.”
Here is what WB CM said:
Good afternoon to all of you. My festive greetings to you all. I am happy to be here at Great Eastern hotel. It is a heritage hotel with small support from the state government.
We have set up a steering committee with my Finance Minister and industrialists like Harsh Neotia. We must work together. I prefer direct interaction with you all. Do not compare Bengal with any other State.
We increased our revenue in the last 3 years. But Centre has been taking away major part of the revenue. We implemented the FRBM system. We inherited a huge debt. We did not have money. We have been deprived of funds. Yet, we are surviving.
Sidharth Birla, President, FICCI speaking
Our performance speaks for us. I respect the media but there is a phenomenon of paid news. Bengal is growing faster than India. Our GSDP is 8.4% while that of India is 4.7%. We are ahead of the national average in terms of growth in agriculture, industry and service sector.
You belong to business houses. You know the growth figures better than us. In excise collection and skill development, Bengal is No. 1. A recent survey showed Kolkata is one of the safest metros.
We launched e-governance measures. Our Kanyashree scheme got global recognition. We have brought transparency in governance. I have held 75 meetings at grassroots in 3 years. We have launched an administrative calendar. We started uniform clearance system. Land is being cleared under Section 14Y.
There is big scope in Bengal. We had 3 ports and now we are building another one. We have identified three new beaches for tourism. We have selected Sagar Islands for ecotourism. We will auction 5 tea gardens. At least 700-1000 acres of land is available there.
WB CM speaking at FICCI national executive meet
A nature park is being set up at the foothills of Himalayas in North Bengal. We are focusing on water transport system. We are also developing 4000 km of State Highways.
We have land banks. We have MSME policy, industry policy, land policy. We have land for heavy industries. Bengal is the gateway to the North East India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. We will issue transport licenses in 15 days.
We are setting up 30 new multi super speciality hospitals. Medical seats have been increased. 8 new medical colleges are coming up. We are giving free beds to poor people at Govt hospitals. We launched fair price medicine stores under PPP mode.
Harsh Neotia delivering the vote of thanks
After our Singapore visit, we have set up a Business Coordination Centre. A new airport is coming up at Andal. We have started helicopter services between districts and Kolkata. We have a power bank. A new centre of excellence is coming up in Bengal. We have cheap labour and skill. Let these be nurtured.
Our motto is work more, talk less. We expect your cooperation and participation for the summit in January. There is a lot of potential in Bengal to be utilized. Treat Bengal like your own state. Number of mandays lost due to bandhs has come down to zero in Bengal.
Our message is that Bengal can be No. 1 and lead.
We invite you to conduct more meets like today in Bengal. Thank you.

State Agri Dept may open outlets in foreign cities

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West Bengal's indigenous aromatic rice varieties are all set to tickle taste buds globally with outlets being planned in major cities of the world.
State Agriculture Marketing Minister Mr  Arup Roy informed that the Tulaipanji and Gobindabhog variety with their mesmerising scent were sent to the 2012 London Olympics and showcased at 2014 Food Festival in London.
“We are now in discussion with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to open outlets in cities like New York, London, Singapore,” Mr Roy told during the ongoing Krishi Unnayan Mela (Farmers' Fair).
The three-day event has been organised by the State agriculture department and Confederation of Indian Industries at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vidyalaya campus.
Mr Roy said stress is being laid on promoting the aromatic indigenous species.”Apart from Tulaipanji, Gobindobhog certain other varieties will be sold at these outlets,” he said.

WB Govt launches Wi-Fi connectivity on two bus routes in Kolkata

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The state transport department today introduced internet connectivity in two air-conditioned Volvo buses as a pilot project.
Passengers on-board will get internet connectivity on their cell phones soon after they board the bus. Passengers from Garia to Airport and Golf Green to Airport route of the Calcutta State Transport Corporation's Volvo buses will get the internet connectivity.
The transport department with the help of a private telecom service provider today installed Wi-Fi system in the buses. Passengers will get a password to activate the system. Initially, there will be no charges for availing of the Wi-Fi services for a period of one month and each passenger will get two free sessions of Internet browsing of 36 minutes each.
Soon, the Wi-Fi system will be introduced in all Volvo and air-conditioned buses of the state run transport corporation's fleet, said state transport minister Madan Mitra. Kolkata is the first city in the country to have such a facility, Mr Mitra said.

WB Govt urges industrialists to invest in agriculture

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Senior cabinet ministers and bureaucrats of the West Bengal Government on Wednesday urged industrialists to invest in agriculture instead of looking forward to large manufacturing industries.
“You have to invest in agriculture. You must see the agriculture sector as an industry too,” said Subhasis Batabyal, parliament secretary of the state agriculture department.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the first Krishi Unnayan Mela that kicked off at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya at Mohanpur in Nadia. The three-day agriculture exhibition cum conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries will help to promote West Bengal as a technology friendly state in agriculture sector.
“The land to people ratio in West Bengal is becoming scarce. We cannot create extra land for industrialists. They will have to come up and invest in agriculture sector. There is ample scope in the agriculture sector and there are several avenues where West Bengal is still lagging. Why just invest in manufacturing sector?” said agriculture minister Purnendu Bose.
“If required the government will give you land. You invest capital. There can be good private-public-partnership in this sector. This apart there is also scope in agro-based industries,” said Bose.