Tag: কার্শিয়াঙ

The Hills are very close to my heart: Mamata Banerjee

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today laid the foundation stone of ‘Darjeeling Hill University’ at a function in Darjeeling, to commemorate Teachers’ Day. This university will come up at Mungpoo.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

Today is the birth anniversary of Dr Radhakrishnan, which is observed as Teachers’ Day. My tribute to all Siksha Gurus on this occasion. They are the pillars of our society, assets of the country.

Today we have honoured 60 teachers with ‘Siksha Ratna’ award and 13 schools have been awarded the ‘Best School’ award. We are also honouring Swapna Barman (who won Gold in Heptathlon at Asian Games). We are a poor government. We have to pay Rs 48,000 crore as instalment for the debt incurred by the previous Left Front Government. Yet, we try our best to help. We have given a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to Swapna’s mother and promised a government job to her brother. If she wants, we will give a government job to her also.

We are formulating a new Sports Policy so that our players can participate in international competitions. We are here to provide all help and cooperation.

Today is a day of pride for Darjeeling. We have laid the foundation of ‘Darjeeling Hill University’ today. We will name this campus after Tenzing Norgay. Another campus will come up which will be named after Kanchenjunga. One more campus will be named after Bhanu Bhakta ji.

The engineering college here will be connected to this university. We are setting up an education hub at Kurseong. Presidency University is also setting up a campus here. An education hub is coming up at Kalimpong also.

We have allocated 25 acres of land for ‘Darjeeling Hill University’. The subjects that will be taught here include, humanities, social sciences, media science, information technology, vocational training, tourism, travel management, tea management, horticulture, Himalayan Studies etc. The university will award diploma certificates also.

We have set up 23 universities in the last seven years, nine more are coming up. Foundation stone for a university named after Gandhiji will be laid on his birth anniversary. We are setting up a Greenfield university at Hooghly. Bishwa Bangla University is coming up at Bolpur. New universities are coming up Alipurduar and Jhargram also.

These new universities will help us spread the light of education. Students will no longer need to go outside to study. Darjeeling is known for its education infrastructure. Even the Prime Minister of Bhutan once told me he studied at Graham’s Home.

The police here is conducting a community development programme called ‘Rising Star’ – it is a commendable effort. Darjeeling is known for its talented music and dance performers. We have decided to organise a cultural festival in Darjeeling in 2019 with all the Asian countries.

We have distributed cycles to 1 crore students of classes IX to XII. Since it is difficult to ride a cycle in the hilly areas, we have decided to distribute school bags and raincoats to 28,000 students in the Hills. No one will be deprived.

Many new roads have been created in Darjeeling. The Hills are very close to my heart. We have formed a committee for the development of this region. They will prepare a report within six months with short term, mid-term and long term plans for development. We will explore ways of increasing employment opportunities, home tourism, industry, software, IT. I am confident this committee will be successful.

We started home tourism in Lamahatta for the first time. Thrust needs to be given to this sector. I would request the boards to construct 500 houses every year (instead of 1000) and spend rest of the funds for boosting home tourism.

Today we have given forest rights to 431 people for the first time. Land conversion will happen soon. This will solve a lot of problems.
I also had a talk with the chairman of Darjeeling municipality. I urged him to renovate the public clocks in the town. Lal Kothi will also be beautified. The Gandhi road in Darjeeling will be paved with paver blocks. Pedestrians will benefit because of that. Take small initiatives, make big impact.

I want Darjeeling Hills to prosper. I want you to stay happy. I want to see Darjeeling smiling, Kurseong smiling, Mirik smiling, Kalimpong smiling and Kunchenjunga smiling.

Nature is your biggest asset. You do not have to beg before others. Take a resolve to utilise your own resources and march ahead with pride. My best wishes to all.

Jai Hind. Bande Mataram.

We will work together for the progress of the Hill region, says CM

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today urged “my brothers and sisters in the hills” to work together for the progress and prosperity of the region. “Peace and cooperation are the key words, and not animosity,” she pointed out.

Crowds of people braved inclement weather to greet and cheer her when she arrived in the hills. At a public meeting in Kalimpong today, she started her speech by paying respect to Sherpa Tenzing Norgay on his birth anniversary. “He is the pride of the country”, she said.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government was very earnest and keen for the progress and betterment of the hill region and its people. “Kalimpong was made a separate district last year for this purpose. And I pay a visit every six months to see the progress that is being made. But if there are bandhs and strikes that go on for months, then the livelihood of the people will be seriously affected, and the prosperity of the region will be badly hampered.”

Tourism is the mainstay of income for Darjeeling and Kalimpong. People come to enjoy the beauty and climate of the hills, as well as the warm hospitality of its people. More tourism centres and homestays as well as appropriate industry must be set up so that the region can go ahead. An education hub is coming up at Kurseong by Presidency University. People from afar come to the hills for education as their are good institutions here. The government has earmarked land for the setting up of a university at Mongpu.

The Chief Minister also said that 300 poor families would be given ‘pattas’ (land rights) in Darjeeling soon. The Government had allotted Rs 96 crore for the progress of the eight hill boards. This was in addition to the Rs 557 crore given earlier. “We want that a proper audit of the expenditures from this fund is made, for this is the money of the common man.”  About 47,000 people had benefited from the programme.

The poor had been given housing, and 19,000 new toilets had been built. A hostel, mountaineering facilities, annual sports tournaments and other schemes have been initiated, and a “clean Darjeeling, green Darjeeling” drive had also been started. In the coming days, more people would get homes under the Gitanjali Housing scheme. “We want that people should live with respect and with their heads held high in their own homes.”

The Government was willing to cooperate in every way possible. “Those who will work well and cooperate with us would get further assistance. We have to strive together for the progress of the region like members of one family. I will pay visits regularly. We want to see that the people in the hills are always smiling,” she concluded.