Bangla Government ensuring sufficient and safe drinking water for all

Today, September 18, is World Water Monitoring Day. The Bangla Government has taken numerous measures to make drinking water available in every part of the State, and efforts are on towards achieving this. Piped Water Supply Schemes (PWSS) have been taken up across the state to make for healthy and happy lives.

The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department Minister, in his departmental budget for financial year (FY) 2018-19, has outlined a number of measures to achieve self-sufficiency in generation, storage and distribution of drinking water.

Vision 2020

The Bangla Government has adopted a plan called Vision 2020, which envisages permanent drinking water security at the rate of 70 litres per capita per day (lpcd) in the rural areas of the state.

According to the vision document, to ensure drinking water security, emphasis has been laid on piped water supply schemes with the objective to completely shift from hand-pumped tube-wells to piped water from house to house, in a phased manner.

Rural water supply programme

During FY 2017-18, as a part of the rural water supply programme, 2,411 water-scarce habitations, 610 water quality-affected habitations, 600 water source-less schools and 291 anganwadi centres have been covered with supply of drinking water.

Piped Water Supply Scheme (PWSS)

PWSSs are aimed at reducing the burden on women and children. During FY 2017-18, 114 such schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 1,451.60 crore were sanctioned. For FY 2018-19, 97 PWSSs have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 1,007.42 crore, benefitting a population of 24.61 lakh. This will raise the total number of commissioned PWSSs to 2,091 and rural population coverage to 55.54 per cent.

Water-testing laboratories

During FY 2017-18, 5,22,648 samples have been tested in the 217 laboratories, and through the Government’s On-site Mobile-based Water Analysis System, 11,800 samples have been tested at the source points and the results uploaded on the departmental website’s dashboard.

Bengal CM’s brainchild, Rupashree, highly successful in a short time

The Bengal Government is seeing a huge response to its scheme, Rupashree, rolled out across the State as recently as April 1 this year. The Government has received nearly 70,000 applications, of which it has accepted more than 47,233, sanctioning a total amount of more than Rs 118 crore.

The data is was provided by the Women and Child Development & Social Welfare Department, which is implementing the project.

The scheme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, provides a one-time financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to the family of a girl at the time of her marriage, if her family income is less than Rs 1.5 lakh per year.

Murshidabad tops in all the categories – number of applications received, disbursed (or, accepted) and the amount sanctioned. Till July 9, the numbers were 9237, 5288 and Rs 13.22 crore, respectively.

Purulia, South 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur are at numbers two, three and four, respectively. The numbers for Purulia are 5870, 5183 and Rs 12,95,75,000, for South 24 Parganas are 5460, 4640 and Rs 11.6 crore, and for Paschim Medinipur are 5274, 4026 and Rs 1 crore.

The State Government has allotted Rs 1,500 crore for the scheme and around 6 lakh families in all are expected be benefitted. More than 2,000 applications on an average are being received every day.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal CM flags off Banglashree Express buses

The Banglashree Express bus service between Kolkata and the district headquarters was flagged off by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today.

The air-conditioned Volvo bus service has been named such by the Chief Minister herself. The buses were flagged off in front of Nabanna. The decision to start the bus service was taken last March.

Twenty-two trauma care air-conditioned ambulances and 13 mechanical wrecker vans were also flagged off along with the buses.

The State Transport Department has already introduced 300 buses and there are projects in the pipeline to introduce more. In the beginning of June, five air-conditioned Volvo buses were introduced from Kolkata (Esplanade bus stand) to different places in north Bengal.

During the inauguration programme, the Chief Minister gave a short speech. Here are the highlights of her speech:

  • This new bus service is an effort on the Government’s part to extend another facility for the public. The Banglashree bus service would ensure that people face much less problem in travelling from far-off places to Kolkata.
  • The mechanical wrecker vans would be used to recover cars which have broken down. Ideally one should check properly the condition of one’s car before venturing out.
  • One ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ sticker each would be stuck on the front and back of cars.to create more awareness about safe driving. The stickers would be in English, Bengali and Hindi. From July 18 to August 15, small children would be pasting the stickers.
  • Say and do things which reach the people at the grassroots. Our government always tries to do things in innovative ways, to take the fruits of development to all levels of society.
  • Though we don’t have high-speed trains, we have started high-speed buses. Before the Pujas, we are going to start running 80 SC buses all over Kolkata.

 

Bengal ranks number 1 nationally, in multiple spheres

In May 2011, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, established efficient governance in Bengal, with the Government of Maa, Mati, Manush. On May 27, 2016, through a historic verdict, the Government was sworn in for the second time in a row.

On the anniversary of this historic day, the Government of Maa, Mati, Manush rededicates itself to the service of people.

In the last seven years, Bengal has witnessed phenomenal growth in development and prosperity. Today, due to the unfaltering efforts of the State Government, Bengal ranks number 1 nationally, in multiple spheres.

The present day Government has achieved comprehensive development in multiple sectors including education, health, agriculture, industry, transport, culture etc. The State has set a shining example in maintaining communal harmony.

Bengal is no. 1 in the country with respect to the following:

• Generation of man-days and expenditure under the ‘100 Days’ Work’ scheme

• Construction of rural houses and establishment of rural connectivity

• Sanction of loans for the minorities as well as scholarships for minority students

• Provision of loans for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

• Skill Development

• Ease of Doing Business

• Transparency in work and highest number of contracts allotted via e-tendering

Awards and accolades received by the State:

• The ‘Kanyashree’ scheme of the State conferred with the 1st prize in the United Nations Public Service Award category

• The State’s ‘Kanyashree’ scheme conferred with the ‘National e-governance Award’

• The significant role of gram panchayats, with respect to Decentralised Planning, awarded by the Government of India

• ‘Skoch Smart Governance Award’, in the sphere of health services, for the innovative practices of ‘Fair Price Medicine Shop’, ‘Diagnostic Centre’, as well as for the provision of ‘Critical Care Facility’ below the district level

• ‘Krishi Karman’ award in agriculture for 5 consecutive years

• Declared as the ‘Best State’ at the ‘All India Skill Competition’ for 3 years

• ‘Tantuja’ conferred with National Award for ‘Marketing in Handloom Products’ and appreciated by ‘NITI Aayog’

• Award by ‘IPPAI’ for the electrification of rural households

• ‘Skoch Smart Governance Award’ in the labour sector

• 6 municipalities of the State honoured with the ‘International C-40 Award’ for solid waste management

• Received the first prize for ‘Chhau Dance’ of Bengal the Republic Day Parade in one year, while bagging the first prize for tableau of ‘Bauls of Bengal’ in another year

• CSI-Nihilent Award for i-Budget and e-Governance. Bengal is the first State to introduce online payment through e-Kuber of RBI and the Human Resource Management System

 

As we complete a journey of seven years, we pledge anew to serve the people of the State to ensure holistic development, with unwavering passion.

Seven remarkable years of the Government of Maa, Mati, Manush

In May 2011, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, established efficient governance in West Bengal, with the Government of Maa, Mati, Manush. On May 27, 2016, through a historic verdict, the government was sworn in for the second time in a row.

On the anniversary of this historic day, the Government of Maa, Mati, Manush rededicates itself to the service of people.

In the last seven years, Bengal has witnessed phenomenal growth in development and prosperity. Nearly 90% of the State’s population has benefited from various public services. 90% of the State’s population is provided with food grains at a subsidised rate, under the ‘Khadya Sathi’ scheme. Apart from this, the Government has also taken initiatives such as ‘Sabujshree’, ‘Kanyashree’, ‘Sikshashree’, ‘Sabuj Sathi’, ‘Sishu Sathi’, ‘Yuvashree’, ‘Rupashree’, ‘Manabik’, and ‘Samabyathi’, to name just a few.

These schemes have made available a plethora of services to all citizens, including members of scheduled castes, tribes, minorities, and OBCs.

As we complete a journey of seven years, we pledge anew to serve the people of the State to ensure holistic development, with unwavering passion.

Glimpses of the progress achieved in seven years:

• The average family income of the farmers of the State has undergone a three-fold increase

• Over 90 lakh individuals have secured employment, 144 crore man-days have been generated and the unemployment rate has fallen by almost 40%

• The healthcare budget has been increased by 6 times. 42 super-speciality hospitals have been constructed, and free treatment, diagnosis and medicines, in all government hospitals, have been facilitated

• 22 universities, 48 colleges, 155 ITIs and 81 polytechnics have been established

• As compared to 2011, the expenditure on agriculture and its allied sectors has grown by 7 times

• The budgetary outlay for minority development has been raised by 8 times and almost 1.71 crore minority students have been provided with scholarships worth approximately Rs 4900 crore

• Almost 26,000 km of rural roads have been constructed/renovated and the construction/renovation of another 13,000 km of roads has been initiated

• Homestay facility in the tourism sector of the state has grown by 30%, which has resulted in the employment of a substantial number of people

• Financial assistance has been extended to 18,000 clubs for the development of sports infrastructure

• The quarter final, semi final and final matches of FIFA Under-17 World Cup were successfully organised, thereby winning the commendation of the whole world

• The revenue collection of the State has escalated by almost 2.5 times

• The average deficit, in terms of SGST collection all over the country, is 18%. On the other hand, Bengal, after recovering its 33% deficit, was left with a surplus of 3%

Bengal Govt coming up with state-of-the-art library at Nazrul Tirtha

Nazrul Tirtha in New Town, planned and named by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a major cultural centre of the Bengal Government will soon get a state-of-the-art library. It will be constructed by the Government agency, Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).

The proposed library will come up on the third and fourth floors of Nazrul Tirtha. It will be a library with all modern facilities. Like all modern libraries, there will be cubicles for research scholars, which they can hire. There will be some rooms too. There will be both text and reference books of all the subjects. There will be a children’s section as well. Books will also be available online. Books on career counselling and foreign language will be kept at the library too.

A smart card will be given to the members. There will be a drop box where members can drop their books when the library remains closed or they are moving out of the city. Steps will be taken to stop damage of books and their theft.

At Nazrul Tirtha, an archive on Kazi Nazrul Islam has been set up. A library has also been set up at Swapno Bhor, also in New Town, which is the only senior citizen’s park in Bengal.

Source: Millennium Post

The image is representative