100th administrative meeting – Extract of BBC story

Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal and one of India’s leading politicians, Mamata Banerjee achieved an unusual distinction today by attending her one hundredth ‘administrative review meeting’ outside of her designated office.

Her office claims that she is the first leader ever to have addressed one hundred formal review meetings during her tenure – and emphasises that she has accomplished this away from the administrative headquarters.

”This is ‘century’ of a different sort, where all the runs were collected in ‘away’ matches”, says MP Derek O’Brien, Parliamentary leader of Ms Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress.

The state of West Bengal has traditionally been governed from the iconic Writers’ Building in Calcutta, which was built for writers or clerks of the British East India Company in 1977. The red-brick heritage building is reminiscent of when Calcutta was in its heydey as the capital of British India.

Mamata Banerjee’s government moved out of the historic building two years ago to allow for the much-needed renovation of the 238-year-old building. Her new secretariat, ‘Nabanna’, is a mere high-rise building across the river Ganges.

However, Ms Banerjee has shown that she prefers to conduct meetings away from either the Writers’ Building or Nabanna – to the point where she has now reached a milestone by presiding over the one hundredth meeting in Burdwan, a district town 100 kilometerss away from Calcutta.

The Chief Minister’s office claims that she has touched upon every single district of West Bengal in this process and that this is a remarkable achievement in allowing the ‘devolution of power’ to grassroots movements.

100th administrative meeting – A celebration of governance at Burdwan

West Bengal Chief Minister today conducted her 100th administrative review meeting at Sanskriti Lokmancha at Burdwan. The meeting, which was attended by officials of state government from CMO to BDO, also saw the presence of dignitaries from various walks of life.

WB CM conducted the whole meeting like a freewheeling chat with her officials. Inquiring about each sector, she took stock of various projects in the district. She reviewed the performance of different departments of the state government during the meeting.

WB CM said that by conducting these meetings, the government has been able to reach out to the grassroots. She said that the administration prepares a report card for the district ahead of such meetings. “We have developed an Administrative Calendar. We introduced Right to Public Services,” she added.

Citing that the government has spent Rs 76000 crore only for paying instalments for the debt incurred by previous government, WB CM said she was working for the people despite financial crunch.

 

Highlights of WB CM’s speech at the meeting:

  • We have set up 5 new police commissionerates, 77 new police stations, 88 fast track courts.
  • We have advanced by leaps and bounds in developing the districts directly.
  • We have won Krishi Karman award for three years in a row. We have received several global recognition.
  • Jangalmahal is smiling. There is peace in Darjeeling. Over 40 multi super speciality hospitals are coming up.

 

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WB CM interacting with officials at Burdwan 

 

  • We have made beds and medicines at govt hospitals free at block/sub-divisional hospitals.
  • There were only 6 SNCUs in Bengal. We have increased the number to 55. We set up 285 SNSUs.
  • Over 22 lakh girls have been registered under Kanyashree scheme. 2 lakh girls will be registered on 14 August.
  • There were only 30 colleges in Bengal till 2011.We set up 31 new colleges. 9 new medical colleges have been set up.
  • We give monthly grants to folk artists. They perform at government functions. We are preserving our culture.
  • 3 crore people in the State are receiving rice at Rs 2 per kg. Bengal is a model for the rest of the country.
  • Our land use policy is transparent. We are against forcible acquisition. We have developed a land bank, land map. We have allotted 14000 acres of land from land bank for several industrial parks.

 

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A packed auditorium during the administrative meeting

 

  • We are happy that Bengal is being showcased as a model at various world forums. Our schemes like Kanyashree are being recognised by UN.
  • We have heard of Look East Policy. But we need implementation. We are exploring the idea of a business corridor involving Bengal and neighbouring countries. We have proposal of Rs 2000 Cr for infrastructure development at Petropole border. It will boost Indo-Bangla trade. We have heard of dedicated freight corridor. We are now talking of dedicated business corridor.
  • We are working towards mobile banking to extend the benefits of the direct benefit transfer.
  • Burdwan district has achieved 100% coverage of mid-day meal scheme and building of toilets at girls’ schools. Bengal has achieved 99% coverage of toilets in girls’ schools. We will soon reach 100% mark. Three districts from Bengal are among the Top 4 performers in Cleanliness Mission.

 

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The venue of the administrative review meeting

 

  • We are setting “Patha Sathi” motels at an interval of 30 km on highways for the benefit of tourists.
  • We are setting up 500 Karma Tirtha marketing hubs across the state. 271 are already in process.
  • We will not tolerate illegal mining. District administration must ensure. Govt loses revenue due to illegal mining.
  • Several dignitaries are present here today for the 100th Admin Meeting. We welcome them all.
  • We are starting “Tanti Sathi” scheme under which we will provide weaving machinery to weavers.
  • Loss of mandays due to strikes, bandhs has come down from 78 lakhs to zero in Bengal.
  • An MSME facilitation centre is coming up in Burdwan.
  • Law and order situation in Bengal is better than most other States. Any incident of violence is unwarranted.

100 schemes inaugurated at WB Govt’s 100th administrative meeting

The West Bengal Government today conducted the 100th Administrative Review Meeting of the districts in a big way with the launch of 100 schemes.

The Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of 100 projects and will distributed benefits to 100 people from the stage.

The projects are from the departments like Education, Health, Irrigation, MSME, SHG, Agriculture, PWD (flyovers and bridges), Women and Child Development, Urban Development.

The 100th administrative review meeting today was attended by all Cabinet Ministers, MPs and MLAs, secretaries and officials of all the departments, panchayat heads and district level officials.

The State Government had invited a galaxy of dignitaries, heads of different Banks, vice chancellors of all the State Universities and other distinguished personalities.

The hundred projects are as follows:

Inauguration

• Drinking water supply project at Gourbazar-Ichhapur, Jagara-Jagannathpur and at Ward No 4 of Guskura Municipality

• Pipelined drinking water supply project at Kulti on Kalnai II block, Madhabpur and at adjacent mouzas of Jamalpur block

• 33/11 KV power station at Kalikapur in Durgapur-Faridpur Block and at Ramnagar in Aushgram-ll Block

• Pather Sathi (Motel) at Guskura

• Concrete bridge over Damodar main canal at Belgram in Galsi-ll Block and over No 1 branch of the Eden canal in Memari-I Block

• Power administrative building at Kalna

• Desiltation of G-2 canal at Memari Block

• Construction of Metalled road from Jamtala Bus stop to Amirpur Village

• New office buildings for the block land & Land Reform Officers of Raina-I & ll,  Khandaghosh, Memari-ll, Manteshwar and Kanksa Block

• Agricultural implements hiring centre of Belari Co-operative Agricultural Development Society Ltd.

• Construction of Maathnullah at the mouzas of Chandul, Jhinguti, Kashimpur, Amar in Bardhaman I Block

• Construction of Maathnullah at the mouzas of Paraj, Pursa, Bhasapur, Khuraj, Potna Jagulipara in Galsi I Block

• Construction of Maathnullah at the mouzas of Aligram and Diyasa in Aushgram I Block

• Construction of Maathnullah at the mouzas of Jalalpur, Dariyapur, Panduk, Gopalpur, Maliyara, Ramnagar, Chandipur, Bahadurpur and Eral, in Aushgram II Bloc

• Construction of Maathnullah at the at the Bashishtapur mouza in Jamalpur Block

• Construction of Jorebandh at Jeetpur in Salanpur Block

• Major river water irrigation project at Siyali-Ill in Jamalpur Block and at Subaldaha in Raina-ll Block

• Medium riverwater irrigation project at Kamalnagar in Purbasthali-II Block

• Flood relief camp at Jamalpur Block

• Food & Supplies Godown at Galsi-ll, Kalna-I, Mangalkot, Manteshwar, Bardhaman-I Katoa-I, Ketugram-ll, Purbasthali-I, Bhatar, Memari-I and Aushgram-I Block

• Extension of Library Building of Durgapur Government College

• Boys’ Hostel of Sehara Bazar Rahmania Welfare Trust

• Minorities Girls’ Hostel of Asansol Municipal Corporation and in Kadampukur & Mangalkot High Madrasa

• Agricultural College at Susunia in Bankura

Laying of Foundation Stone

• Multi Super speciality Hospital at Kalna

• Development of the infrastructure including roads in the Industrial Hub of Panagarh

• Court building and Bungalow at Asansol

• New building in Bardhaman Municipality

• Renovation of the bridge over Banka river at Birhata

• 33/11 K.V. Power Sub-Station at the Industrial Hub of Panagarh

• Bus Stands renovation at Maldanga and Kusumgram in Monteswar Block

• Construction of the roads from Chhora MSK to Chhora colony in Aushgram-ll Block, from National Highway-ll to Andal Police Station in Andal Block, from Laskarbandh to Bangram at Durgapur-Faridpur Blcok and from Morgram Statehighway to Amindanga in Kanksa Block

• Construction of metalled roads from Suri to National Highway-ll atJhinguti in Bardhaman—I Block and from Khanpukur Bankmore to Rayan village

• Construction of cement concrete roads from Senraleigh Crossing to Kapatia Scheduled Tribe village in Asansolo Construction of concrete roads at Sukantapally in Belkash Gram Panchayet in Bardhaman-I Block and from Shantipara Mandirtala in Saraitikar village to Bhasapara Children Education Centre 0 Strengthening of roads from Nutanhat to Phutisanko crossing

• Strengthening and expansion of the roads from Kumarpurto Chakta, from Guskara to Kasemnagar, from Asansol to Barakar (GT. Road] and from Chhora to Bhatkunda to Mankaro Development ofthe roads from Rasulpur to Khandaghosh to Chalkpurohit, Palsit Nabasta in Memari-I Block, from Baharan to Salar in Ketugram—II Block, from Shreebati to Terrakota Temple in Katwa—II Block and the Siladhaora road adjacent to the old B.D.0. Office in Barabani Block

• Development of the Metalled roads from Panchgachhia Bank crossing to Kamala Girls High school and from Panchgachhia Hindi School to Manoharbahal village via P.M.V.V. High School

• Illumination of the roads from Nababhat to Go|apbag—Purbasha Bus Stand — Po|iceline—Parabirhata crossing

• Piped lined drinking water supply project at Pubar and adjacent in Aushgram -ll Block

• New office buildings for the block Land & Land Reforms Officers in Bardhaman-I, Ketugram-I, Purbasth-ll and Durgapur-Faridpur Block 0Krishi Bhawan in Bardhaman Sadar Block

• Embankment of the left sided main canal in Galsi—I Block, at the left bank of the Damodar in between Amarpur Ghat and Nabokhando Ghat, at the right bank of the Damodar near Aamrul village in Khandoghosh Block and at the left sided main canal i Durgapur-Faridpur & Kanksa Block

• Reconstruction of concrete Bridges overthe panagarh branch canal in Galsi — I block and the left sided main canal at Adrahati village in Golsi — ll Block

• Upgradation ofthe Primary Health Centre at Kanchannagar in Bardhaman Municipal area and of Municipal Maternity Home in Jhurjhurpul, Alamgunge

• Rural Haat (Karmothirtho) at Haatgachha, Kalyanpur Gram Panchayat in Kalna-II Block

• Dwelling House for the Homeless people at Asansol Municipal Corporation area and installation of compactor Machine

• Construction of concrete roads and sewerage system at Subhash Palli in Durgapur Municipal Corporation area and at Saptarshi Park in Durgapur-Faridpur Block

• Renovation & Reconstruction of Silampur Primary Health Centre in Kanksa B|ock

• Boys’ Hostel (2nd Phase) for Hazrat Manikpir Samaj Vikash Kendra

• Katwa Modern Multi Disciplinary Veterinary Hospital

• Office of the Block Animal Resources Development Officer and Veterinary Health Centre in Purbasthali-I Block.

Providing Services

• Kanyashri

• Shikshashri

• Geetanjali

• Loan under Swami Vivekananda Swanirvar Prokalpo

• Gatidhara

• Nijo Griho Nijo Bhumi

• Aamar Fasal, Aamar Gari

• Aamar Fasal Aamar Gola

• Parivar Suraksha Prakalpo

• Ex—gracia Grant

• Assistance to the farmers affected by hailstorm

• Subsidy for construction of centres for hiring agricultural implements

• One time grant for electrification of the pumpsets to be used in irrigation for agriculture

• Distribution of agricultural implements on subsidy

• Assistance for harvesting flowers and vegetables in protected manner in the polygreen house

• Distribution of sports equipments

• Mahila Samriddhi Yojona

• Loan to scheduled caste finance and development project

• Identity cards for artisans

• Financial assistance to educational institutions for purchasing of sports equipments

• Distribution of hygienic thermo-insulated boxes, cycles fitted with hygienic thermo-insulated boxes and vehicles for carrying fish to the fish sellers

• Assistance to the workers in unorganised sectors under Provident Fund scheme

• Assistance to the construction and transport workers under social security scheme

• Financial Assistance to the folk artistes

• Equipments for handlooms

• Distribution of cycles

• Term Loan

• Indira Abas Yojona

Dignitaries praise WB Govt’s 100th administrative meeting

The 100th administrative meeting of the West Bengal government was conducted in style today.

Galaxy of stars

A host of dignitaries — social thinkers, bankers, economists, health-care experts, vice-chancellors, parliamentary leaders of political parties, editors, poets and artists — were present on the occasion. They were joined by cabinet ministers and bureaucrats at the 100th administrative meeting.

Anuradha Lohia, Vice Chancellor of Presideny University, said, “We have received immense cooperation and help from State Govt. We hope we will continue to receive the support and cooperation in future.”

Amitava Sarkar, Director of IISWBM, said that this meeting was a lesson in administration and management. He was echoed by Ajoy Kr Ray, Director of IIEST, Shibpur and Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay from Indian Statistical Institute.

Sharing his personal experience of how he has seen development at grassroots, economist Abhirup Sarkar said, “The fact that the entire Secretariat travels to districts is historic.”

Terming the 100th administrative review meeting historic, poet Subodh Sarkar said that he will never forget this experience.

Trinamool MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said this model of administrative review meetings was a lesson for not only the rest of India but the entire world.

Decentralised governance

The whole idea is to take stock of government’s delivery mechanism at the grassroots level and free-wheeling exchange of ideas among intelligentsia for greater good of the society in different spheres of life, said a senior state government official.

Such a decentralised approach for reaching out to the grassroots consistently is rare in India. Guided by Mamata Banerjee, government officials regularly go to the villages to monitor the performance of every department vis-a-vis the district-level demands. It helps solve problems faster and speeds up decision-making.

The presence of a large group of officials makes inter-departmental cooperation easier.

Reaching out to grassroots

WB CM Mamata Banerjee made it a routine to take the entire administration — right from the chief secretary and home secretary to departmental secretaries and police top brass — to the district where they meet the ground-level delivery system, including cops, regional transport officers, block level executives, agriculture officers and scientists. A lot of issues get resolved on the spot.

The delivery mechanism, has improved to such a level that some of the fiercest critics have clammed up. Several states now want to replicate the model for developing a better delivery mechanism.

WB CM inaugurates a mobile app for Burdwan district

In a first initiative in Bengal, the Burdwan district administration launched ‘Smart Burdwan’, a portal and a mobile app. Everything you have wanted to know about the district will now be at your fingertips.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited Burdwan for her 100th administrative meeting, commemorated the occasion by launching this portal and app.

Service of the people

One will be able to lodge complaints against departments such as PWD as well as the municipalities, the panchayat samiti, block and sub-divisional offices regarding basic infrastructure – roads, drinking water, drainage and so on.

Also, all contact information of these departments or entities can now be accessed via this app. This app can also be used to access the contact numbers of police stations, fire and emergency services, electricity, cooking gas, and so on, thereby bringing all these under a single window.

In addition, information on educational courses, admission procedure, infrastructure, placement will also be available. All details about schemes such as Kanyashree, minority scholarships, vocational training, industrial training can be accessed through this app.

To prevent the distress sale of agricultural commodities, a voice interactive system has been developed by C-DAC, which is supposed to be launched on July 15.

WB CM not going to NITI Aayog meeting because of the historic 100th administrative meeting

July 15 is a historic day for the Trinamool Congress Government of West Bengal. On this day, the 100th administrative meeting of the State Government is going to be held, which would be presided over by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This is the first time since independence that a Chief Minister has undertaken 100 such CM-to-BDO meetings, spread over all the districts.

This meeting was scheduled a long time back, and hence Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s schedule for July 15 was decided much before the NITI Aayog meeting on the issue of land acquisition was called.

The party’s view on land acquisition is well known. It was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had undertaken a 26-day fast on the issue. It was Trinamool Congress that moved a resolution in Parliament opposing the 2013 Land Acquisition Bill. The 2013 Bill was opposed by only one party in Parliament – Trinamool Congress, which even called for a division of votes.

The above reasons for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s inability to attend the NITI Aayog meeting has been communicated clearly in a letter to the Prime Minister.