West Bengal is witnessing rapid growth and progress under the leadership of Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee. From MSME sector to 100 Days Work, from a successful business trip to Singapore to the creation of a new district – Alipurduar, a surge of development is going on in different sectors.
Here are the 14 BIG achievements of the West Bengal Government in 2014:
1. MSME
In terms of Bank lending, West Bengal has grown at the highest pace. Bank lending to MSME sector has gone up by 105%. In 2014 WB Govt has set up 152 new clusters in three years of our Government in the MSME, Handloom and Khadi Sector, that will generate jobs for 4 lakh people.
2. Singapore Business Trip:
Mamata Banerjee headed for a 5 day trip to Singapore. She met with the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister of the Singapore and a host of business heads of Singapore. More than a dozen business dealings were commenced. Pact was signed with InfraCo Asia, Axsys Technologies and Compass Energy Pte Ltd, GIC and others. It opened new doors of understanding between Kolkata and Singapore.
3. Uttar Kanya :
The establishment of the Branch Secretariat of Government of West Bengal at Uttar Kanya, Dabgram, is another bold initiative taken by the present Government, after the creation of North Bengal Development Department. This will cater to the needs of 22% population residing in 24% of the total area of the state comprising of 7 districts. This not only signals the honest & sincere intention of the Government towards the overall development of North Bengal but this is the first such instance in the country. The first administrative meeting was held on 11th February, chaired by the CM Ms Mamata Banerjee.
4. Kanyashree Dibas:
Every year, 14th August is celebrated as the Kanyashree Dibas. The Chief Minister opened the Kanyashree Prakalpo, which consists of an annual stipend of Rs 500 for girls aged between 13 to 18, studying in school and providing one time grant of Rs 25,000 to unmarried girl between the age to 18 and 19 and who are undergoing study or training. About 11 lakh girls have already been enlisted and another 8 lakh sanctioned. It has been given international recognition by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and UNICEF.
5. No. 1 in 1o0 Days’ Work Scheme:
West Bengal ranked No.1 in the country in terms of expenditure under 100-days work in 2013-14. The State exceeded the budget and recorded highest-ever expenditure of more than Rs 5600 Crore.
6. Fair Price Shops:
Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee constantly monitored the market prices and met with the task force to keep the prices of foods in control. The Govt rolled out fair price seed shops, fair price vegetable shops and prices of the food grains were kept under close watch. The Government is also launching Fair Price Diagnostic Centres.
7. Boost for Culture:
Kolkata is often called the Cultural Capital of India. Two important developments that took place in the year 2014 is the inauguration of the Nazrul Tirtha and Mothers Wax Museum. Nazrul Manch which mainly hosts music gags has been renovated with better acoustic.
8. New District of Alipurduar:
2014 is the year to remember for the people of North Bengal. The new district was formally formed on 25 June. CM Ms Mamata Banerjee officially announced the formation of Alipurduar district at a function held at Alipurduar parade ground.
9. ‘Power’-ful achievements:
West Bengal is no more a power-deficit state in 2014. There has been huge capacity building in the last 3 years. In Jan 2014, WBSEDCL had crossed 1 crore 35 lakh subscriber which is a mile stone for Bengal. Bengal received the third position in Best State Power Utility Award for providing 24X7 power supply. WBSEB received the second prize for management excellence and the first prize was awarded to CESC.
10. New buses, new routes:
2014 has been a year of rapid expansation of routes and new buses. Almost more than a double dozen new routes are opened with more than 700 new buses launched. New, no-refusal AC and non-AC taxis are also launched. Some AC buses have been made Wi-Fi enabled and ‘smart buses’ are being rolled out.
11. World Bank’s Award for Gram Panchayats of West Bengal:
WB Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee announced that under the World Bank Project on Institutional Strengthening, 986 out of 999 Gram Panchayats of Bengal have qualified for award of block grant of around Rs. 20 lakh each
12. Awards Galore:
In 2014, West Bengal was adjudged as the Best State in All India Skill Competition 2013. Kolkata received the safest city award by India Today group. The e-Abgari project of the Excise Department, West Bengal has bagged the Platinum Award conferred by the Skoch Foundation. During the Republic Day parade at New Delhi, the state’s tableaux won the first prize.
13. Boost for Tourism:
WB CM visited Sagar Islands and Sunderbans with a delegation of industrialists who pledged to invest in the development of tourism infrastructure in these areas. The CM announced plans to develop a deep sea port at Sagar while eco-tourism would be the focus at Sunderbans.
14. Visit to Amlashole
Amlashole is the poorest village of the State which hit the headlines years back due to starvation deaths. No Chief Minister in the past ever cared to visit Amlashole. It was Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee who visited Amlashole earlier this year, and took a slew of projects like creation of road from Kankrajhore to Amlashole, schools and others.
Written by: Agnivo Niyogi and Sanmit Sarkar
