Tag: Bangla

The dictatorial Modi Govt must go: Mamata Banerjee

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today addressed a meeting of the extended core committee of the party. She gave directions to the party workers and leaders regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Mamata Banerjee said the situation in the country is dangerous and the country needs ‘poriborton’ (change).

Highlights of her speech:

Those who do not have any work, only give speeches. Their only work is to give bhashan.

They have completely ‘captured’ Doordarshan. They are misusing all the agencies. They are spending more money on PR than funding projects.

From job security to national security, internal security to farmers’ security, unemployment to demonetisation – we witnessed a disaster in India for the last five years

India’s cultural heritage, unity, federal structure, institutions, constitution, history – everything has been destroyed

There is RSS stamp on everything today. They follow an extremist ideology, spreading hate and violence

Even journalists who question the government are being harassed, whether on social media or even threatened at their homes

There is no rule of law in the country.

In Bangla, we said “Bodla noy, bodol chai” (we want change not revenge). But that is not the case in UP

All the thieves have united. All the CBI-ED ponthis (followers) have united.

They do not follow the basic courtesies in politics

Wearing a fetti (scarf) on head, they are spreading hate. We respect the sadhus of Bharat Sevasram Sangha or Ramakrishna Mission. But not these people

If you come across any rumour mongering in your area, in case someone tries to incite riots, inform the police

Whether it is Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, our MPs have the best performance. They have worked with their heads held high even in this atmosphere of fear

Whenever our MPs have tried to speak out against the government, they start a CBI investigation against them

Since 1995, I have been demanding electoral reforms. We want state funding of election. Small parties cannot match the funding of larger parties

The economy of the country has become a disaster

There is an atmosphere of hate prevailing in the country. They are creating divisions between people. This has never happened before

They are using social media to spread fake news. They are using pictures of UP or some other place and claiming the incident happened here. Their entire politics rests on lies

They are trying to “create” an atmosphere of threat by holding bike rallies at midnight.

CPI(M)-Congress bhai bhai – we have seen that already. We are least bothered about them

In the Panchayat elections Jagai-Madhai-Bidaai (CPI(M)-Congress-BJP) had an understanding in many places

Despite the huge debt burden, we have extended the Swasthya Sathi scheme to 7.5 crore people

We have waived off khajna tax and mutation fees on agricultural land

We are paying the full premium of crop insurance scheme for the farmers

We have started a new Krishak Bandhu scheme. Farmers will receive Rs 5,000 annually for every acre of land

Some people with ulterior motives are spreading rumours to incite communal tension

Let us take the pledge today to remove the dictatorial Modi regime from power

When they go out of power, truth about their financial corruption will come to light

Jagai-Madhai, the ‘brothers in arms’, who came to power after riots, are running the government

No one had the gumption to protest against their misdeeds, except us

We want poriborton in India. We want Modi-Amit Shah to be ousted

We had earlier said ‘Du hajar unish, BJP finish’. BJP hatao, Desh bachao

The government had intelligence input about Pulwama attack. Why were jawans not airlifted? Why were roads not sanitised?

They want to do politics over the dead bodies of jawans. People will not be fooled.

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time

Workers are the biggest assets in Trinamool.

A true leader takes everyone along. A true leader rises from the ranks through action

Does he (Modi) do anything else apart from posing for the cameras?

They might try to manipulate the EVMs. Our workers must be trained about VVPAT machines

They are dreaming of winning 23 seats in Bangla by tampering EVMs. We will show them

The days of Maddy babu are over. The days of arrogance are over. They days of traitors are over

Bangla will show the way to the rest of the country

I have never seen such low-level politics in my life. This is politics of the absurd

We have to win 42 seats out of 42

Bangla Government honouring the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi

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January 30 is the death anniversary of the ‘Father of the Nation’, Mahatma Gandhi. His connection with Bangla had always been spiritual. The Bangla Government observes Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2 and his death anniversary on January 30, with due honour every year.

When India gained independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi had been residing in Gandhi Bhavan in Beliaghata, Kolkata. At present, Gandhi Bhavan also comprises a museum which showcases the charkha (spinning wheel) which he used when he resided here. Rare pictures of the Mahatma can also be found hung across the museum walls.

On the occasion of his death anniversary, here are some highlights of the Bangla Government’s tributary efforts towards Mahatma Gandhi:

  • This year’s Republic Day tableau depicted the time Gandhi ii spent in Bangla along with the great poet Rabindranath Tagore. The tableau depicted a picture of ‘Shyamoli’, the house where he lived in Santiniketan, and other imagery related to this phase of his life. The whole concept was conceived by Mamata Banerjee.
  • Mahatma Gandhi spent a considerable amount of time in this house in Beliaghata. The chief minister had launched the restoration work of the Gandhi Bhavan and the museum, worth Rs 3.5 crore, on the occasion of his birth anniversary on October 2, 2018.
  • The Bangla Government has set up a committee to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The chief minister is the chairperson of this 46-member committee, the first meeting of which was held on April 23, 2018.
  • Mamata Banerjee has also laid the foundation stone of a university named after Mahatma Gandhi in Tamluk in Purba Medinipur district.
  • Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary is observed as Sampriti Dibas across Bengal.
  • The State Government has introduced a scholarship scheme called ‘Medhabi Bhata’ and also designated a chair under his name in Calcutta University.
  • Apart from these, mention must also be made of a book due to be published by the Bangla Government containing all of Gandhi ji’s speeches, which will be released under the name, Father of the Nation.

File Photo

State Assembly passes Bill to give land rights to enclave dwellers

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The State Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a Bill to give land rights to enclave dwellers in north Bangla, ending an era of uncertain future for the people residing in those enclaves.

Bangladesh and India had exchanged a total of 162 enclaves on August 1, 2015, ending one of the world’s most-complex border disputes that had lingered for seven decades since Independence.

Moved by minister of state for land and land reforms, the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2018, was passed in the House unopposed.

Speaking in support of the Bill, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said this “historic Bill” would help the enclave dwellers to get full-fledged status as citizens of India, along with all civic amenities and citizenship rights.

The Bill will help in the distribution of land-right documents to the people of the enclaves in the border district of Cooch Behar, the chief minister said, adding that the state government was working hard to give beneficiaries their due.

In Cooch Behar, 111 Indian enclaves, spread across 17,160 acres, became a part of Bangladesh territory and 51 Bangladesh enclaves, comprising 7,110 acres, joined India.

The enclave residents were allowed to either reside at their present location or move to the other country.

Around 37,334 people residing in the enclaves in the Indian side refused to go to Bangladesh, whereas 922 enclave dwellers, who were in the Bangladesh side, preferred to be in India, Banerjee said.

With the exchange of enclaves, following an agreement between the two countries with the consent of West Bengal, the enclave dwellers deserve their rights as the citizens of India, she said.

The state government had already spent over Rs 100 crore for the housing of the enclave dwellers, Banerjee said, adding that the government, which have received Rs 579 crore from the Centre, still had a due of Rs 426 crore. However, the state government needs to spent more from its own exchequer.

The process will result in creation of 13 new ‘mouzas’ (administrative district), while the rest of the area would be amalgamated with the existing 31 ‘mouzas’, the bill said. Plot-to-plot verification has already been undertaken to ascertain the ownership status of the land to the dwellers, who now reside on khas land.

Describing how her government helped settle the long-pending issue, Banerjee criticised the way genuine citizens were being harassed in Assam.

Those, who have come to India till March 1971, are all Indian citizens, “but a particular political party” was playing politics on the issue, forcing the genuine citizens even to commit suicide, she said.

We invite Italian companies to invest in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

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Earlier today, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke at a business meet in Milan, Italy jointly organised by ASSOLOMBARDA, Italian Trade Commission, FICCI and the Bengal Government. It was attended by potential investors from Italy.

She spoke on the strengths of Bengal and on the synergies that Italy and Bengal can create in various sectors. At the business meet there were detailed discussions on the possibilities of investment from Italy in sectors like infrastructure, manufacturing, design and innovation, ICT, leather, textiles, agro-processing, tourism and automobiles.

Here is what she said, while addressing the Italian investors:

Italy and Bengal are very similar in nature because Italy had their Renaissance in the 16th century and in Bengal too a Renaissance happened, in the 19th century. There is a big similarity. You have the art, the culture, the technology, the systems, the mechanisms, you have had so many renowned artists, and everybody says that Bengal is the cultural capital of the world. Bengal has produced so many renowned sons of the soil, like Tagore and and Netaji. You have so many experts from the fields of leather and technology. We respect all. We also love your foods, like pasta. We love your football too. Bengal is a land of football lovers, and we love Italian football too. Everybody is proud of Italy’s prowess in football.

I had come to Italy earlier, to the Vatican, on an invitation from them, in September 2016 when Mother Teresa received sainthood. Mother Teresa belongs to Kolkata. The Missionaries of Charity’s headquarters is there, and we maintain the best of relations with them.

You have so many industrial partners in India, about 600, and you have invested in Bengal too. We want to build up further on our relationship. Italian companies have invested in India in sectors like transportation, food processing, textiles, electronic equipment, leather technology, etc. The relation between Italy and Bengal can be scaled up. We are taking major steps in setting up design centres; Italy can be a major partner in that too.

Throughout history, Bengal has produced so many luminaries in so many fields. Now Bengal believes that Bengal means business. We have social commitment as well as commercial commitments. With respect to the former, we give free treatment to the downtrodden and we encourage empowerment of the girl child; we have policies to suit every stage of a person’s life – we give free saplings when a child is born, we provide money for cremation to the families which can’t afford it.

With respect to business, it is important to remember the strategic location of Bengal. It has historically been the centre of business; it is the gateway to South and South-East Asia – to Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur. This is why Bengal has a major role to play. Bengal serves as a major hub in the trade route to south-east Asian countries, to the landlocked nations of Nepal and Bhutan, and to north-east India too – the eight sister States. Bengal’s population is also very significant.

If you look at the GSDP growth rate, that is, gross state domestic product, for 2017-18, at constant price, it is 9.15 per cent, compared to a growth in GDP for India at 6.7 per cent. Bengal has a higher growth in every sector, from agriculture to industry to services.

Italy has great experience in various technical fields whereas Bengal has skilled manpower, an aspect in which we are number one in India. Bengal has talented manpower at a price which is cheaper than in other parts of India, and the world as well. Bengal leads in education and culture. In skilled manpower, the MSME sector and e-governance, we are number one in India. In ease of doing business too, we are number one.

We also believe in grassroots development. We believe that like two sisters, agriculture and industry must live together, and in both, Bengal is doing very good. We have a land policy and a ready land bank. We have power available for industry 24×7. We also have rural electricity connectivity. The number of man-days lost has come down from about 80 billion to zero. An industry-friendly policy is also there, so too an MSME policy, a textile policy, an IT policy, an agricultural policy and a tourism policy. We also have food security, a health-for-all policy in the form of Swasthya Sathi, housing policy for the poor, environment policy, environment-friendly transport system and provide education for the marginalised people.

Our beauty is that we all work together – all castes, creeds and communities. We do not differentiate on this count. We believe that humanity is like a family.

Bengal has a great potential in the leather industry. We have a leather hub. You, the Italians, are famous for your leather industry. So we can use your experience and you can transfer your technology for our growth. So let us all work together. Italy is great in technology and Bengal is great in steel and mining.

We invite Italian companies to invest in Bengal. If you have the vision, Bengal has the mission, if you have the action, Bengal has the reaction, if you have the technology, Bengal has the manpower. So if you want to compare, we are like twin sister states – India and Italy. I believe our Indian government, our embassy will give full support to Italian industry. We are like a family. You invest your money in Bengal, and in other regions of India too. India is like your sweet home.

Action plan for uplifting farmers through irrigation schemes and water harvesting

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The Water Resources Investigation and Development (WRI&D) Department has been able to mark its footprints in the surge of development in the spheres of minor and micro irrigation, water conservation projects, rainwater harvesting, etc.

Here are the priority areas that the department has decided to focus its efforts on: 

  • Providing assured irrigation to small and marginal farmers through the operation, maintenance and management of minor irrigation (MI) installations
  • Increasing area of irrigated land through implementing of additional MI schemes across the State, including continuing with solar power-based minor irrigation schemes in some districts
  • Implementing micro-irrigation techniques, viz. sprinkler, drip, hydram, etc. for enhancing efficiency of water usage
  • Through Jalatirtha scheme, bringing additional areas under the coverage of irrigation in the arid zone districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, in the Sundarbans regions of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas to address the issue of salinity, and in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts
  • Through Jal Dharo-Jal Bharo scheme, implementing large-scale harvesting of rainwater in all kinds of waterbodies, both natural and artificial (implementing techniques artificial recharge of rainwater), in convergence with schemes like MGNREGS, with special emphasis on drought-prone areas
  • Better utilising surface water through implementing major medium and mini river lift irrigation (RLI) techniques, and surface flow minor irrigation schemes (SFMIS), including rejuvenating old SFMISs, constructing water harvesting tanks (WHT) and check dams, etc.
  • Implementing Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme to reduce the gap between irrigation potential created (IPC) and irrigation potential utilised (IPU)
  • Improving governance in water management through formation of water user associations
  • Implementing all other aspects of the West Bengal Ground Water Resources (Management, Control and Regulation) Act for the proper utilisation of groundwater

 

Thus, through better utilisation of ground water and rainwater, implementing techniques for increasing irrigation, and improving the management of this natural resource, in general, the WRI&D Department is aiming to fulfil the aspirations of farmers across the State.

Mamata Banerjee – The face of the land movement in Bangla

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Mamata Banerjee has been the face of the land movement in Bangla. It was she who fearlessly fought against the tyranny of the Left Front Government during the Singur and Nandigram movements.

In 2006, the Left-led Government acquired 997 acres of multi-crop land for a car factory in Singur. The forcible acquisition, which was made under the colonial Land Acquisition Act of 1894, led to protests all over Bangla, led by Mamata Banerjee. She even went on a hunger strike for 26 days for the sake of farmers’ rights.

In 2011, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of Bangla after the people voted in large numbers for a change of guard in the State. Since then, the Government has taken up numerous initiatives for land reforms.

Here are some of the most important achievements:

Singur verdict

In compliance with the landmark verdict of the Hon. Supreme Court of India, land amounting to almost 980 acres, situated within the erstwhile Singur Project Area, has been returned to almost 12,000 families dispossessed by the project, after making the land suitable for cultivation.

New Land Bill

Following the footsteps of Bangla, the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 24, 2015. The Bill replaced the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014.

Land Policy

From 2011 to 2018, many important policy decisions have been taken for achieving better administration, regulation and management of land:

In a bold policy initiative, the State Government has decided to waive tax on agricultural land. This will go a long way in not only mitigating hardships faced by farmers but also boosting agricultural output and income.

The Land Allotment Policy was formulated in financial year (FY) 2012-13 in order to introduce uniformity, reduce discretion and ensure transparency while dealing with public assets. The policy laid down a transparent process for allotments of land along with the terms for such allotments.

The Land Purchase Policy was introduced in FY 2014-15 to enable the State Government and its parastatal agencies to purchase land for infrastructure projects through a process of direct negotiation with willing landowners against just compensation and incentives. The scope of this policy was extended to land purchase for Central Government departments as well in FY 2016-17. The stated policy of the State Government is that there will be no forceful acquisition of land. The purchase policy of the Government is thus consent-based and transparent. So far, the Standing Committee on Industry, Infrastructure and Employment has cleared direct purchase of about 950 acres for various projects of public importance.

The State Land Use Board has developed a Land Bank of available land in all the districts of Bangla with a view to ensuring availability of land for infrastructural development for industries and other developmental work, including ­flagship projects of the State.

Amendments to Section 14Y of the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955 were carried out in 2014 to broaden the scope of the section. Now entrepreneurs may, with prior permission of the Government, utilise ceiling-surplus land to set up units for various industrial and social infrastructural activities in sectors like information technology, shipbuilding, township, transportation terminal and logistics hub, in addition to existing sectors.

Land Use Map

Utilising the concept of index-linked land use, zoning maps were introduced in FY 2011-12 for the use of investors. Land Use Maps broadly contain parameters like dry/ barren land, single-crop land, double/ multi-crop land, forest land, metalled roads, national /state highways, railway network, waterbodies, etc.

Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi

NGNB (launched in 2011) provides up to 5 decimal land to eligible beneficiary families (all rural landless and homeless agricultural labourers/ artisans/ fishermen). Almost 2.2 lakh NGNB pattas have been distributed under this scheme so far.

From 2011 to 2017, a total of more than 3 lakh pattas (including NGNB, agricultural and forest pattas) were distributed.

Singur Now – A hub of agricultural productivity

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About two years ago, on August 31, 2016, the Supreme Court of India passed a historic judgment declaring that the land acquisition made by the erstwhile Left Front Government in Singur was illegal and unconstitutional. It asked the present Trinamool Congress Government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to return the plots to their owners. Thus the 10-year struggle of Mamata Banerjee against illegal land acquisition ended in a victory for the farmers.

Mamata Banerjee had hailed the Supreme Court’s decision and said she had “tears of joy”. On September 2, 2016, Singur Utsav was observed in every block of Bangla to commemorate the Supreme Court decision quashing the acquisition of land in Singur. Rallies were taken out by Trinamool activists and supporters in various parts of the State while celebrating ‘Singur Vijay Diwas’. Cultural programmes were held and the day was observed in the Vidhan Sabha too.

On September 14, 2016, Mamata Banerjee handed over land parchas (land deeds) and compensation cheques to farmers in Singur. To commemorate this occasion, September 14 is being celebrated as Singur Dibas this year.

Around 9,117 land deeds were handed over in 2016. Around 800 compensation cheques were handed over by the Chief Minister and her Cabinet colleagues to those farmers who had to unwillingly part with their land. “In the first lot, 9,117 parchas were given. All land will be returned in cultivable form within eight weeks,” she had said in 2016, during her visit to Singur after the judgement.

The Chief Minister said that the government will be setting up check dams and small tubewells for irrigation in Singur. She added that soil testing would be done and all fertilisers for making the land fertile and cultivable would be provided to the farmers.

On October 17, the Bengal Chief Minister said that the process of giving physical possession of land in Singur would begin on October 20 and will be completed in 15 to 20 days.

On October 20, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formally re-commenced farming on the plots of land in Singur which were given away to Tata Motors’ Nano project by the Left Front Government, by sowing seeds of mustard on those plots.

By November 2016, the land was returned and by January 2017, the 300 or so farmers whose land had not been affected by the steel and concrete structures had already started producing golden-skin potatoes that farmers in Singur are renowned for. Rabi and Boro crops were grown as well in Singur. The Government also encouraged the use of organic fertilisers there.

About 230 acres of paddy fields sown in early February using new, low-water techniques have produced knee-high crops. Sesame, maize, cucumbers and banana have also been planted. A new power network now runs 63 freshly drilled wells for dry season irrigation and sprinklers and drips are in use. The State Government had also provided farmers with high-yielding seeds, fertilizer and Rs 10,000 toward new farm equipment and extra workers to help with labour.

With all these steps taken, Singur has become a model for the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

Bangla shows the way in agricultural growth

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Bangla is a largely agricultural economy with 96 per cent of the 7.23 lakh farm families being marginal and small farmers (average size of land holdings being only 0.77 hectare). As an economy that is as heavily dependent on and replenished by agriculture, the current State Government has not only identified its palpable potential but has striven to resurrect it from the destruction left by the preceding governments.

Championing the cause of the farmer and having risen on the manifesto that promised to continue this fight for the rights of the farmers, Trinamool Congress leader and Chief Minister of Bangla, Mamata Banerjee and her Government have introduced a host of reforms, policies and schemes that have been successful in infusing a steady rigour into the agricultural market as well as in all other aspects of the sector.

The expenditure in agriculture and agri-allied sectors has been increased more than six times over the past six fiscal years, from Rs 3,029 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 18,326 crore in 2016-17.

In its 2017 Annual Budget, the Government, recognising the devastating effect of demonetisation on the agriculture sector, allocated Rs 100 crore to a special assistance fund to mitigate the sufferings of affected farmers.

Agricultural income has also, subsequently, increased remarkably. This is depicted best in the increase in farmers’ annual household income from Rs 91,000 in FY 2010-11 to Rs 2.9 lakh in FY 2015-16.

The latter has been achieved by the creation of a robust series of schemes that include:

1. Bengal Fasal Bima Yojana: This is a one-of-its-kind scheme that secures poor farmers from crop losses due to natural calamities. The coverage under this has reached up to 31 lakh farmers, providing security to them in times of crop failure, leading to a more conducive atmosphere for farmers to both invest and function.

2. Public-private partnerships involving the Farmers’ Producers’ Organisations (FPO) and NGOs.

3. Matir Katha: An ICT based agri-extension portal which provides a dynamic platform to disseminate crop solution to farmers at the farm-gate level.

The Agriculture Department of Bangla, working with related departments, has introduced initiatives that address both social and economic challenges. These include:

1. Augmenting of irrigation facilities through water conservation and watershed management;

2. Betterment of marginalised farmers belonging to SC and ST communities and other backward classes;

3. Empowerment of women in agriculture.

Under the ‘Universalisation of Soil Health Card for Farmers’ programme (started in 2015-16 for sustainable management of soil health through soil analysis and issuing Soil Health Cards (SHC) along with advisories to farmers), 53.46 lakh SHCs were distributed till the end of 2017.

The Soil Conservation Wing of the Agriculture Department has undertaken land development and creation of irrigation potential in more than 45,000 hectares.

The agriculture sector in India is largely plagued with problems related to market linkage. In this area, the Bangla Government has been a major advocate of building long-term infrastructure that link producers to markets and can be sold at competitive prices by including a number of competent parties. The State Government has adopted the following measures:

1. Through infrastructure and support building schemes like Amar Fasal Amar Gola for storage and Amar Fasal Amar Gari for transportation, the Government’s aims are meeting their rightful ends.

2. 186 Krishak Bazars (block-level primary markets with physical infrastructure for transactions, storage and packaging of agricultural produce) have been opened, and they are being operationalised for increasing accessibility and connectivity.

In 2017, the Trinamool Congress Government amended the Agriculture Produce Marketing Act to allow the entry of major private players in the trade through a single licence for all markets in order to secure more competitive prices for commodities produced by farmers.

Mamata Banerjee has been relentless in her fight for the rights of farmers. It is not without reason that Bangla has won the Krishi Karman Award five years in a row since 2011.

Through Government sponsored programmes like Mati Utsab and a series of empowering socio-economic schemes, the Trinamool Congress Government has pulled out the agriculture sector of Bangla from its inertia.

Reforms in PDS in Bangla in the last seven years

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To ensure proper distribution and access of essential food, the State Government’s Food & Supplies (F&S) Department has brought about end-to end reforms in the management of the public distribution system (PDS).

The public distribution system consists of the public distribution outlets (PDO), which are basically fair-price shops (FPS) and are commonly known as ration shops.

TPDS through use of ICT

Essentially, PDS has been changed to TPDS, that is, targeted public distribution system. A major reform in this regard has been the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the management of the TPDS.

This includes:

  • Creation of electronic databank of all the stakeholders of the PDS
  • Online allocation of foodgrains up to the FPS levels
  • Doorstep delivery by distributors to dealers
  • SMS-based information to the FPS-wise registered mobile users regarding allocation and availability of foodgrains

 

Other uses of ICT in the PDS

Other aspects of the use of ICT include:

  • Complete online supply chain management
  • Call centre-based public grievance redressal system including voice recording mechanism
  • Online renewal of license for more than 21,000 FPS dealers and distributors, 31,000 superior kerosene oil dealers and agents, and, 10,000 licensees of other petroleum products like LPG, lubricating oil, petrol pumps, etc.
  • Integrated online MIS generation from the level of sub-divisional controller of Food & Supplies (SCF&S) and upwards
  • Publication of new PDS control orders and modified control orders for the distribution of foodgrains in tea gardens through government outlets have been completed

Another major achievement has been the completion of digitisation of 8.59 crore ration card data as on January 31, 2015 and the completion of online supply chain management for the distribution of foodgrains.

Awareness generation regarding PDS

  • The Food & Supplies Department has also undertaken a massive drive for public awareness generation for people’s entitlement through TPDS
  • Regular publicity through audio spots on All India Radio, display of banners, publicity by miking and through skits by local artistes in gram panchayats and municipalities is creating improved awareness among the people
  • Advertisement through print as well as electronic media is being done at regular intervals
  • A monthly periodical named Sanbadnama is being published by the department.
  • Since 2016, January 27 is being observed as Khadya Sathi Dibas

 

Toll-free grievance redressal system

  • A 12×7 call centre (that is, 12 hours a day on all days of the week) equipped with call resource management and document management system has been set up
  • Anyone can get information or lodge complaints using the toll-free helpline numbers – 18003455505 and 1967
  • People can also track the status of grievance redressal online through the portal of the F&S Department
  • In all districts, an additional district magistrate has been designated as the district grievance redressal officer to address PDS-related complaints

 

Budgetary outlay apropos PDS increased

For achieving the above goals, the Trinamool Congress Government has increased the budgetary outlay manifold during its period in power.

Whereas in FY 2010-11, the total outlay for PDS was only Rs 2,199 crore, that in FY 2018-19 was Rs 8,037 crore, an increase by more than 3.6 times.

Hence, it can be said that Bangla’s public distribution system, the lifeline of the foodgrain supply scheme of the government, has improved hugely. Work is constantly going on to streamline the system of distribution as well as that of solving any issue that may arise.

 

Khadya Sathi: Food security for Bangla

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In the last seven years, the Bangla Government has ensured food security for 90% of the State’s population. Khadya Sathi is one of the flagship programmes of the Bangla Government, implemented by the Food & Supplies Department.

In fact, managing a targeted public distribution system (TPDS) and procurement of paddy and rice at MSP to prevent distressed sale are the principal activities of this department, and the Khadya Sathi Scheme is an integral part of these activities.

The major challenge is to ensure the reach of subsidised foodgrains to the poorest of the poor.

Beneficiaries increased manifold

In financial year (FY) 2010-11, 2.74 crore people in Bangla were getting rice at Rs 2 per kg. This covered only the people under below poverty line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) categories. In order to improve the access to food for the vulnerable sections, the coverage was increased manifold in the following seven years by the Trinamool Congress Government.

The flagship programme, Khadya Sathi was launched in January 2016. As of now, it ensures food security for around 8.59 crore people. Out of this, 7.20 crore people belonging to disadvantaged sections of society, who get rice and wheat at Rs 2 per kg and the comparatively well-off 1.39 crore people get foodgrains at half the market price.

Special categories

Out of the 7.2 crore people, 48.07 lakh beneficiaries are covered under special packages for the Jangalmahal region, Cyclone Aila-affected families, unwilling land-giving farmers of Singur, workers and non-workers of closed tea gardens, Hill areas, Toto tribe (staying in Totopara), and other destitute and homeless people. The achievement shows the exponential growth in coverage of people under PDS.

Special package for severely acute malnourished children

Part of the Khadya Sathi Scheme is a special package for severely acute malnourished (SAM) children. This nutrition programme is implemented in association with Health & Family Welfare Department. As part of this, from FY 2014-15, free-of-cost nutritional support is being provided to approximately 5,200 SAM category children and their mothers. The package consists of 5 kg rice, 2.5 kg wheat, 1 kg masoor dal and 1kg Bengal gram per month.

Thus, through the Khadya Sathi scheme, Mamata Banerjee-led Bangla Government is ensuring nutritional security for people of all ages across the length and breadth of the State. Access to proper food is no longer an issue now.