Thanks to govt infomercial, sale of meat goes up in Bengal

Thanks to govt infomercial, sale of meat goes up in Bengal

Posted on July 12, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Sale of meat in Bengal has gone up, all thanks to the infomercial that was telecast on different channels to sensitise buyers. The infomercial was created by the State Information and Cultural Affairs Department at the behest of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to assure buyers about the right quality of meat. The efforts have borne fruit and have ensured a rise in its sale.

The Government has set up a high-powered committee to evolve a foolproof mechanism to ensure quality meat is sold across the State.

In June, the Chief Minister had held a meeting and directed the concerned officials to create the infomercial. The film urges people to verify before buying that the packaged meat is certified by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and at the same time, not to pay heed to any rumours.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal Govt to bring school education under the aegis of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

Posted on July 12, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan – a programme created by combining Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan – will now form the basis of the Bengal Government’s approach to school education. This would help in optimising the administration of education in Bengal.

This programme would work for all aspects of management and betterment of education (including aspects like the free distribution of school textbooks, shoes and uniforms) right from the pre-primary to the higher secondary level.

A person experienced in the administration of education would be nominated by the State Government for heading the programme. There would a district head for each of the districts too.

Scientists would be inducted in the programme to visit schools and awaken interest in science among students.

Source: Sangbad Pratidin

New initiatives taken by the Cooperation Department in Bengal

Posted on July 6, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government’s Cooperation Department has taken several initiatives to improve the reach of cooperative societies across the State by converting cooperative societies into banks, and introducing computerisation and modern banking services. Regular audits of cooperative societies are being conducted and special initiatives are being taken for increasing memberships of cooperative societies.

New initiatives

Overhauling rural cooperative system: The department has set a target of overhauling the entire rural cooperative system and mobilising deposits of about Rs 1 lakh crore in the next two to three years. As a result, cooperative banks and primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) will be able to contribute more effectively towards various Government schemes and extend loans to SHGs. They should be able to extend at least 50 per cent of the almost Rs 40,000 crore loan required annually for crop production and marketing.

Banking for the unbanked: The department has set a target of opening at least 75 cooperative bank branches in unbanked gram panchayats (GP) by the end of financial year 2018-19.

Modern banking: Modern banking facilities, viz., ATM, RTGS, NEFT, etc. are being provided at existing cooperative banks. Till now, 350 branches of West Bengal State Cooperative Bank (WBSCB) and Central Cooperative Bank (CCB) have already been CBS-enabled and 80 ATMs are in operation. Besides, mobile ATM services have also been introduced.

Assistance to PACS: An assistance of Rs 34.75 crore has been given for the computerisation of 2,780 primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS).

New cold storage units: Construction of six cold storage units has been taken up, having a total capacity of 49,000 MT, which are likely to be completed during the current year.

Regular audit: Initiatives have been taken to conduct timely and regular audit of cooperative societies.

Increasing membership: Special initiatives have been taken to enhance the memberships of cooperative societies.

Samabay Bhavans: The State Government has decided to establish Samabay Bhavans in all the districts to accommodate all offices related to the Cooperation Department under one roof. So far, bhavans have been completed in Purba Bardhaman (Bardhaman), Paschim Bardhaman (Asansol), Bankura, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur. Construction is going on in Malda.

Important schemes being implemented in the cooperative sector by Bengal Govt

Posted on July 6, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Several important schemes are being implemented by the State Cooperation Department to improve the cooperative sector. The Trinamool Congress Government has been very proactive in empowering the rural population, as well as the urban population to some extent, by energising the cooperative sector.

Special Bad Debt Reserve for CCBs and PACS (Risk Fund): Under this scheme, an outright grant to primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS) and central cooperative banks (CCB), at 4 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively, of the additional amount of loans issued over and above last year’s amounts, would be given to encourage agricultural credit to the weaker sections of society. Rs 1,300 lakh has been allocated for the Special Bad Debt Reserve for CCBs (Risk Fund) and Rs 2,600 lakh has been allocated for the Special Bad Debt Reserve for PACSs (Risk Fund).

Strengthening of central cooperative banks (CCB): Rs 500 lakh has been allocated for assisting the weak central cooperative banks for 2018-19, to strengthen the capital base and raise the net worth, as these banks play a pivotal role in spreading the Cooperative Movement at the district-level.

Strengthening of primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS): Rs 1,000 lakh has been allocated for assisting the weak primary agricultural cooperative societies in hiring godowns, purchasing furniture, giving incentives to staff, computerising offices and training SHGs, for a period of three years.

Investment in shares – National Rural Credit (Long Term Operations) Fund: Rs 500 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 towards financial assistance in the form of State share to West Bengal State Cooperative Bank (WBSCB), Central Cooperative Banks (CCB), West Bengal State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (WBSCARD) and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (PCARDB), to strengthen their capital base.

Assistance for universal membership: Rs 50 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for encouraging the weaker sections of society to be brought within the cooperative fold by allowing an assistance of Rs 250 per head to purchase shares of PACSs.

Training of self-help groups (SHG): Rs 965 crore has been allocated for 2018-19 for sensitisation and awareness training programmes for the members of more than 2 lakh SHGs, and for skill development training for the members of the SHGs.

Supply of long-term credit: Rs 500 crore has been allocated for 2018-19 for supplying long-term credit to the weaker sections of society by the agricultural and rural development banks.

Assistance for offsetting imbalance in PCARDBs: Rs 4,000 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for reviving WBSCARD and the PCARDBs under the long-term cooperative credit sector.

Urban credit cooperative sector: For 2018-19, for the revival and development of the urban cooperative banks (URB), urban credit cooperative societies (UCCS) and mahila cooperative societies (MCS), Rs 100 lakh, Rs 300 lakh and Rs 300 lakh, respectively has been allocated.

Establishment of cold storages: Rs 200 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for the repairing, renovation and expansion of cold storages under the various cooperatives.

Establishment of storage godowns: Rs 50 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19, to be given to primary agricultural credit societies and primary agricultural marketing societies for the construction of godowns and the repairing and renovation of existing ones.

Assistance to agricultural marketing societies: Rs 1,000 lakh and Rs 50 lakh have been allocated to West Bengal State Cooperative Marketing Federation and the primary agricultural marketing societies, respectively, to supply agricultural inputs like fertilizers, seeds, etc. and market agricultural produce including procurement of paddy at the State Government-mandated minimum support price (MSP).

Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF): Rs 6,000 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 under RIDF for the construction of large godowns, cold storages, rice mills, seed farms, etc.

Development of cooperative societies: For 2018-19, Rs 200 lakh has been allocated for Apex Consumers’ Cooperative Society, Rs 300 lakh for urban consumers’ cooperative societies and another Rs 200 lakh for rural consumers’ cooperative societies.

Training: Rs 275 lakh has been allotted for 2018-19 for the construction of training centres and for conducting training programmes by West Bengal State Cooperative Union.

Samabay Bhavans: Samabay Bhavans have been built in the districts of Purba Bardhaman (Bardhaman), Paschim Bardhaman (Asansol), Bankura, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur. Construction is going on in Malda. Rs 200 crore has been allotted for constructions in a few more districts.

Ad hoc Grant to employees of cooperative societies: Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated for 2018-19 under the head of Ad hoc Grant for enhancing the emoluments of the employees of the various cooperative societies.

West Bengal Cooperative Service Commission: Rs 74 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for West Bengal Cooperative Service Commission, which selects and recommends the appointments of personnel in cooperative societies across the state, in line with the provisions of the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act, 2006.

State Govt brings relief to passengers, asks app cabs to limit surge fares

Posted on July 6, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Listening to the voice of the people, the Trinamool Congress Government has taken a decision to limit the amount by which app cabs can increase their fares during periods of high demand.

Surge fares, as it is called, can only go up to a level of 45 per cent of the base, or minimum, fares. This will apply for all app cab companies. Usually, the fares go up when the demand for cabs is more and the supply is less.

This and other crucial decisions were made after a meeting between the State Transport Minister and representatives of app cab companies on July 4.

The basic fares of the app cab services have to be announced so that the Transport Department is aware of them and people also come to know the base fare that they have to pay to avail the cabs. The app cab operators have to give a report containing details of the fare slabs to the Transport Department.

There will be no surge pricing during office hours on weekdays, hence higher fares cannot be charged for the 12 hours from 8am to 8pm.

Another decision made was that a portion of the surge fare has to be given to drivers. There will also be a review meeting after every three months.

Earlier, the app cab operators had been directed by the Transport Department to take a certain measures to ensure the safety and security of passengers.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal Govt to distribute 50 lakh saplings for Vanmahotsav

Posted on July 5, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Forest Minister recently announced that 50 lakh saplings would be given away by the State Government to MLAs, educational and other institutions across Bengal, to plant on the occasion of Vanmahotsav on July 14. The festival would go on for seven days.

Fifteen per cent of the 50 lakh would be fruit trees. All the 294 MLAs of the State would be given 1,000 saplings to plant in their own areas.

Schools, colleges, clubs, and various institutions and offices which have space to plant would be given saplings.

Saplings would be sold from the counter of the Forest Department too. Anyone can go and buy, at a rate of Rs 2 per sapling. Forest Department products like honey and citronella oil would be sold at a discount of 10 per cent.

The minister announced that, as part of the Vanmahotsav festival, neem trees would be planted across Kolkata – for shade as well as for being strong enough to be able to withstand strong winds.

The minister also made a few other announcements. Those who show good results in being able to take care of trees, including Forest Department officials and workers, would be rewarded – first prize of Rs 1 lakh, second prize of Rs 75,000 and third prize of Rs 50,000.

A special edition of the Forest Department magazine, Banabithi would also be published on the occasion of Vanmahotsav.

Source: Aajkaal

Mishti Hub in Newtown to be inaugurated today

Posted on July 5, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government’s Mishti Hub in Newtown, on the outskirts of Kolkata, will be inaugurated on July 5. It is the only one of its kind in the State, one which will give buyers an opportunity to have sweets made by the best sweet manufacturers of Bengal under one roof.

This is another one of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s ideas coming to fruition. There is a potential market for Bengali sweets both in the country and abroad. The hub will also give an opportunity to tourists who want to carry the famous mouth-watering sweets back home, as it falls en route to the airport.

The Mishti Hub will house 10 popular sweet manufacturing chains of Kolkata, as well as sweet shops from the districts. To maintain quality, it was decided that those opening shops at the hub must have an experience of 25 years or more.

Mishti Hub will remain open from 12 noon to 9 PM. It is located next to the popular spot of Eco Park. There will be a car parking facility for the buyers as well.

Proper signs will be put up on Biswa Bangla Sarani to facilitate the airport-bound buyers. For the residents of Newtown, this hub will enable them to get the best of Kolkata’s sweets at their doorsteps.

The hub has been built on a shop-in-shop concept. The construction of the hub has been done as a combination of tradition and modernity. A central atrium with glass walls will bring the sunlight inside. There is a driveway and a free parking lot for a limited period of 30 minutes.

Source: Millennium Post

Two leopards to arrive at Bengal Safari Park

Posted on July 3, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Bengal Safari Park near Siliguri, a popular tourist destination, is going to get two more guests – two leopards, lovingly named Sachin and Sourav. A leopard safari is beginning from the end of June at Bengal Safari Park.

The leopards will be brought from Khayerbari Tiger Rehabilitation Centre, which was set up in 2005 for rehabilitating royal Bengal tigers rescued from circuses. The two leopards were caught at Santali Tea Garden in Kalchini block five years ago. An area of 20 acres has been fenced for them.

Bengal Safari Park is full of animals of various kinds – tigers, black bears, deer, elephants, rhinoceroses, etc. – as well as birds of many species, the latter especially during the winter. It is gradually become one of the best tourist attractions in north Bengal.

Source: Aajkaal

Bengal Govt plans overhaul of unique Patuli floating market

Posted on June 29, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Government agency, Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) has decided to overhaul the unique floating market in Patuli, adjacent to EM Bypass. A series of changes will be brought about to make the place more accessible. The market has 228 sellers sitting on 114 boats.

The market, the first of its kind in the country, similar to the floating market at Bangkok in Thailand, had started functioning in January this year.

For electricity supply, environment-friendly solar power will be taken recourse to. Solar panels will be installed. The number and arrangements of the lights will be increased too.

Sheds will be constructed for the benefit of the buyers during the monsoon season.

On the request of shoppers, the four zones – for fish, for chicken, mutton and eggs, for vegetables, fruits and flowers, and for grocery and miscellaneous items – will be rearranged so as to place the vegetable and fish zones side-by-side.

The wooden ramps set up on a platform made of sal wood, on which people travel over the surface of the water for shopping in the market, are being repaired with the onset of monsoon.

A toilet will be constructed in an area adjacent to the floating market.

A food court will be constructed on the premises of the floating market, where tea and a variety of snacks will be served at a reasonable price. The market, particularly in the evening, has also already turned into a popular adda zone for the local people.

The seating arrangement in and around the waterbody will also be enhanced, so that people can come and spend time there comfortably.

Two more fountains will be set up in the waterbody.

A waterbody located on the southern side of the floating market will be beautified too.

The Technical Appraisal Committee of KMDA is considering in detail all the proposals. As soon as it finishes that, the construction work will begin.

Source: Millennium Post

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Bengal Govt to create madur hub in Kharagpur

Posted on June 28, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government has decided to create a hub for the madur (traditional mat of Bengal) in Kharagpur in the district of Purba Medinipur. It will be located at Vidyasagar Industrial Park. Rs 6 crore has been set aside for it.

Kharagpur subdivision is specially known for madur. In fact, more than half of the madurs sold in the country come from Sabang block in the subdivision, where every other family is engaged in this craft.

Sabang is the heart of the madur-making industry. Two Karmatirthas have also been set up in Ruinan and Jhikuria in the block where madur-weavers from across the block would be brought to create a permanent market.

Source: News18 Bengali