Tag: Bengal CM

Making Kolkata clean and green – KMC forms a new department

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For a more integrated approach towards turning Kolkata into a clean and green city and at the same time, to reduce the level of air pollution, the three Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) departments of Urban Forestry, Project Management Unit (PMU) and Parks & Gardens have been brought under a single umbrella.

While announcing this decision, the mayor of KMC reasoned that since the PMU’s work is mostly related to waterbodies, which in turn is linked to green issues, it makes perfect sense to link it with the other two. The civic body is taking a slew of measures for a clean and green Kolkata, and the merger of the three sections will speed up work in this regard.

In a related development, the mayor has held meetings with the Railways and the Kolkata Port Trust, which are custodians of substantial amounts of land in the city, to allow the KMC to take up plantations in vacant plots (which they would not put to use for any commercial purpose) under their ownership.

There is vacant land in areas like Majerhat that is owned by the Railways, and in Kidderpore and the Nimtala riverside area in north Kolkata, under the KoPT.

The KMC will take the opinions of experts to ensure planned and scientific plantation.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Sundarini Naturals to open outlets for organic sweet

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Sundarini Naturals, a food brand of the State Government’s Sundarban Cooperative Milk and Livestock Producers’ Union Ltd (SCMLPL), is going for further product diversification. It will soon come up with organic sweets, to be sold at two exclusive outlets it is setting up in Kolkata – at Kankurgachi and Maniktala.

The cooperative organisation was set up with the blessing of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2015 to give women of the Sundarbans an opportunity for an honest livelihood. In fact, the name ‘Sundarini Naturals’ itself was given by the Chief Minister.

Starting from milk and dairy products, the brand diversified into sweets, aromatic rice and pulses. And now it is the turn of organic sweets.

The two stores are planned to be inaugurated between January 26 and 28. They are being set up in public-private partnership (PPP) mode. App-based delivery to households from these two stores will also be introduced soon after.

According to a senior official of SCMLPL, depending on the demand for such sweets, more such ventures under PPP mode will be started.

The special attraction at the first two outlets will be the ‘fruit delite’ and ‘orange Bangla’ varieties of sweets, that will be priced at around Rs 25 to 30 per piece. The other attractions will be rosogolla, gulab jamun, rajbhog, roshomalai and sandesh varieties like golappatti, barfi and kalakand, priced Rs 12 upwards.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar speaks on The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016

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FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you, Honourable Madam. I stand here to participate in the discussion on ‘The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016’. At the very outset, I would like to congratulate the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, for already having formed a board for the welfare of transgenders three years back, which is the call of the day. I think the Central Government and all other States should follow this to look after transgenders.

Now, I think that this is a very hastily drafted Bill, and the different clauses mentioned are totally inconclusive. We have to first define what ‘transgender’ means. Here it is written that a transgender person is one who is neither wholly female, neither wholly male, or a combination of female or male, neither female nor male. On this earth, as far as medical science is concerned, there can be no being that is neither a female nor a male. A person’s external sexuality, that is, the phenotype, determined by the internal sexuality, that is, the genotype, which is the combination of the genes; either it is XX or it is XY. A person who is XY is a male while a person who is XX is a female. But sometimes there are three X chromosomes, which person is known as ‘super-female’ or there is a combination of these. So then they are known as true hermaphrodite or false hermaphrodite.

But a transgender is not always a hermaphrodite. A transgender is a person who has the internal genetic code made up in such a way that the sexuality granted to the child after birth is not aligned to his or her mental capability, and gender dysphoria is a kind of distress such a person goes through. This can lead to distress related to eating disorder, suicide, depression, anxiety and social isolation.

None of these are mentioned in the copy of the draft that we have here. This is a hastily drafted Bill. I don’t know who has done it. Doctors are still grappling with it. The American Psychiatric Association, only as late as 2013, has defined this disease, and in this disease, when a person has no discrimination between genotype and phenotype, that is, between the internal and external manifestation of the chromosome, still might feel, being a female, that I am more comfortable being a male – that is an actual transgender, which is not mentioned in the Bill. The Bill is totally null and void in this respect.

A lawmaker’s actual duty is to look at the justice meted out to every kind of human being, as is given by Article 14 of the Constitution of India. We are indebted to the Honourable Supreme Court by the verdict given on April 15, 2014 in which various steps have been directed to be taken by the governments of the States and at the Centre for the welfare of transgenders.

So this Bill does not cater to those provisions. The American Psychiatric Association has described in detail the clauses that have to be brought into Bill in order to make it into welfare Bill for the actual transgenders. As far as their educational help is concerned, there should be a third column during admission – that is, male, female or third gender. They should be given reservation in jobs. Since they feel differently, and so might dress differently, the provision must be there. The social milieu must be such that society is compassionate to their diseased condition. This condition takes place because of their testosterone dysfunction.

So it appears, Honourable Madam, that this Bill has been very hastily drafted, and the opinion of specialists has not been taken, because it says that even after a person has been identified, they have to go to the municipality and then take a certificate from the municipal doctor. When the American Psychiatric Association has only described this in 2013, how will the municipal doctor be informed of the latest disease? We don’t take a transgender person as an abnormality any more, this is just a diseased condition. The disease has to be studied. So, a specialist board has to be formed and the person has to be certified through that specialist board whose members should be duly qualified.

It appears that while drafting the different clauses of the Bill, proper attention was not given. So this Bill has to be recalled and a properly drafted Bill has to be tabled.

Thank you, Madam.

We want everyone in our State to be happy, this is the world of Maa-Mati-Manush: Bangla CM in Bajkul

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was present today at a public function at Bajkul in Purba Medinipur district. She inaugurated a number of projects and laid the foundation stones of many more. She told the residents of the newly-created district that the State Government is committed to the development of the district.

Salient points of her speech:

  • I am extending my welcome to all of you to this public meeting
  • We want, along with boys, girls too to rise up in society
  • Medinipur is the birthplace of stalwarts like Vidyasagar, Matangini Hazra and Khudiram; this region carries a lot of historic legacy.
  • I have never forgotten the infamous incidents that took place in Medinipur, Heria, Patashpur, Egra and Panskura. We have not forgotten how our party’s worker, Sujata was tortured and killed in Khejuri. I was detained in Chandipur, where people were waiting with acid bulbs. My car was blocked with bamboo poles in Kolaghat, and sweared at – I have been tortured in various ways.
  • If anyone tries to scare me, I roar back. I love to protest. Once the governor (Gopal Gandhi) sent me a message through an intermediary that I would be killed, still I went to Kolaghat. IMy way was blocked all through the night. I was tried to be prevented with all their strength from reaching Nandigram, but I still went there. We couldn’t save many people. Many were killed and their bodies floated down the Haldi river. Many were never heard from again.
  • We will never forget the incident of Netai, where seven people were shot dead one after the other, and then women were forced into slavery. In Chhoto Angaria and Benepukur, people were killed and their bodies buried inside walls. Many people still don’t know about these. But the people of Bangla will never forget these incidents.
  • A six-month-old child was snatched from the father, a person’s hand was hacked off at Kandua in Amta, our party workers’ eyes were gouged out in Daspur because they had painted posters. They burned alive 19 Ananda Margis on Bijon Setu. In Jangalmahal, every year, 400 people used to be killed.
  • We have rescued the people of Bangla from the hands of the harmads of CPI(M). These harmads have now shamelessly joined the BJP.
  • Of which party is he a leader, the one who lead the murder spree in Nandigram? I don’t want to spell out the name. There is no place for harmads in the Trinamool Congress. When people used to be carried away by floods in villages in Kapaleswar and Keleghai, where were these leaders? They just know how to talk big.
  • Now a university named after Mahatma Gandhi is coming up in Tamluk and a medical college has already come up. A lot of developments have happened in Digha – international convention centre, Biswa Bangla Park, roads, polytechnic college, ITI, multi-superspeciality hospital, food processing centre. A drinking water project is coming up at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore. A power plant has come up in Kolaghat.
  • The Centre is denying the implementation of the Ghatal Master Plan for a long time. If the plan is implemented, flooding would largely be reduced.
  • A 120-bed hospital has come up in Contai.
  • When I was railway minister, I ensured completion of the Digha-Contai railway line in nine months. Today the people of Bajkul are going on that route regularly.
  • I had planned a line till Nandigram, but the Centre us delaying. If we come to power at the Centre, we will ensure completion.
  • About 20 Karmatirthas have come up, seven more are in the offing.
  • Seven Kisan Mandis have come up, cold storages too. Fish cultivation in the village of Moyna has been accepted as a model for Bangla.
  • We give free-of-cost chickens, ducks and goats to the poor. We want to set up big duck farms like chicken farms. Those interested please contact your respective BDPOs and gram panchayats.
  • Kanyashree beneficiaries earlier used to get Rs 750 per year, now it is Rs 1,000. If they remain unmarried till the age of 18, they get an additional one-time grant of Rs 25,000.
  • Under the K3 level, Kanyashree-enrolled girls, if pursuing postgraduation, get Rs 2,000 per months for arts streams and Rs 2,500 per month for science streams.
  • Already 50 lakh girls have enrolled under Kanyashree. This is set to increase by many times.
  • Under the Sikshashree Scheme, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students from classes V to VIII are getting scholarships; about 75 lakh get scholarships.
  • 1.7 crore students from minority communities are getting scholarships.
  • Kendu leaf-pickers have been brought under the Samajik Suraksha Scheme.
  • For every child born, the mother is being given a sapling. This will grow up along with the child. When fully grown, the tree will be worth Rs 2 lakh. The tree can then be sold to help the child with the money.
  • Under the Rupashree Scheme, those families with annual income of less than Rs 1.5 lakh will get a grant of Rs 25,000 for their daughters’ wedding.
  • Under Samajik Suraksha Scheme, unorganised workers are provided a pension of Rs 1,500 when they cross 60, Rs 6,000 is given for their children’s studies and a one-time grant of Rs 2 lakh is given. If someone dies a natural death before crossing 60, the family gets Rs 50,000 and for an unnatural death, the family gets Rs 10 lakh. Folk artistes who are beneficiaries under Lok Prasar Parkalpa also come under this scheme.
  • Under the Lok Prasar Prakalpa, a grant of Rs 1,000 per month is given. Then, their talents are used for advertising all government schemes.
  • Under Mabhoi Scheme, journalists are provided medical insurance and pension after retirement.
  • The retirement ages of contractual and casual workers, ICDS and ASHA workers, and civic volunteers have been increased to 60. They have also been included under the Swasthya Sathi medical insurance scheme.
  • Earlier, the Centre used to give 90 per cent of the salary of ICDS workers, now it gives 30 per cent. As a result, the State Government has to spend Rs 1,000 more per person per month. The salary of ASHA workers has also been raised by Rs 1,000, of civic volunteers by Rs 5,000 (3,000 to 8,0000). The salary of para-teachers and contractual teachers has also been increased.
  • The Pranimitras used to get Rs 400 per months under the Left Front Government, now they get Rs 1,500.
  • The people of our State buy rice at the rate of Rs 2 per kg, which is availed by almost 8 crore people.
  • Treatment id free in government hospitals. Under Swasthya Sathi, up to Rs 5 lakh is provided for treatment is private hospitals. Mid-day meals, and steel plates and glasses are given to children. Under the ICDS, mothers are given treatment for free.
  • As soon a woman gets pregnant, she is allotted an additional Rs 6,000 for the next year.
  • Maternity leave of a total of 731 days is given, and paternity leave of one month.
  • If a poor person dies, Rs 2,000 is given to the family to conduct the last rites.
  • 1 crore students have been given bicycles as part of the Swasthya Scheme.
  • The people of Bangla are culture-minded, humanists, civilised.
  • Our government has waived off tax and mutation fee on agricultural land.
  • Be it flood or drought, I always stand by the people. We have helped 30 lakh people with a cumulative amount of Rs 1,200 crore.
  • We have set up custom hiring centres for farmers to take on lease agricultural equipments.
  • We are giving grants for farmers to cultivate potatoes.
  • Rice growers’ MSP has been increased from Rs 1,550 per quintal to Rs 1,750.
  • Earlier teachers didn’t get salaries on time, now they get on the 1st of every month.
  • We have provided vocational training to six lakh students, which increase to 12 lakh in the next two years.
  • We are recruiting teachers for providing education in different languages.
  • One lakh civic volunteers are being recruited.
  • Everyone was affected badly by demonetisation. Many people lost their jobs.
  • Many workers were chased away from Gujarat. We don’t do any such thing.
  • They are driving away Bengalis from Assam, Biharis from Gujarat. Names of 40 lakh voters have been deleted in Assam of whom 23 lakh are Bengalis.
  • Where was the BJP then? Now they are suddenly showing faux feelings for Hindus. Did the BJP teach how to do Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Eid? The Hindu religion has existed for thousands of years. So have the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita, Bible, Quran, Granth Sahib existed for many, many years.
  • The BJP is scaring people into submission by offering crores of rupees, and taking out Ravan Yatras all over the country. They are asking people about their religions, castes and gotras. Seems as if someone has given them the responsibility?
  • They are calling Hanumans as Dalits, murdering minorities, chasing away Hindus, torturing Christians.
  • A policeman who was the investigating officer of a case was murdered. We have sympathy for his family. People are being murdered through fake encounters.
  • The BJP leaders are each a dacoit leader, ordering people what to do from their perch of power in Delhi. They do not about Hinduism, nor about Islam or Christianity. Neither are they aware of humanism. They promote hatred in the name of religion.
  • Why did 12,000 farmers commit suicide in a BJP-ruled State? Why do they not respect people of all religions? Why do they kill people and instigate riots?
  • If I am attacked I react. We had led a struggle for 34 years. We have led many movements.
  • Let me tell those CPI(M) supporters who are joining the BJP, we will also defeat you politically. We not let harmads remain here. They are jealous of the fact that people are peacefully living here.
  • I am instructing all panchayat officials to ensure that everyone who is eligible gets rice at Rs 2 per kg and the benefits under all schemes.
  • We have built houses for 40 lakh poor people. We will build more in the coming days.
  • We have to repay to the Centre a debt of Rs 48,000 crore every year, by borrowing from others. Despite this, we are able to provide rice at Rs 2 per kilo, almost free treatment in government hospitals, houses for the poor. Almost 90 per cent of the population are part of one scheme of the other.
  • We want to continue with our good work. Many roads and bridges are being constructed in this district, because of which many more tourists will be able to come. We want to ensure that your children do not have to go out of here to find work by creating opportunities here. We are helping people in Mandarmani to set up homestays for tourists so that they can earn from their own homes.
  • We are trying our best. A rice godown is being built 10km from Bajkul. Hence, as you can see, a lot of work is being done. Do good work, and work together, let there be all-round development of this district.
  • Today, Kanyashrees of the State stop child marriages, protest against crimes, and do many other types of good work for society. Kanyashree clubs have been set up. I want them to be examples for the whole world because they will never bow their heads in fear, they will build society.
  • I want to tell the Sabooj Sathi beneficiaries that Bangla is the first State where scholarships have been instituted for the economically backward. All people get opportunities irrespective of religion. You have to love all religions equally.
  • A lot of industries are coming up in Bangla. A port is coming up in Tajpur, which will lead to further development of the district. Women have to progress more, they will have to have a greater role in building society. The society where women are backward can never progress.
  • Religion is one’s own, festivals are for all. Everyone has to keep this in mind. Those who are spreading hatred in the name of religion know neither Islam nor any other religion. They are finishing off the whole country, looting banks, killing farmers. They want to destroy society through riots. They don’t want to create good people, just brutes. We tell people to be good citizens. We want everyone in our State to be happy. Rural Bangla is our lifeblood. Even those who stay in towns and cities love the village life. Many of us have a connection to some village. This is the world of Maa-Mati-Manush, which has taught us to live happily.
  • I want to know from our Kanyashree girls – you will be world leaders, won’t you? You will have to become doctors; we have a shortage of doctors.
  • We all have to hold our heads high. No work is bad. Rather, those who don’t work become lazy and full of evil ideas. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. If we work, it is but natural for us to fall ill too, but overall work keeps us in a healthy state.
  • Stay well, keep your minds fresh. Jai Hind, Khuda Hafiz, Jai Johar.

‘Nocturnal house’ – New Year gift for Alipore Zoo visitors

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Come 2019 and the admirers of nocturnal animals are in for a treat at Alipore Zoo. Owls, rodents, porcupines, slow loris, hyena and several other kinds of nocturnal animals will be getting a new ‘nocturnal house’ of their own in January 2019.

As there are no separate enclosures for the nocturnal animals now, the varied collection of these animals have rarely been witnessed by visitors. Hence the decision to create the exclusive enclosure as a gift to the people of the state in the New Year. The State Forest Minister made this announcement recently.

Gubbay House, in the western flank of the zoo, which was till recently home to the monkey collection, is being redeveloped into the nocturnal house. The architecture and lighting is being crafted in a manner to create a night-like atmosphere during the day, so that the creatures remain perfectly at ease and at the same time, the people are also being able to see them properly.

According to a senior zoo official, some of the monkeys that were inside Gubbay House have been moved to zoos in Jhargram and Purulia while some have been moved to another shelter.

Source: Millennium Post

‘Eco fish tourism’ project coming up in Chandanpiri

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The State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC) is setting up a tourism project in Chandanpiri, about 12 km from Namkhana in South 24 Parganas district. The place is located in the UNESCO-recognised natural heritage site of the Sundarbans.

The ‘eco fish tourism’ project, as it has been termed, is located at the estuary of the river Saptamukhi with the Bay of Bengal. It would be completed at the beginning of 2020. These information were provided by the Fisheries Minister. He said this project has been taken up after the success of the recently-developed resorts at Henry’s Island and Fraserganj.

There would be four cottages for tourists at the 5-hectare site. The 600 sq ft structures would be located above the water surface. Each would be able to accommodate two people.

The mangrove forests would provide for a wonderful experience for tourists. A jetty and roads to the site are being constructed. Cultivation of prawn, rohu, catla and mrigel would take place at the site, where tourists would be able to catch them free of cost.

The site would also have a 50-ft watchtower, from where beautiful unimpeded views of the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal can be had. Along with these would be a cafeteria, restaurant and children’s park.

From the resort, tourists would be taken to see tigers and, aboard launches, to the Bhagabatipur Crocodile Project.

 

7 lakh and counting – Mother’s Wax Museum witnesses staggering footfall

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The only one of its kind in eastern India, Mother’s Wax Museum (MWM) has become a star attraction for the people of Kolkata as well as tourists to the city. As of now, seven lakh people have visited this museum, since its opening four years ago.

This museum of wax statues of famous Indian people is the brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It was inaugurated by her on November 10, 2014. The place was named after the icon of Kolkata, Mother Teresa, and her wax figure finds a pride of place there.

There are wax figures of great personalities including social reformers of the 19th century, writers, poets and scientists, people from the field of entertainment and sports, as well as a Hollywood section and a children’s section with statues of popular cartoon characters. As photography is allowed inside the museum, people find a lot of joy in taking selfies with the statues.

People include Vidyasagar, Shri Ramakrishna, Maa Sarada, Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, Satyajit Ray, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakrabarty, Shah Rukh Khan, Audrey Hepburn, Mr Bean (the popular character from British television), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Kapil Dev, Diego Maradona and several others.

A new attraction is getting one’s own statues made. At the museum store, at a cost of Rs 2,000 per person, people can get their own faces made out of stone dust. As souvenirs, people can also buy miniatures of the wax figures and framed photographs of views of old Kolkata.

Conducted 430 administrative meetings in districts in seven years: Mamata Banerjee

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today addressed a public meeting at Kalna in Purba Bardhaman district. She inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several projects in the district.

The CM also distributed several government benefits on the occasion.

Highlights of her speech:

We have conducted more than 430 administrative review meetings in the districts in the last seven years. We conduct these meetings to take stock of developmental projects and discuss scopes of improvement in dispersing public services.

Bardhaman district has secured the first rank in 100 Days’ Work. This district is known for its productivity as well as fire (of revolution).

Kalna is a heritage place, known for the various architectural sites. We are organising today’s function at a newly-inaugurated stadium.

We want people of Kalna to be happy. Bardhaman is primarily agriculture-dependent. Highest paddy production is recorded here.

Centre is now talking of doubling farmers’ income. We have already tripled it. We have set up Krishak Bazaar, Karma Tirthas as well.

We have set up 6 new colleges in this district. We have also constructed a multi super speciality hospital in Kalna. CCUs, ICCUs, HDUs, Fair Price Medicine Shops and Diagnostic Centres have come up in this district.

We have set up Mati Tirtha in Bardhaman. In 2012, we started celebrating Mati Utsav. In 2013, UN started observing the same. We have shown the way.

We have also set up custom hiring centre and Misti Hub in the district.

We have taken up a new scheme worth Rs 2768 crore for lower Damodar, specially the flood-prone areas. Lakhs of acres of land will come under agriculture. Water scarcity will be mitigated.

A new road is coming up which will connect north Bengal. Rs 3200 crore will be spent on this road, which will act as an alternative route.

A freight corridor is coming up between Dankuni and Bardhaman. A lot of employment will be generated.

World’s second largest coal mine is at Deocha Pachami in Birbhum. Employment of more than one lakh people will be created.

A new bridge will come up on Bhagirathi in Kalna. It will be completed by 2022 and the expenditure will be Rs 100 crore.

We do not acquire land forcibly. We are pro-farmers. Wherever there is a problem, we always solve it.

Earlier, 65,000 farmers used to get pension. We have increased the number to 1 lakh. The amount of pension has been hiked to Rs 1000 per month. We are providing farmers all the equipment at custom hiring centres. We have focused on alternate cropping.

Now, every girl receives Kanyashree. Earlier the amount of stipend was Rs 750; it has been hiked to Rs 1000. At 18 years of age, if she remains unmarried, she will get Rs 25,000. The scheme has been extended to university students also.

Kanyashree girls will conquer the world one day. They are not a burden; girls are our assets. They will build the nation in future.

We have also instituted Swami Vivekananda merit scholarship. SC/ST students receive Sikshashree scholarship. More than 1.7 crore minority students have received scholarships.

More than 50 lakh girls are registered under Kanyashree. The number will be doubled in future. We have spent Rs 6000 crore for this scheme.

We have distributed one crore cycles under Sabuj Sathi scheme. We want them to study without any problem. We will continue our schemes for the students. We have spent Rs 3000 crore for this scheme.

We are the only State in the country where khajna tax has been waived off. Mutation fee on agricultural land has also been waived.

We provide free healthcare at government hospitals. We have constructed 46 multi super speciality hospitals in the last seven years.

Many CPI(M) still exist in this region. They are trying to defame the government. I want to tell them, you have called many strikes. Enough of your non-cooperation with the people. You have taken Bangla back in the 34 years, We will not allow any further games with people’s future.

Let them pay back the money they borrowed when they were in power. They left after leaving behind a huge debt legacy. We are paying off instalments (nearly Rs 48,000 crore every year).

We provide rice at Rs 2/kg. We buy the rice from farmers. We provide a subsidy of Rs 23 per kg.

We provide financial assistance to families with income less than Rs 1.5 lakh annually for the marriage for their daughters. This is Rupashree scheme.

We have also started a social security scheme. People in unorganised sector and Lok Prasar artistes will have to pay Rs 25 per month, and we will give Rs 30. At 60 years of age, you will receive a one time grant of Rs 2 lakh and a monthly pension of Rs 1500. That apart, you will get Rs 4000-10000 for the education of your children. In case of death by accident, families will receive Rs 1.5 lakh (Rs 50000 for natural death) before 60 years of age. You can apply at offices of labour department.

No one has lost their job after we came to power. We want everyone to be happy. The retirement age of contractual and casual workers has been raised to 60 years. We have recruited one lakh civic volunteers; earlier they used to get Rs 3000 per month and now they get Rs 8000. If they are good, they will be appointed as home guards.

We have increased the honourariums of ASHA and ICDS workers. Prani Mitras used to get Rs 4000 earlier, and now they get Rs 1500. Salaries of parateachers, contractual teachers has been hiked, although we are in financial crisis.

We cannot do anything without people’s participation. We perform heart surgeries and kidney surgeries free of cost. Fair price diagnostic centres have been set up. Fair price medicine shops provide 40-67% discount.

We have given Rs 1200 crore to 30 lakh farmer families. We are with them in case of any natural disaster. Maa, Mati, Manush Government is always with you.

You may have political affiliations but if you are a government employee, you have to serve people. Do not hamper development in the name of protests.

They had shut down all industries. Schools and colleges had become a den of party politics. Hospitals had become living hell. Ration shops did not have supplies, teachers did not get salaries on time. Now they get salaries on the first of every month.

We have asked cooperative banks to give more loans to farmers.

They had killed farmers in Singur, tried to capture Nandigram, murdered people in Netai. In the name of Maoists, they killed hundreds of people. They are giving lectures today.

We had promised to return the land in Singur. We have kept our promise. Unless the land becomes fully cultivable, we will give them Rs 2000 per month. They also get higher quantity of rice every month.

Tea garden workers receive rice at 47 paise per kilo.

I have struggled all my life. I have wound marks all over my body. I have reached this position after a lot of struggle. We never harm people; that is not in our nature. My aim in life is to help others.

As long as our government is there, we will always help you. The government at Centre only tells lies, incites riots. They spread canards and do propaganda all the time, apart from hatching conspiracies.

On one hand employment has decreased across the country due to demonetisation and GST. And on the other hand, unemployment has reduced by 40% in Bangla.

We will create more employment opportunities. We have set up 300 it is for skill training. Nearly 70000 youths are being trained there. They will get placement at the end of their training; talks are in process with the companies. We have a target of training 12 lakh boys and girls in the next two years.

We have been able to do so much work because people trust us and love us. We will continue to work for you in the future.

 

Trinamool was formed after a lot of sacrifice: Mamata Banerjee

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0Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today addressed a public rally at Balarampur in Purulia district. In her speech, she asked her party workers to work together to defeat the BJP. She also urged people to join the historic Brigade rally on January 19 in large numbers.

Highlights of her speech:

I have chaired almost 430 administrative review meetings till date, which is unprecedented. We are committed to serving the Maa, Mati, Manush of Bangla.

There was a time when people were afraid to come to this district. People did not step out of their homes after dark. Shops would shut down. Everyone lived in fear. Tyranny ruled the entire state.

Now, Ayodhya Hill has turned into a popular tourist spot. We have set up a new tourism centre there. We have done in 7 years, what others failed to do in 66 years. From ITIs to polytechnic colleges, Manbhum Akademi to Kurmi Akademi – we have done it all. We have provided assistance to folk artistes also.

When we assumed power Darjeeling in north, and Jangalmahal in south, were burning. People had only one question – when will the Maoist problem end. Now, they are smiling. People are happy. Children are going to schools, hospitals have been set up. People can go to work without fear. They sleep at night in peace.

A freight corridor is coming up at Raghunathpur. Lakhs of employment will be created.

Some people are coming here from Jharkhand, wearing saffron head gears. They cannot feed people but will do everything to harm them. Those who sported red shirts in the past are donning the saffron shirt now.

Ram (BJP) and Bam (Left) have become one. There’s Jogai, Madhai and Bidai.

They have only one work – to mislead people about Trinamool. They are creating divisions between Hindus and Muslims, Adivasis and Mahatos, Sikhs and Christians. They are driving Bengalis away from Assam and Biharis away from Gujarat.

Every girl has been brought under Kanyashree scheme in Bangla. We do not discriminate. SC/ST students receive Sikshashree scholarship. We give Sabuj Sathi cycles to students. Healthcare is free. Rice is provided at Rs 2/kg.

We also give saplings to parents of newborn children. We also give financial assistance to poor families for the last rites of their near and dear ones. We have renovated crematoriums, graveyards, Jahar Than. We have given land pattas.

They are trying to grab the land of Adivasis. We have brought a law against it. No other place has this law.

We have set up an academy for the welfare of Mahato community.

We are setting up a 900 MW power project at Bandwan at a cost of Rs 4500 crore.

We have taken up a water supply project at a cost of Rs 1100 crore for this district. Scarcity of water will become history in Purulia.

We have given Rs 1200 crore to 30 lakh farmer families, who have been affected by floods.

We have started lac cultivation in Purulia. We are focusing on homestay tourism. We are ensuring that girls associated with self-help groups get jobs.

Bangla is the only State where khajna tax on agricultural land has been waived off. We have done away with mutation fee on agricultural land.

People get free healthcare in government hospitals and health centres. People from Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam, Tripura and also Bangladesh come here for checkup free of cost.

I love Jharkhand. But BJP is bringing paid goons from Jharkhand to foment trouble in Purulia. We will contest Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Jharkhand in the future. We will also contest in Assam and Odisha.

Bengalis and Biharis are being driven away from Assam. We want good relations with our neighbouring States. So we have decided to contest elections there. If an Adivasi is persecuted there, we will fight for them.

The land of Adivasis was being grabbed in Jharkhand few days ago. We sent our team there to fight for their cause. The fight will continue in the future.

More than 12,000 farmers have committed suicide in many States, including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Whereas in Bangla, whenever there is any natural disaster, we help them. We provide agricultural equipment to farmers. We love them. Bangla is different from other States.

CPI(M) starts shouting whenever elections approach. They have become a signboard party. They are working in tandem with BJP now. They will be written off soon. Trinamool existed in the past, exists now and will exist in the future. We will play a significant role to build a better India. We will work for all and protect the people.

There are more than 50 per cent women members in our gram sabha, panchayat samitis, zilla parishads and municipalities. This is our message for the future.
We are organising a rally at Brigade parade ground on January 19, 2019. Barring one or two, 18-20 political parties will be present. It will be a historic rally. Start your preparations for the rally. Organise booth level meetings.

Trinamool was born amidst a lot of struggle. Our party was created after a section of the Congress became too close to the CPI(M). We have lost thousands of party workers. Trinamool was born on January 1, 1998.

Almost all our old workers have been beaten up. Even I have been attacked. I have had stitches from head to toe. We have reached this position after a lot of struggle, sacrifice and devotion.

People of Bangla cannot be bought with money. We do not have the slave-mentality. We have been taught to keep our heads held high. Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam, BR Ambedkar, Birsa Munda, Pandit Raghunath Murmu, Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad are our inspirations.

Trinamool stands for people, culture, education. Those who join this party must know about the legacy and history of Trinamool.

Our struggles continue. Centre does not pay us any money. Bangla is being neglected by Delhi. They only badmouth us. From Raj Bhavan to the PMO – every office has BJP’s stamp now.

Didn’t people of Bangla celebrate Durga Puja before? Wasn’t Kali Puja celebrated? Hanuman Jayanti? Don’t we worship Shiva? Is Karam Puja not our tradition? Weren’t festivals held earlier? A new political party, supported by the CPI(M), is trying to teach us our culture. Let them manage Delhi first and then look at Bangla.

EVMs are malfunctioning in Madhya Pradesh since morning. We know these tricks. EC should take the responsibility of VVPATs. I will propose this at the meeting of Opposition parties in Delhi.

A conspiracy is afoot to incite riots in many places. We have seen rath yatra of Shri Jagannath, Shri Krishna. And now we are seeing the ‘Ravan Rath’ of BJP. It is a luxurious five-star bus. Netas will enjoy inside, come out only to incite mobs. Let them do their ‘Ravan Yatra’. We will perform ‘Ravan Vadh’ democratically.

They will instigate you to cause trouble. Do not fall into their trap. We will organise ‘Pavitra Yatra’ a day after their ‘Rath Yatra’. Their yatra will make the roads impure. They will travel in raths and we will be on the road with the people. Perform your ‘Pavitra Yatra’ on the same route.

BJP will be finished off (democratically) soon. Those who are coming from Jharkhand to create trouble here should take care of their State first. Provide basic amenities to people. BJP is in power in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan. They will not win there. Neither in Tamil Nadu, Kerala or Karnataka. They had two seats in Bangla; they will get zero.

CPI(M) and Congress have helped BJP grow in Bangla. They worked together like brothers during Panchayat polls. It will be good for the country is BJP is thrown out (of power). Our slogan is ‘BJP Bharat Chharo. BJP Desh Chharo’.

If BJP remains in power, you will not get loans from banks, your savings will not be secure. Farmer suicides will increase.

Trinamool does not compromise with those who are in touch with the BJP or those who discriminate between people. We work for all and will take everyone along.

Do not seek posts. Our block workers are our greatest assets. You must work unitedly.

 

With 1.3 lakh applications, Rupashree scheme witnesses exceptional response in Bangla

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on With 1.3 lakh applications, Rupashree scheme witnesses exceptional response in Bangla

Bangla Government has allotted a fund of Rs 1,500 crore for the current financial year, to ensure smooth running of the Rupashree project, a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Under the project, girls above the age of 18 can avail a financial benefit of Rs 25,000 during their marriage, provided the family income of the beneficiaries does not exceed Rs 1.5 lakh per year.

Minister of মেয়ে, said in the Assembly on Monday that her department has received nearly 1.3 lakh applications since April this year, out of which around 5,500 applications have been rejected due to some errors in them. She also said that a total amount of around Rs 2,030 crore has already been spent by the government for this purpose.

Beneficiaries above the age of 18 can apply for the amount during their first marriage. The person, to whom a beneficiary gets married, must cross the age of 21. The amount would directly be credited to the bank account of the beneficiary, at least 5 days prior to the day of marriage.

“Beneficiaries do not need to submit any caste certificate or APL and BPL cards to avail the benefits. The process of getting the amount has been simplified. There are designated officers in the districts, sub-divisions or block level, who help the girls fill up the applications. They will carry out necessary enquiry before finally disbursing the amount. In case of urban areas, the municipal commissioners will take care of the technical issues,” the minister said.

She also said: “The beneficiaries or their parents must be permanent residents of the state. Girls currently staying outside the state but having domicile in the state, can also enjoy the facility. Earlier, poor people had to borrow money for marriage from various financial institutions, at high interest rates. The previous government did not initiate any such social scheme for the benefit of people.”

The minister also urged the people to submit the applications 30-60 days ahead of the marriage date, so that the money can be credited to their account on time.