Bengal Govt to help the traditional amsotto-makers of Malda

Bengal Govt to help the traditional amsotto-makers of Malda

Posted on July 9, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

0Making amsotto, or sun-dried mango pulp – a famous cottage industry of Bengal – is now going to get a major boost as the State Government has decided to extend special monetary help to the women-only self-help groups (SHG) of Malda district to enable them to make its manufacturing more viable. Amsotto has traditionally been made by women.

More monetary help would also bring some stability to the manufacturers, as non-conducive weather (less or no sunshine or unseasonal rains) can badly hamper the making of this traditional mango-based food.

Malda has been selected because it is famous for its varieties of amsotto, many of which are not available elsewhere. With help from the State Government, more amsotto would be produced and be available across the State. Now amsotto is being used as nutritious food for children as well.

Help is already being provided by the State Government. The amsotto-makers of Kotuali gram panchayat (a cluster of 15 villages) near Malda town, a traditional hub, have seen their stock rise once again after many had left the business due to lack of help in marketing their products.

Amsotto is initially made from gopalbhog mangoes, and as the season progresses, with himsagar and lakshmanbhog, and finally with fazli.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

Project Sabujayan becoming popular across Bengal

Posted on July 9, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Sabujayan, or promoting greenery, one of the favourite projects of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which proposes planting of vetiver grass to prevent soil erosion, is becoming popular throughout the state. It is run by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department.

The scheme started in the district of Nadia a few years back, when the grass was planted along the embankments of six rivers. Till now, of the 743 km of embankments, vetiver has been planted in areas covering around 300 km. The grass is produced in over 70 nurseries.

Seeing the success in Nadia, the districts of Purba Medinipur and Howrah have also followed suit and have found success.

The grass is also used for making the bags used in holding the saplings given to mothers of newborns as part of the sabujshree scheme.

As vetiver is also an aromatic grass, the MSME Department is trying to make the aroma industry popular through its cultivation, and of other aromatic grasses like citronella and lemongrass, in South 24 Parganas (Baruipur), Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia districts. The department is installing aroma extraction units in these areas.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal Govt organises workshop for women engaged in fishing sector

Posted on July 9, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Fisheries Department recently organised a workshop, at its office in Haldia block of Purba Medinipur district, to train women engaged in the fishing sector to make and repair fishing nets. This would add another dimension to their livelihoods.

The weekly workshop (since the women had to make time out of their work) was run for one-and-a-half months. Making a cast net takes around 15 days and it costs Rs 500 to 550. These are usually sold for around Rs 3,000. Hence, the women can earn a decent income.

There are different types of cast nets. Not just from those who catch fish, different types of nets are in big demand from hatcheries too. The State Government is constantly setting up, or helping in the setting up of hatcheries across the State, more so in the southern coastal districts. Various types of fish are cultivated both for domestic consumption and export to other countries and other States of India.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

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.

Achievements of the Cooperation Department

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

The cooperative sector is a major success story in Bengal. As per the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the State Cooperation Department, by empowering cooperatives societies, upgrading numerous societies to banks to overcome the problem of lack of banks in far-flung areas, and through loans from cooperative banks, creating lakhs of self-help groups (SHG), has enabled the rural populace of Bengal to enjoy an economic revival like never before.

In total, there are more than 28,000 cooperative societies having a membership of more than 78 lakh, and lakhs of self-help groups involving more than 18 lakh people.

Achievements of the Cooperation Department

Huge increase in loan dispersals: Over the last seven financial years, that is, 2010-11 to 2017-18, crop loan disbursed has increased by 143.88 per cent (from Rs 1,388 crore to Rs 3,385 crore) and loan given to SHGs has increased by 374.42 per cent (Rs 129 crore to Rs 612 crore).

Huge increase in paddy procurement: Over the last seven financial years, that is, 2010-11 to 2017-18, quantity of paddy procured by BENFED and CONFED has increased by 157.87 per cent (1.97 lakh MT to 5.08 lakh MT), whose corresponding value increased by 124.5 per cent (Rs 351 crore to Rs 788 crore).

BENFED is the acronym for West Bengal State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd. While CONFED is the acronym for West Bengal State Consumers Cooperative Federation Ltd.

Crop loans: During financial year (FY) 2016-17, more than 50 per cent of crop loans in Bengal, or Rs 3,018 crore, was extended by cooperative banks only. Over the last seven years, crop loans to the tune of Rs 18,162 crore have been disbursed.

Kisan Credit Cards: During the last seven years, 8,97,664 Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) have been issued. ATM-enabled RuPay Kisan Cards has been introduced and already around 10 lakh cards have been distributed amongst the farmer-members.

Membership drives: A special initiative was taken to enhance membership of cooperative societies, as a result of which 1,51,602 new members have been enrolled by primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS).

Elections for cooperative societies: Cooperative Election Commission was set up for holding free and fair elections for management of cooperative societies. It started functioning from April 16, 2012, since when, elections to 8,262 societies have been held.

Financing: During the 2017-18 fiscal, West Bengal State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development (WBSCARD) Bank received the highest ever refinance of Rs 212 crore from NABARD.

Crop loans: There are 23,70,281 Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders and crop loans worth Rs 2,005.33 crore have been disbursed to 8,41,424 farmer-members.

Self-Help Groups (SHG): FY 2017-18 saw the creation of 1,721 SHGs and the credit-linking of 18,029 SHGs. Loans worth Rs 612.25 crore have been extended to SHGs.

Kharif marketing season (KMF): During KMS 2016-17, 28 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of the 39 LMT of paddy procured was through cooperative societies.

Seed multiplication units: As part of the cooperative sector, 57 seed multiplication units have been set up; another three, involving Rs 1.14 crore, are to be completed soon.

Godowns: Four storage godowns, having a total capacity of 5,462 MT, have been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.73 crore.

Cold storages: Construction of six cold storages, having a total capacity of 49,000 MT, is going on at a cost of Rs 67.18 crore.

Samabay Bhavan: The purpose of Samabay Bhavans is to bring all the district offices and institutions of the cooperative sector under one roof to ensure smooth and hassle-free service. 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.

Sufala outlets: Sufala outlets are being opened across more and more districts to provide quality vegetables and grocery items to the masses at fair prices. For selling at these State Government-owned outlets, the government buys directly from the farmers thus helping them get remunerative prices. So far, 30 Sufala outlets have been opened across six districts and 70 Mobile Sufala outlets have been opened across seven districts.

Fairs and conventions: Samabay Mela 2017 was organised from April 11 to 13, 2017 at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata to showcase the achievements and products prepared by the cooperative societies and self-help groups. At the function, Samabay Ratna, Samabay Bhushan and Samabay Shri awards were bestowed on cooperatives. On January 25, 2018, the first-ever convention on cooperatives in Bengal since independence, titled ‘Cooperatives in Socio-Economic Development’, was held at Netaji Indoor Stadium. It was inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

Government to citizen services: An initiative has been taken by the Cooperation Department to incorporate the services offered in terms of the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act and the rules therein into the e-District Project under the National e-Governance Plan through which government-to-citizen services will be provided online. The objective is to ensure prompt and effective delivery of services in a transparent manner. A total of 89 services have been identified for the purpose, of which six services have already gone live, nine more services are ready to be deployed live and development work of the remaining services are under process.

Awards: Nadia District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd., Krishnanagar has received the award for best performance in the country during FY 2017-18 for outstanding performance in SHG development.

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