34 multi super speciality hospitals coming up in Bengal

34 multi super speciality hospitals coming up in Bengal

Posted on June 17, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Twenty super-speciality hospitals in the districts would be ready by 2016, while another 14 would be constructed by HRBC, the minister of state for Health and family welfare, Chandrima Bhattacharya informed the Assembly on Tuesday. She was replying during the demand for budgetary grant of the department.

Nearly 78 per cent of the West Bengal’s population were dependent on the government’s healthcare delivery system, she said.

Majority of the people subscribe to the government healthcare system, which had been revamped and improved after 34 years of Left Front rule which had completely damaged it, the minister added.

She said that many services had been made free for patients, adding that the medicines supplied through the fair price shops were being verified by the drug controller and were not inferior quality as many Opposition members alleged.

She said that allocation during the four years of Trinamool Congress rule had been doubled from the level which existed before.

The image is representative

Surge of development in the Sunderbans

Posted on June 15, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Nineteen blocks of North and South 24-Parganas of West Bengal come under the Department of Sunderban Affairs. The aim of the department is to provide special assistance to these 19 blocks for their socio-economic development. Of course, these 19 fall within the purview of the other departments of the State Government, and receive the normal share of assistance from them.

The work of the Department of Sunderban Affairs may be categorised under the following heads:

Creating infrastructure for transport
Developing drainage systems and culverts
Increasing agricultural output and the variety of crops grown
Controlling soil erosion and developing mangroves
Spreading horticulture in the region
Ensuring adequate supply of drinking water
Improving the infrastructure for education
Ensuring electricity reaches all the regions
Ensuring adequate housing

Though the department existed during the Left Front regime, that there was little development under the above-mentioned heads is evident from examining the plan outlay of the State budgets.

Budget allocation

During the last four financial years of the Left Front Government, that is, from 2007-08 to 2010-11, the allocation increased from Rs 89,77,32,000 to Rs 106,73,71,000, or by a mere 19%.

Contrast this with that during the first four financial years of the Trinamool Government: from Rs 135,02,29,000 in 2011-12 (therefore, a jump of 26.5% during the first year itself) to Rs 260 crore, or by almost 93% (92.56%, to be exact).

Comparing the fourth year (2014-15) of the Trianamool Government to the last year of the Left Front Government (2010-11) shows an increase of almost 2.5 times (2.44 times, to be exact). Further, comparing the 2010-11 number to the 2015-16 number (current financial year), which is Rs 370,00,00,000, shows that the difference has become almost 3.5 times (3.45 times, to be exact).

Therefore, it is quite clear that the Trinamool Government has put a lot of stress on the development of the Sunderbans region, and the all-round developments are there for all to see.

Three-pronged development

The plan outlay in the State Budget for the Department of Sunderban Affairs is divided into three categories.

Sunderbans Development Fund, which constitutes the Core Plan for the Sunderbans region (and which is fully funded by the State Government)
Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (partly borne by the Centre)
Additional funds for the development of the Sunderbans (under Additional Compensatory Afforestation (ACA))

During its last financial year in power, that is, 2010-11, the Left Front Government allotted Rs 31,64,46,000. During its first four years in power, the Trinamool Government allotted a total of Rs 530,67,54,000, or Rs 132,66,89,000 per year on an average. Therefore, the latter, per year, has been spending more than four times that spent by the Left Front during its last year.

Report card for 2013-14

Among the important projects implemented by the Trinamool Government during 2013-14 are:

Bricklaying of 275 km of pathways
Concretising 48.82 km of pathways
Metalling 67.3 km of pathways
Constructing 20 roller-compacted concrete (RCC) jetties, three RCC bridges, two sluice gates, two culverts
Constructing one sports complex in Mathurapur-1 block in South 24-Parganas
Distributing bicycles among 32,209 ninth standard students in the region

Fund allocation under the three categories mentioned earlier:

Sunderbans Development Fund – Rs 141 crore
Rural Infrastructure Development Fund – Rs 115 crore
ACA – Rs 18 crore

Report card for 2014-15

Among the important projects implemented by the Trinamool Government during 2013-14 are:

Bricklaying of 136.43 km of pathways
Concretising 27.29 km of pathways
Metalling 14.35 km of pathways
Constructing 15 RCC jetties, one sluice gate
Constructing an RCC bridge over Mridangabhanga River, linking Mathurapur-2 and Patharpratima blocks
Constructing two college buildings and four ITI buildings
Distributing bicycles among 19,000 ninth standard students in the region

Coming to agricultural development of the Sunderbans, during 2014-15, 70,000 farmer families have been provided help on various fronts, like distribution of oilseeds (sunflower and til) to small and marginal farmers, distribution of saplings for planting during the boro season, distribution of agricultural implements like hand sprayers and distribution of vermin compost among marginal farmers.

Year 2015-16

Among the major plans for financial year 2015-16 are:

Constructing seven RCC bridges
Laying of 480 km of roadways
Distribution of seeds, fertilizers and agricultural implements among 71,000 small and marginal farmers

For all these, Rs 370 crore has been allotted by the State Government under the Budget, which is 42.3% more than the amount for 2014-15.

Therefore, under the Trinamool Government, there has been an unprecedented development of the Sunderbans region. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, through her able leadership, has managed to bring about the kind of development which most people never expected.

Quality of education in Bengal has increased: Partha Chatterjee

Posted on June 12, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

A budget of Rs 2688.20 crore was passed in the West Bengal Assembly for the state’s Higher Education department today.

Moving the budget proposal, state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said in the last two years, 65 colleges from the state have got ‘A’ or ‘B’ gradation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which showed that quality of education in the state has increased.

To fill up vacant posts in different state-run and aided colleges, recommendation for appointment of more than 1700 teachers have been made, he said.

The minister, however, added that all the recruitments would be made in accordance with UGC norms and that quality would not be compromised.

Chatterjee criticised the opposition members saying that it was not seeing the positives just for the sake of politics.

“They are displaying a lack of positive and constructive attitude,” he said.

Rs 4000 crore allotted for revamping Bengal power infrastructure

Posted on June 12, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

The West Bengal Government has taken up a plan to revamp the state’s power infrastructure at an investment of Rs 4,000 crore over the next two years, State Power Minister Manish Gupta said on Wednesday.

West Bengal Power Development Corporation will appoint a mine developer and operator to start mining in five coal blocks, the Power Minister said while placing the power budget in the assembly.

State to start mining coal

The Centre allotted to WBPDCLsix coal blocks, including Tara (East & West), Barjora (North), Barjora, Gangaramchak, Gangaramchak-Bhadulia, Pachwara (North) and Kasta (East). Apart from this, the Deocha Pachami Deawanganj-Harisingha coal block has been allotted jointly to six states, including Bengal.

The minister said WBPDCL would receive 584 million tonnes of coals from the Deocha Pachami Deawanganj-Harisingha block. He also said that coal supply was not a cause of concern for the state government. “WBPDCL has a record coal stock of 9.29 lakh metric tonnes as on March 31, 2015”, said the minister.

Alternative sources of power

The department of Power and Non-Conventional Energy Sources is drawing up a draft document on Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Policy, which would be extended throughout the state in a phased manner, the Minister told the Assembly. The rooftop solar photovoltaic policy for the state was likely to be announced very shortly after former approval of the state cabinet, the Minister said.

The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency already took up a project for installation of 10 kWp rooftop grid connected PV power plant with net metering arrangement at 100 government and government-aided schools statewide with 100 per cent funding from the state budget, he said.

The project would be extended to 500 schools altogether in phases, the minister said replying to a supplementary. The Minister further said that the WBREDA was also implementing an off-grid school electrification programme for another 100 schools in the Sundarbans.

Boost to power sector

The state government has also planned to set up a photovoltaic power plant to the proposed 1000MW Turga Pumped Storage in Ayodhya Hills in Purulia. “The project has got an in-principle approval from Centre,” the Minister said.

Steps have also been taken to upgrade various low voltage areas into high voltage ones, the Minister said. He said that in the last four years the power sector had witnessed improvement, thanks to several development schemes undertaken by his department.

The distribution infrastructure of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited had much improved in the last four years with the installation of 82 new 33/11KV sub-stations, besides HT line and Distribution Transformers (DTRs) etc, he said.

Starting from non-conventional energy resources, the state has already taken many projects to boost rural electrification and hydro-electric power generation programmes, the Minister said.

Bengal striding ahead in higher education sector

Posted on June 8, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

During the first three years of the Trinamool Government, the spending by all departments has been 50 to 80% higher that the spending during the last three years of the Left Front Government.

This stupendous performance for three consecutive years was never achieved by the Left Front Government. The reason for this performance can be easily gauged by examining the money spent by the Trinamool Government during the last four financial years.

Higher plan expenditure

The plan expenditure during the last year of the Left Front Government, that is, 2010-11, was Rs 11,838 crore. The plan expenditure for 2015-16 has been pegged at Rs 49,507 crore, an increase of 4.18 times. The same for 2014-15 was 3.6 times more. Hence, it is obvious that the Trinamool Government is spending much more on various projects, and the results are there for all to see.

The highest amount to be spent during 2015-16, as per the plan expenditure numbers, would be in the education sector – 18.71% of the total expenditure. For panchayat and rural development, the spend has been pegged at 17.31% of the Budget.

Budget: Four-five times that of the Left Front

For 2015-16, the expenditure in school, higher education and vocational education has been kept at Rs 9270,97,00,000. The amount spent under the same head during the last year of the Left Front Government (2010-11) was Rs 1885,54,00,000. Thus there is an increase of 4.92 times

During 2014-15, the amount was Rs 7143,27,00,000, which is 3.8 times that of 2010-11

Since the spending has been four to five times more, consequently, it can be conveniently assumed that the development in the relevant sector has also been four to five times more

Education: Achievements

The comparative quantitative achievements of the Trinamool Government and the Left Front Government in the education sector

Universities: 13, from 1947-2011, and 13, from 2010-11 to January 2014) (6 state-aided and 7, private)

ITI colleges: 80, from 1947-2011, and 43, from 2010-11 to January 2014) (92 more planned during 2015-16)

Polytechnic colleges: 62, from 1947-2011, and 34, from 2010-11 to January 2014) (32 more planned during 2015-16)

Government colleges: 36, from 1947-2011, and 40, from 2010-11 to January 2014

Health Districts and district hospitals: This is also a concept introduced by the Trinamool Government – 8 of each

Higher primary schools: 497, from 1947-2011, and 3008, from 2010-11 to January 2014

Primary schools: 184, from 1947-2011, and more than 400, from 2010-11 to January 2014

Model English schools: None earlier; 12, from 2010-11 to January 2014) (22 more planned during 2015-16)

Bengal tourism flourishes – tourist footfall doubles in 2014

Posted on May 22, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

West Bengal in 2014 saw around 89% growth in tourist footfall as compared to the previous year, state tourism minister Bratya Basu said.

According to the minister, 5.04 crore tourists visited Bengal last year compared to 2.67 crore in 2013.

Apart from the overall growth, number of foreign tourists also went up to 14 lakh from 12.45 lakh in 2013.

“Our estimate is that the overall number of tourists as well as number of foreign tourists will get doubled this year,” the minister said.

The increase in footfall of tourists can be attributed to the higher budgetary allocation for improving the tourism infrastructure in the state.

In 2011-12 the allocation was Rs 44 crore which has gone up to Rs 317 crore in 2015-16.

Year-wise growth of tourist footfall in Bengal

This is a Govt of headline management not fiscal management: Derek

Posted on May 7, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Leader of the All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien today slammed the Centre by calling it a government that focuses on headline management rather than fiscal management.

Criticising the government for taking several schemes like BRGF, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, mid-day meal scheme, ICDS, modernisation of police forces among others out of central funding, Derek asked the Centre to follow operative federalism instead of cooperative federalism.

He also called the bluff of the Centre on its claims of greater devolution to States. He said there was only a meagre increase from 61.88 paise to the rupee to 62 paise to the rupee. He slammed the government for the huge reduction in social sector budget.

Talking about the Centre’s much-publicised flagship scheme Jan Dhan Yojana, he asked the Finance Minister how many bank accounts have even Re 1 as balance. He criticised him for no mention of electoral reforms either in the Budget or the President’s Address.

Derek O’Brien concluded his speech by quipping two lines in Hindi:

Phool aur poude se hai maali ka kaam,

Jo kaante se darr jaye woh hoga nakaam.

Click here for the full transcript of his speech

Ratna De Nag speaks on demands for grants under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare| Full Transcript

Posted on April 29, 2015 | by admin2

Full Transcript

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for allowing me to speak on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 2015-16.

Firstly, I would like to quote as to what the Ministry has informed the Committee on Health and Family Welfare. It had stated that the projected demand of the Ministry for Plan Funds for 2015-16 was Rs 14,456 crore but the actual allocation made is only Rs.6, 254 crore. There is a shortfall of Rs 8,202 crore.

The startling fact is that this shortfall in Plan allocation has been attributed to non-allocation of funds for certain State Plan schemes in the Health sector. I would urge upon the Minister to explain this huge gap in projection, allocation and n

Sugata Bose speaks during discussion on Budget (General) 2015-2016 | Transcript

Posted on March 17, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

Full transcript:

Madam, I hope my good friend Jayant Sinha has told the Hon’ble Finance Minister, how much he was missed last Friday and how eagerly we have been awaiting his return from the UK. We recognise he had gone there for a historic occasion.

We cannot forget and even we are prepared to forgive what Winston Churchill had said about Mahatma Gandhi in 1931. It was a very proud moment for all Indians to see our Finance Minister standing next to the current Conservative Prime Minister of Britain as he paid tribute to the Father of our Nation, the man whom Churchill had described as a fakir and whose simple attire he had mocked, stands tall today in London’s Parliament Square.

Mr Arun Jaitley, who is yet to arrive in the House, has a charming old world quality about him. I am reminded of the 1980s whenever he pronounces on economic matters, which he invariably does with great conviction. I had spent that unfortunate decade in Thatcher’s Britain and Regan’s America. Mr Jaitley still clings to reignite dogma. believing that the tax cuts of the rich will somehow spur economic growth.

The best research in economics in the last three decades exploded that myth. The Finance Minister has issued a promissory note, regarding the lowering of the corporate tax rate from 30% to 25% and abolished the wealth tax.

My esteemed colleague Mr Saugata Roy has already pointed out that it requires no financial wizardry, to figure out his shift from direct taxes to indirect taxes is highly regressive.

I am glad that our Finance Minister has become less dogmatic in one respect namely in his tendency to fetishize the need to reduce the fiscal deficit at a fast pace. His right to have given himself more time, three years rather than two, in his effort to draw down the fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP.

The Prime Minister must have whispered in his ear, I have recently visited Japan and seeing the wonders of Abenomics which is better than Reganomic. Our economy needs the stimulus of greater public spending, particularly in social sectors to quicken the pace of growth rather than any unnecessary tightening of the fiscal belt.

I would urge the Finance Minister not to worry too much about the fiscal deficit, so long as he can bring it down below the 4% mark next year and then steadily move towards his target. Has the Finance Minister truly embraced the States as equal partners in the country’s developments, as he claimed? Despite the rhetoric about cooperative federalism, the record here is decidedly mixed. The marginal increase in the state’s share of revenue resources has come courtesy of the Finance Commission, not through the largess of this Government.

We are glad that the proceeds of the Coal Auctions will benefit the resource-rich yet poverty-stricken Easter states and there are one or two incentives tucked away in the Budget that might help attract fresh investments to the states. Yet the abolition of the Planning Commission does not board well for the future of federalism. The Chief Ministers Conclave under the aegis of the newfangled NITI Ayog can aspire to be no more than a talking shop. The key economic decisions regarding allocations are being centralised under the Finance Ministry.

I do not doubt the sincerity of the Finance Minister’s wish, for his Government to be intellectually honest. Yet, the talks about federalism and acts to centralise, speaks of humility and behaves arrogantly.

Our commitments to farmers run deep, the Finance Minister claimed in his Budget Speech. It runs so deep that the Government has railroaded the Land Acquisition Bill through the Lok Sabha that does away the need to take consent of the farmers while looting their fertile, even multicrop lands to gift away to its corporate friends.

What is Jan Dhan, Madam Speaker? The Government is proud of their Jan Dhan Yojana that has created over 12 Crore bank accounts, mostly zero balance bank accounts. Yet, feels no shame in taking away Jan Dhan, which in India’s villages mostly takes the form of small parcels of land of peasants.

Speaking on the Budget last year, I had said that our future developments has to be built on three pillars: Infrastructure, Education and Health. I commend the Finance Minister once more for committing public funds to infrastructure projects even though the funds may clogged up if the infrastructure projects are not implemented fast.

I must express my deep disappointment again at the utter neglect of education, especially school education and public health. Spending on flagship projects on education like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has suffered severe cuts. The ritual of announcing a few new IITs, IIMs and AIIMS – like institutions will do little to achieve excellence in the field of higher education.

In the spirit of cooperative federalism, I urge the Finance Minister to support the most promising state universities.

And the fun fare over the Swachch Bharat Aviyan is masking the Government’s unwillingness to admit the public health crisis looming across the country. It should be done on a war footing.

To conclude, Madam Speaker, a Finance Minister’s Budget Speech brought cheer to a handful of billionaires in our country. Having listened to the Opposition, I hope his reply today will offer something that might warm the hearts of a billion ordinary Indians. The amirs can take care of themselves, please look after the interest of the fakirs of India.

Thank you.

Trinamool reacts to Railway Budget 2015

Posted on February 26, 2015 | by admin2 | Leave a Comment

This is a brake-fail Budget. This is a clerical and casual approach at a Budget.

Parliament, which is a stake holder in Railways, was not taken into confidence before making announcements on projects.

The Government hiked passenger fares by 25% few months back. Although Diesel prices are down, fares have not been decreased.

Freight rates have increased. This will have an effect on prices of essential commodities and in turn affect housewives and farmers.

Swachh Bharat cannot be achieved with only a broom. Ideas should also be there. Safety, anti-collision devices are all old ideas.

We looked at nitty-gritty of the Budget. Projects worth hundreds of crores stuck in Bengal but allocation is less than 1%.

There is no mention of Metro Railway projects in the Annexure of the Rail Budget 2015

Bengal is already deprived. Now extra burden has been imposed on the State through State-Centre Joint Ventures. We will protest against Rail Budget 2015.