Bengal Govt allocates Rs 300 crore to aid demonetisation-hit workers

The state government has allocated a fund of Rs 300 crore to provide financial assistance to those who have lost their jobs due to demonetisation in other states and have come back home. The scheme to provide financial assistance has been named “Samarthan”.

It may be mentioned that state Finance Minister Amit Mitra had announced the unique step of providing financial assistance to “stand beside the skilled workers” while presenting the Budget in the Assembly on February 10. Bengal is the only State in the country to take such a step for demonetisation-hit workers.

On Monday, the state government has decided to allocate Rs 300 crore for the scheme initially in nine districts. Under the scheme, Rs 50,000 each will be given to 50,000 such workers to start their own business so that they can earn their livelihood and don’t have to suffer after losing their jobs due to the hasty decision of the Central government to demonetise high value notes.

 

নোটবন্দির ফলে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত কর্মীদের পাশে দাঁড়াল রাজ্য সরকার

নোটবন্দীর ফলে ভিন রাজ্যে কর্মচ্যুতদের নতুন ব্যবসা শুরু করার জন্য  আর্থিক সাহায্য দেওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নিল রাজ্য সরকার। এই প্রকল্পের নাম ‘সমর্থন’।

উল্লেখ্য, গত ১০ই ফেব্রুয়ারি বাজেট পেশ করার সময়ই অর্থমন্ত্রী অমিত মিত্র নোটবাতিলের ফলে ক্ষতিগ্রস্তদের আর্থিক সহায়তা প্রদানের কথা ঘোষণা করেছিলেন।

এই প্রকল্পের জন্য ৯টি জেলা বেছে নেওয়া হয়েছে। সোমবার ৯ টি জেলায় এই প্রকল্পে ৩০০ কোটি টাকা বরাদ্দের সিদ্ধান্ত নেয় রাজ্য সরকার। এই প্রকল্পের মাধ্যমে ক্ষতিগ্রস্তদের স্বনিযুক্তিকরণের জন্য মাথাপিছু ৫০ হাজার টাকা করে আর্থিক সহায়তা দেবে সরকার যাতে তারা তাদের নিজেদের ব্যবসা শুরু করতে পারেন। প্রতিটি জেলায় এই ধরনের কর্মহীনদের শনাক্ত করতে একটি কমিটিও গঠন করা হয়েছে।

 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hails passage of GST Bill

Welcoming the passage of the GST bill in Rajya Sabha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed hope that it will give relief to micro and small businesses and remain under single control of the states.

“We have consistently supported the idea and implementation of GST. Good constitutional amendment was passed today,” she said in a tweet.

“Now in GST Bill in Nov, all states want to give relief to micro and small businesses which must remain single control of the states,” WB CM posted on Twitter soon after the Bill passed in the Upper House of Parliament.

 

জিএসটি বিল পাস হওয়ায় খুশি মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা

রাজ্যসভায় জিএসটি বিল পাস হওয়ায় খুশি মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তিনি আশা প্রকাশ করেন যে ভবিষ্যতে জিএসটি বিলে ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি ব্যবসায়ীদের স্বার্থরক্ষা করা হবে এবং তারা রাজ্যের আওতায় থাকবে।

“আমরা ধারাবাহিকভাবে জিএসটি বিলের ভাবনাকে সমর্থন করে এসেছি। আজ যে সাংবিধানিক সংশোধনী পাস হয়েছে সেটি ভালো” টুইটে বলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

“নভেম্বরে যে বিলটি আনা হবে তাতে সব রাজ্যই চায় যেন ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি ব্যবসায়ীদের স্বার্থরক্ষা করা এবং তারা যেন রাজ্যের আওতায় থাকে,” তিনি বলেন।

Bengal Govt to formulate action plan for fostering start-ups

The newly-elected Mamata Banerjee Government is planning to formulate an action plan for fostering start-ups in the State.

“By 2020, we aim to make West Bengal one of the top three States in IT and IT-enabled services,” the state’s newly-appointed IT Minister Bratya Basu said during an interactive session with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) on Wednesday. NASSCOM is the representative body of IT industries in India.

He called upon industry to join the Government to help dispel the negative perceptions that the State suffers from. “It cannot be the Government’s job alone…you have to join us too,” he said echoing a point made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday at her meeting with nine chambers of commerce.

The Government is determined to make the State a front runner in the IT space, Mr. Basu said.

The discussions ranged from possible Government-supported product-development centric incubation centres to the creation of a database of start-ups for larger companies as well as the Government.

 

স্টার্ট-আপ প্রসারে উদ্যোগী পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার

নবনির্বাচিত মমতা ব্যানার্জী পরিচালিত সরকার রাজ্যে স্টার্ট আপগুলির বিকাশের জন্য একটি সক্রিয় প্ল্যান প্রণয়ন করার পরিকল্পনা করেছে।

“২০২০ সালের মধ্যে তথ্য–‌প্রযুক্তিতে দেশের প্রথম ৩ রাজ্যের তালিকায় মধ্যে পশ্চিমবঙ্গের নাম যুক্ত করা আমাদের লক্ষ্য”, বুধবার এক আলোচনাচক্রে এ কথা জানান রাজ্যের তথ্য–‌প্রযুক্তি ও ইলেকট্রনিক্স মন্ত্রী ব্রাত্য বসু। তথ্য–‌প্রযুক্তি সংস্থাগুলির সংগঠন ‘‌ন্যাসকম’‌ এই আলোচনার আয়োজন করেছিল।

আলচনার পর মন্ত্রী জানান, “ তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি ক্ষেত্রে একজানালা পরিষেবা চালু করা হবে, এর জন্য একটি অ্যাপও তৈরি করা হচ্ছে, যে কোনও লাইসেন্স, সব রকম আবেদন এর মাধ্যমেই করা যাবে”।

মন্ত্রী আরও জানান, “অনেকেই তথ্য–‌প্রযুক্তিতে নতুন বিনিয়োগ করেছেন বা ছোট সংস্থা খুলেছেন।রাজ্য সরকার তাদের পাশে থাকবে।তথ্য প্রযুক্তিতে রাজ্যকে সামনে আনার জন্য সরকার দৃঢ়প্রতিজ্ঞ”।

ইনকিউবেশন সেন্টার থেকে শুরু করে সরকারি সাহায্য ও স্টার্ট আপ এর ডাটাবেস তৈরির ব্যাপারেও আলোচনা হয়েছে এই বৈঠকে।

Business club coming up in New Town

A business club is being developed by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), the body responsible for rendering various civic services and amenities within New Town, Kolkata.

According to NKDA chairman, Debashis Sen, the business club will be thrown open in April this year. The move strives to build upon the success of the Bengal Global Business Summit, the ease of doing business and the plug-n-play smart infrastructure of New Town. The idea is to attract talent and businessmen through a strong social infrastructure.

The construction of the business club is almost complete. A full-time supervisor of facilities has been posted to look after the operational matters.

 

নিউটাউনে আসছে নতুন বিজনেস ক্লাব

কলকাতার মধ্যে বিভিন্ন নাগরিক পরিষেবা এবং সুযোগ দেওয়ার জন্য নিউটাউন কলকাতা উন্নয়ন পরিষদ শীঘ্রই একটি বিজনেস ক্লাব স্থাপন করতে চলেছে।

এন কে ডি এ চেয়ারম্যান দেবাশিস সেনের কথা অনুযায়ী এবছরের এপ্রিল মাসে চালু হবে এই বিজনেস ক্লাব। বিশ্ববঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনের সাফল্যকে হাতিয়ার করে নিউটাউনকে ব্যবসা বান্ধব করে তুলতে এবং স্মার্ট পরিকাঠামো গড়ে তুলতে এই পদক্ষেপ।একটি শক্তিশালী সামাজিক পরিকাঠামোর মাধ্যমে ব্যবসায়ীদের আকৃষ্ট করাই এর মূল লক্ষ্য।

নতুন বিজনেস ক্লাব তৈরির কাজ প্রায় শেষ। কয়েকজনকে পুরো বিষয়টি তত্ত্বাবধান করার জন্যও নিয়োগ করা  হয়েছে।

Bengal Global Business Summit: WB CM meets Bhutan PM in Kolkata

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Wednesday arrived in Kolkata for a four-day visit to West Bengal, and met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the day.

Tobgay will be attending the two-day Bengal Global Business Summit beginning on Friday.

On Wednesday, Tobgay visited the Bhutanese consulate and interacted with the consul general. In the evening, Mamata Banerjee accompanied by government officials paid him a visit.

During her visit to Bhutan in October, Banerjee had invited Tobgay for the business summit.

West Bengal’s land policy followed now by others: Dr Amit Mitra

The land policy of the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal of no forcible acquisition of land from farmers is now being followed by some other states, WB Finance and IT Minister Dr Amit Mitra said on Wednesday. The State Finance Minister will meet a Japanese Business delegation today and extend invitation from the State Government to attend the Bengal Global Business Summit 2016.

“The land policy of the present government under Mamata Banerjee clearly states that there will be no forcible land acquisition from farmers. This is now being followed elsewhere,” he said at the FICCI national executive meet.

Citing recent protests by farmers at Noida, Dr Mitra said that some states like Uttar Pradesh were now toeing the line which West Bengal had set. He said the state was having one lakh acres of land under various government departments which was readily available for setting up industries.

Highlighting the progress of the state in various fields during the last four years of Trinamool Congress rule, he said all macro-parameters like per capita income, plan expenditure, capital expenditure had improved while e-governance measures had pushed the state’s domestic product growth.

“When we came to office, there were many festering projects from 2006. One by one we solved them,” he said, giving the example of Shapoorji & Pallonji’s mass housing project at Rajarhat for which the Left Front had allocated 150 acres. The 20,000-unit mini township was stuck in bureaucratic tangle, which was resolved by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Dr Mitra focused his hour-long speech on e-governance initiatives such as e-bantan, e-pradan, e-billing, electronic file tracking and e-tendering and said the system would become more interconnected from December. “From December 1, we expect the whole lifecycle to be complete,” Dr Mitra said. Faster disbursement by electronic modes of payment, the minister said, helped the Government to spend more on development. “Bengal’s capital expenditure was Rs 2,225 crore in 2010-11. In 2014-15, it has grown to Rs 13,375 crore. Why wasn’t it happening before? Part of the reason is the lack of electronic payment.”

Dr Mitra also said that the state had bagged the “highest award” for e-governance among other states this year. “These awards indicate that through electronic methodology, we are cutting back time, reducing rent seeking and introducing transparency,” Dr Mitra said. Seamless implementation of e-governance across departments had helped in reducing time, decreasing rent seeking and increased transparency, he pointed out.

China keen to enhance economic activity with Bengal

The Chinese government has expressed keen interest in enhancing economic activity with West Bengal as the state is both economically and geographically close to China, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said that the Vice-President also expressed a desire to cooperate with the state government in developing infrastructure in West Bengal.

She was talking to reporters after a meeting with Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao. He led a delegation of Chinese ministers and officials at the venue of the meeting at Eco-Park on the outskirts of the city.

The leaders discussed a range of issues – from increasing economic activity and cultural cooperation to tourism during the 45-minute meeting.

The Chief Minister said that she had also invited the Chinese commerce and investment Minster and the business delegation to attend the upcoming Biswa Bangla Business Summit.

“We also discussed setting up of an auto hub here..we will be jointly manufacturing buses. We also discussed enhancing cultural ties between China and Bengal,” she said adding a tourism package for Chinese tourists during Dura Puja had been proposed in the meeting.

Mr Li Yuanchao for his part said that the meeting was fruitful.

Mamata Banerjee most honest politician in India: VP of China

A chinese survey has reportedly ranked Mamata Banerjee first among all Indian politicians in terms of honesty. This was reportedly the opening remarks of Chinese Vice-President Li Yuan Chao when he met the chief minister in Kolkata on Thursday evening, said state Finance and Industries Minister Dr Amit Mitra.

Dr Mitra, who attended the meeting, said: “This was a stimulating accolade from the visiting Chinese dignitary.”

The survey had also reportedly found that the development in Bengal was taking place at a fast pace.

Briefing mediapersons about the meeting held at Eco Park in New Town-Rajarhat, Dr Mitra said Chao appreciated the development initiative unleashed by Mamata in Bengal and was also aware about the state’s high growth rate.

The leaders discussed a range of issues — from increasing economic activity and cultural cooperation to tourism — during the 45-minute meeting.

WB CM to hold meeting with Chinese Vice President today

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee will hold a meeting with the visiting Vice President of China today. The meeting will be held at the Glass House of the Eco Park.

The State today will witness a MoU signing ceremony between the State Government and Chinese bus manufacturer Zhongtong Bus Holding Company which specializes in diverse types of buses and tour coaches.

West Bengal government plans to set up a bus manufacturing unit under the brand name Bengal Zhongtong Ltd at Andal where the new airport has come up in which. The State Government is likely to have share in the company. The State Government promises to buy a major part of its fleet from this joint venture company.

On Thursday, the MoU is to be signed in which both The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao would be present.

50% subsidy for new MSME industry in Coochbehar: WB CM

West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee batted for Cooch Behar as a possible investment destination urging “industry friends“and invest in this far-flung district. The Chief Minister promised the investors of all help and announced a 50% subsidy to the small-scale industry sector in the district.

Addressing a public meeting in Gumanihat in Cooch Behar’s Mathabhanga sub-division, the Chief Minister said, “Children from Cooch Behar go to Delhi to do some intricate gold jewellery work, they go to Rajasthan to do stone sculptures. Such works have opportunities here too. I will urge my industry friends with folded hands to please come and invest here. I will provide whatever you seek for it. But, please work in these far-flung districts. Please work and generate jobs.“

The State Government has been urging investors to lay stress on MSME. In near future, a business conclave for north Bengal is scheduled to be held. The Chief Minister in her recent visit to Bhutan had invited a Bhutanese delegation to attend the said conclave.