Compete on work, not on divisiveness, fighting or jealousy: Mamata Banerjee

Today Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed an audience of MSME investors at Nabanna Sabhaghar.

Highlights of her speech:

Several industrial clusters and industrial parks dedicated to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) were inaugurated today. The total acreage is 1,633 acres. Rs 13,000 crore has been allocated for developing them. Two lakh people would get employment.

A few weeks back I had inaugurated an expanded leather complex at Bantala; it is now the world’s second largest leather complex.

I have renamed the leather complex as Karmadiganta, where leather goods manufacturers from Kanpur, who had to endure huge losses due to closure of their business units, are setting up base.

Once upon a time Howrah was famous as an industrial hub; similarly Bardhaman was famous for sweets and Chandannagar for its lighting technicians. We are bringing those glory days back.

It is unfortunate that the media is intent on highlighting only the negative aspects of Bangla; there are so many positives to talk about. It is a matter of great pride that many who had once left our State are now coming back to work here.

We have a deep responsibility towards the citizens of this State. We want big industries to be set up here. A lot of companies are closing down across the country. There is no use giving just big talk and creating a mirage of stability through controlling the media. Economic independence is what really matters.

In such a state of affairs as it exists now, it is important to concentrate on jobs and agriculture.

Women, youth, students are our strengths, they show us the way.

For creating employment for the rural people, it is crucial to set up a strong MSME base.

Traditional industrial bases like Howrah, Haldia and others need to be developed more through the setting up of manufacturing units and more people need to come forward for this.

For ease of doing business, the Bangla Government has set up a single-window scheme for approval of proposals for setting industries. We will appoint a nodal officer to make the system more smooth, for which a committee has been set up.

We have streamlines the work culture of the State. Earlier 70 to 80 person-days used to be wasted every year, now that has stopped.

The Centre is trying to privatise 45 PSUs across the country, putting in danger the jobs of 8 lakh people.

The percentage of employment is at a 45-year high now.

We want people to work and be happy.

Bangla is a safe place for industry; that why companies like Wipro and Microsoft are setting up bases here.

A total of 26 helipads and greenfield airports are being constructed.

In MSME, skill training, GDP growth and girls’ empowerment (Kanyashree) Bangla is number one.

About 60 lakh girls are getting benefits through the Kanyashree Scheme, from school right till the postgraduate stage.

About 9 lakh people are benefitting from the Khadya Sathi Scheme and 7.5 crore through Swasthya Sathi.

Bangla has received the Krishi Karman Award six times.

Here medicine at government hospitals is available at very cheap prices, affordable for everybody, at discounts of up to 70 per cent.

Compete on work, not on divisiveness, fighting or jealousy: Mamata Banerjee

Everybody stay happy.

Bangla CM inaugurates Khadyashree Bhavan

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated Khadyashree Bhavan, the headquarters of the State Food and Supplies Department, from a programme for inaugurating MSME industrial parks in Howrah, held at Nabanna Sabhaghar.

The beautiful eight-storied building with a glass-and-steel façade is located at Mirza Galib Street, Kolkata.

It may be mentioned here that the Food and Supplies Department is the department responsible for the landmark Khadya Sathi Scheme. This flagship scheme of the Bangla Government has been highly successful, helping the poor from across the State access quality foodgrains at the cheap price of Rs 2 per kg.

I want Kanyashrees to rise up in life with determination, dedication and devotion: Mamata Banerjee

August 14 is celebrated by the Bangla Government as Kanyashree Dibas, dedicated to the flagship Kanyashree Prakalpa or Kanyashree Scheme. This much-feted scheme was conceived by Chief Minister Banerjee and it was she who inaugurated it on October 1, 2013.

The scheme has benefitted over 60 lakh girls in schools, colleges and universities across the State by spending over 7000 crores of rupees.

Kanyashree Prakalpa has six primary objectives: Incentivising education through scholarships; incentivising education through scholarships; discouraging early marriage of girls;reducing the incidence of dropping out of schools; improving infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate by delaying the age of marriage and consequently increasing the age of first birth; eradicating under-nutrition and malnutrition of female children; and, preventing trafficking and exploitation.

The scheme also pays for the vocational training of girls so that after passing out of schools, they can start earning by being self-employed.

On this occasion, Mamata Banerjee addressed students at a grand programme. She also awarded girls who had achieved in various fields, including education, sports and others.

Highlights of the chief minister’s speech:

My greetings to all on the occasion of Kanyashree Dibas. Today, the Kanyashree Scheme steps into its sixth year. We celebrate Kanyashree Dibas on August 14, the day we dedicate to girls.

We got the United Nations Public Service Prize for Kanyashree.

Girls are now spread across the globe, excelling in different fields. I harbour a lot of hopes for my Kanyashree girls too to excel. I want them to rise up in life with determination, dedication and devotion, using their education, culture and humanism as a springboard.

We will set up Kanyashree colleges in different districts.

School, college and even university girls now get Kanyashree scholarships.

State Government also provides Swami Vivekananda Scholarships for university education.

As students from Bangla, you have to learn other languages too but you should not forget your mother tongue. Bengali is our pride. There is no language in the world as sweet as Bengali.

I want Kanyashree girls to be feted for their achievements in all corners of the globe. I want them to be able to hold up their heads proudly and say, “I am a Kanyashree”.

The Utkarsh Bangla Scheme has also been awarded by the United Nations.

1st Supusti Dibas and Annaprasan Dibas being celebrated today

The State Government is celebrating the first Supusti Dibas (Nutrition Day) and Annaprasan Dibas today.

While the fourth Friday of every month will be celebrated as Supusti Dibas, the fourth Friday every three months (that is, every quarter) will be celebrated as Annaprasan Dibas.

The celebrations will be organised by the Women and Child Development Department.

Supusti Dibas is meant for pregnant women, while their husband and mother-in-law will be invited to join the programme as well. The community-based programmes will be held at the Anganwadi Centres (AWC).

Annaprasan Dibas is an initiative for complementary feeding in children aged from six to nine months.

These two projects have been taken up following the initiative taken up by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to combat malnutrition, which poses a serious threat in the third world countries.

To make these projects, which are basically supplementary nutrition programmes, a success, awareness campaign at the community level is very important.

The early years of life are very crucial as the foundation of holistic development of a child is laid during this time, which in turn helps in shaping their future. In the formative years, care, nutrition and joyful learning experiences are required.

Source: Millennium Post

After New Town, now e-bus service to start in Kolkata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always given importance to both passenger convenience and protection of the environment on an equal basis.

The e-bus service in New Town has become hugely popular, so much so that last June itself, just a month after its introduction, the service crossed the 10,000 passengers per month mark. From three, the number of e-buses has increased to 10.

From this week, an e-bus service is going to start in Kolkata. A total of 80 e-buses will be introduced. The pilot project started with 20 e-buses, which were flagged off by Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna today.

Alongside these, 20 CNG buses, which are also pollution-free and hence environment-friendly, were launched by her. Both the e-buses and CNG buses would run under the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC).

The chief minister also launched the women-driven special taxi service, called Pink Cab Services, which is set to be another standard bearer of women’s empowerment in the State. These can be purchased through the Gatidhara Scheme.

The renovated Jadavpur 8B bus stand was also inaugurated by her.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

I congratulate all women drivers of the pink taxis. The drivers themselves are the owners of these vehicles. The number of pink taxis will be increased to 1,000 in the near future.

We are planning to increase the number of e-buses as well, to at least 80, this year itself. This is a new gift to Kolkata. Fifty five charging centres have already been set up, which can also be used by private vehicle owners.

Bus stands in Kolkata are also being newly renovated in a similar fashion like 8 B bus stand in Jadavpur. The renovation was undertaken to reduce traffic jams and reduce the inconvenience for passengers and people in general.

Different places such as Joka, Bally Halt and Naihati too are getting newly constructed bus stands.

We are providing financial assistance under the Gatidhara and Jaldhara schemes to increase employment for unemployed youth, men and women. Till now 36,000 unemployed persons have been given subsidies.

We are the first to launch electric bus service. The fare for these buses will be the same as non-electric buses. These buses will operate on three routes for now – Airport to Joka, Shyambazar to Nabanna and Tollygunge to Bidhannagar. New routes will be launched soon.

Bangla Govt gives due honour to ‘Bhasha Shahids’

The Bangla Government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always given due respect to the language martyrs, or ‘Bhasha Shahids’, of February 21, 1952.

Every year on this day Mamata Banerjee attends the wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial, Bhasha Shahid Smarak, located on the Maidan, opposite MP Birla Planetarium in Kolkata. It was inaugurated by her on February 19, 2016.

The memorial comprises of a statue of a beautiful young woman with long braided hair, holding a dead man on her lap. The woman symbolises ‘Mother Language’ and the dead man, the martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of their language on that terrible day in Dhaka.

Various cultural programmes take place throughout the day, in Kolkata and in cities and towns across the State, organised by the authorities and the party.

Another memorial constructed in 2014 called Bhasa Smriti Mancha is located at Deshapriya Park. Various events take place here too.

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Bangla CM slams BJP’s politics of hate and discrimination

Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today slammed the BJP for its politics of hate and discrimination. She was speaking at the Khelashree award ceremony. She said an atmosphere of fear prevailed in the country. CBI is hounding anyone who criticizes the BJP.

She also said that sting operations are being organised for money. From computers to internet, mobile phones to banks, even the privacy of people was under attack, she commented.

Highlights of her speech:

Industry is suffering due to GST and demonetisation. Sports and cultural fields are the biggest sufferers due to lack of sponsorship.

They are creating hurdles if someone wants to help the clubs. CBI is hounding them. People are afraid.

Do not be alarmed. Law will take its own course. They want to use state machinery for their political gain; this cannot be allowed.

They are spending money to conduct sting operations. They are recording personal conversations of friends, married couples, journalists, judges, industrialists.

From computers to internet, mobile phones to banks, even the privacy of people was under attack, she commented.

We organise Durga Puja, Christmas, Eid, Buddha Purnima. We all participate in festivities. This is our pride.

In Bangla, even if we have to starve, we will share our food with others. We want our youths to conquer the world. They are our pride.

We love our country and we will not allow anyone to divide it.

Someone’s surname cannot become their identity.

We believe in the ideology of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Netaji. We believe in the philosophy of Rabindranath and Nazrul. We believe in unity and harmony.

Does anyone ever ask whether Gandhiji was Gujarati or Bengali? No. Gandhiji was Gandhiji. Someone who takes everyone along can become the leader of the nation.

This country is our pride. Bangla’s soil is the purest. Where else can you find soil enriched with such purity? This soil taught us the meaning of freedom. This soil taught us about the renaissance. We must maintain the dignity of this land.

Let the new generation come forward. Even Swami Vivekananda used to say that playing football is an easier way to reach God instead of reading the Gita. Sports promote an environment of harmony and culture.

The Indian Cricket team has seen the captaincy of Md Azharuddin as well as Sourav Ganguly. Have we ever questioned whether they are Bengali or Hindu or Muslim? We work together in harmony.

Those who are the citizens of this country cannot be called foreigners. We are all citizens of this country. We vote; we all hold bank accounts. If one cannot provide their birth certificate of their parents, are they not citizens of the country? This is what is happening in the country. New agendas are being chalked up to discriminate against the people.

To become a citizen (as per the new Bill), one must be considered as a foreigner for the first six years; only then can one receive citizenship. This is the provision. These are election tactics, don’t believe them. Till the time we are alive we cannot be intimidated with such tactics.

If something happens to one person, another will stand up for him/her. People’s court is the highest court. Let everyone live in peace.

Bangla CM gives away Khelashree awards

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave away Khelashree awards today at an event at Netaji Indoor Stadium. Several well-known sports persons were present at the occasion. The awards were given by the State Youth Services and Sports Department.

The awards, part of the Khelashree Scheme, and which include a monetary part, aim at rewarding eminent sportspersons of Bangla.

The Khelashree scheme, started in 2012 (financial year 2011-12), also aims at improving the sporting infrastructure of the State, including the building of stadiums and gyms, buying of equipment, construction of equipment storage spaces, etc.

Grants for the above purposes were also handed out at the awards ceremony.

Winners for the year 2018-19 are:

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Ex Footballer Sukumar Samajpati
Ex Tennis Player Joydeep Mukhopadhay

Special Honour:

Swapna Barman

Khel Samman:

Rajashree Prasad
Rubia Das
Uthsava Palit
Srijit Paul
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Sukanya Parida
Devneta Roy
Pintu Mahata
Samad Ali Mallick
Koushik Kazi
Mandira Hazra Chowdhury
Arjun Das
Satirtha Biswas
Swadesh Mondal
Ayhika Mukherjee
Ronit Bhanja
Tithi Dhara

Krira Guru:

Pradip Kumar Kundu
Kalyan Chaudhuri
Md. Ali Qamar
Swapan Sadhu
Amritalal Chakraborty
Minara Begum
Tapan Chandra

Special Award:

Sourav Kothari
Pranab Bardhan
Shibnath Dey Sarkar
Sumit Mukherjee
Debabrata Majumdar
Saptarshi Roy
Ishan Porel
Mehuli Ghosh
Rimo Saha
Mouma Das
Sutirtha Mukherjee
Prapti Sen
National Champion Jr. Volleyball Women’s Team
National Champion Sr. Table-Tennis Women’s Team
All India BCCI 50 Overs’ National Champion Sr. Cricket Women’s Team

Banglar Gourav:

Mukti Saha
Arup Bhattacharya
Gargi Banerjee
Satyabrata (Raju) Mukherjee
Ranadeb Bose
Shyam Sundar Mitra
Subrata Porel
Chaitali Chatterjee
Debjit Ghosh
Parimal Dey
Sudhin Chatterjee
Tushar Rakshit
Ajit Singh
Sagarika Hazra
Shreyashee Banerjee

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

  • Today we have launched Dibyendu Barua Chess Academy
  • Since 2013 we are awarding sportspersons with lifetime achievement, special awards, Banglar Gourav, Khel Samman and Khelashree Samman.
  • Today we have given financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to 221 coaching centres in the State. 24,000 clubs in rural and urban areas will receive Rs 5 lakh (Rs 2 lakh in the first year and Rs 1 lakh in the next three years). 4,300 clubs received Rs 2 lakh today.
  • When we came to power in 2011, the budget of sports department was 73 crore. Now it has increased 7 times to Rs 515 crore.
  • We organise sports competitions in Jangalmahal, Darjeeling, Terai, Dooars. The winners are appointed as civic volunteers.
  • Some people only remember sportspersons when they win some award, and merely tweet. They do not remain in touch with them throughout the year.
  • There are many sportspersons who cannot even afford two square meals a day. I will ask the Sports department to start a pension scheme for them.
  • Not every action should be publicised. Some actions require empathy. Empathy is for 365 days a year, not once in 5 years.
  • We have to struggle to survive. Every moment is important. I wish the best for the sporting world.

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NKDA to set up a system for segregation of garbage at source

As a part of the Clean City Green City mission initiated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Newtown Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has decided to segregate the garbage collected from different places in Newtown at their sources.

Senior officials of the agency will meet the firms that undertake recycling work, to discuss the matter.

There is also a proposal for big housing complexes to do their own composting and the NKDA authorities will sit in meetings with them to discuss the issue.

In the Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA), there is already a composting machine and another one has been installed in Newtown. Both the machines are doing composting on an experimental basis. Manure from the compost will be used for rooftop gardening and rooftop urban farming.

Source: Millennium Post

Bangla CM inaugurates Jeevan Shakti – an app for blood banks

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently inaugurated an app named ‘Jeevan Shakti’ that will provide information regarding the availability of blood in government blood banks across Bangla.

The citizen-centric app has been developed by the State Health and Family Welfare Department. The mobile app will prove extremely handy for patients and their relatives, who will be able to trace donors and find out the availability of blood at the government-run blood banks.

The main features of the app are a list of donors in the State, along with their names, mobile numbers, addresses and the blood groups they belong to. Interested persons can enrol themselves in the app as potential donors.