Bangla one of the top States for trade, says Australian govt report

Bangla is one of the key States for trade and investment, says a report by the Australian government which was released at an industrial summit in Kolkata, organised by a leading business association, on July 17.

Report

The report, An India Economic Strategy to 2035: Navigating from Potential to Delivery, has identified four sectors in the State for collaboration: resource and energy (including mining equipment, technology and services), agriculture, vocational education (especially hospitality training) and healthcare, said the Australian consul-general while releasing the report.

As previously said by many other industry leaders and investors, the consul-general too said that Bangla is a gateway of investment to the entire eastern and north-eastern India, and hence has immense potential..

Highlights

The report highlights Bangla as ‘the centre of India’s mining and resources sector’, ‘India’s third largest in terms of mineral production’, ‘significant healthcare hub for eastern India’, ‘gateway to India’s north-eastern states and India’s eastern neighbours’, and ‘a strong agricultural state, including the largest producer of rice, fish, prawns and jute and major producer of tea, potatoes and pineapples’.

It also mentions Kolkata as a major urban market and one of the fastest-growing cities in India (and is being projected to be in the top 10 fastest-growing cities in Asia by 2021), Bangla being the ‘coal industry hub’, the agricultural success of the State (including the NSVA for agriculture sector being 17% and widespread irrigation), and its tourism potential.

Chief strengths, as per the report

The report mentions three current strengths of Bangla:

  • Strong growth higher than the national average, and capacity for mineral production
  • Kolkata is a significant healthcare hub for eastern India, with a large number of super-specialty hospitals and diagnostic centres
  • Digitised land records, high road and rail density and port facilities

 

Success of Mamata Banerjee’s vision

All these aspects mentioned in the report point to the widespread growth that Bangla has witnessed in so many sectors under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

It needs to be mentioned in this connection that the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), a brainchild of the chief minister, has been one of the most successful business summits in India, with the last one in February 2019 having brought investment proposals worth Rs 2,84,288 crore for State.

 

 

 

Sources: An India Economic Strategy to 2035: Navigating from Potential to Delivery, The Statesman

 

Abir Ranjan Biswas makes a Special Mention on the conversion of railway underpass into motorable road

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Ranaghat is a very busy and important railway junction, with five important routes passing through it, including an international one connecting Dhaka. The track runs through the middle of Ranaghat municipality, dividing it into two halves, with nearly all public amenities lying on the western half including its court, its police station, the SDO’s office, the tehsildar’s office and all other administrative offices, and also its subdivisional superspeciality hospital which caters to the needs of millions of people of the subdivision and to the populations of contiguous SC-populated administrative blocks of Nadia and the adjoining district of North 24 Parganas, apart from five close-by municipalities, including two SC-populated ones, one of which hosts 90 per cent scheduled castes.

Three railway level crossings hold the passage to cross over from the eastern to the western part to access all the amenities. But because of the busy railway routes, the level crossings are kept closed frequently, specially during the night. The movement of very long freight trains on the international route, carrying goods to Bangladesh, also occur. All three gates remain closed for long periods of time barring access to the hospital. This often has fatal consequences for seriously ill patients and pregnant mothers. A large number of deaths caused due to detaining at the level crossings have made the people very apprehensive and circumspect, fearful about their own lives and of their near and dear ones.

Since the last three years, the people have been demanding a solution through the conversion of a recently constructed underpass into a motorable way, with a little modification, assuring millions of safety and survival.

In support of this demand, there have been continuous rail blockages on a number of occasions, when railway authorities pacified them by giving assurance but delivered nothing to the despair of one and all. Hence, I implore upon the Railway Minister to realise the gravity of the matter and ensure the much-solicited conversion of the underpass into a motorable road.

State Govt takes up anti-trafficking measures

The Women and Child Development and Social Welfare and the Labour Department have come together to check incidents of child trafficking in the State. A State-level action plan has been chalked out to stop and investigate incidents of trafficking.

While placing her department’s Budget for financial year 2019-20, the Women and Child Development said that steps are being taken to identify the placement agencies that are allegedly involved in trafficking.

The Labour Department will conduct probes to ascertain if the agencies involved in trafficking have any registration from it.

During her speech, the minister also said that the budgetary allocation for her department has gone up by 6.6 per cent.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Centre not helping Bangla to complete power projects

Despite all the big talk about cooperative federalism, the BJP-led Central Government’s vindictive attitude towards Bangla continues.

During his department’s Budget speech in the Assembly on Monday, July 8, the Power Minister said the Centre has failed to make the Katwa power project operational despite the State Government providing land for the same.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had taken initiative to arrange land for the 1,320 MW power project, but the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is yet to take any major step in this regard. Even the officers who were posted there have been withdrawn.

The minister also pointed out the Centre’s apathetic attitude towards other power projects in the State.

Despite the State Government’s writing to the Centre, the latter has not issued clearance for various coal mines, including Barjora I and II, and Deocha-Pachami, which holds one of the biggest reserves in Asia. The coal from these mines would go a long way in supporting the thermal power requirement of the State.

However, despite these unavoidable shortcomings, the minister pointed out later in reply to a question, since March 2017, the State has not hiked the price of electricity despite recommendation by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, proving the Trinamool Congress Government’s commitment to serve the people to the best of its capacity.

To compensate for the loss due to not hiking the rates, the State Government has been giving the Power Department a subsidy of Rs 1,000 crore.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Bangla ahead of many States, says Economic Survey

Bangla is ahead of many States in the areas of employment, agriculture, women’s empowerment, school education and rural roads, according to the latest Economic Survey (for FY 2018-19).

The rate of total unemployment in the State is 4.6 per cent, and the rate of rural employment is only 3.8 per cent and of urban unemployment is 6.4 per cent.

In production of paddy, the State is already number one in the country, having produced 15 crore tonnes.

In the production of jute, Bangla is on the top again, and has increased production by 16 per cent over the previous financial year.

Another area of achievement, for which Bangla has been described in glowing terms, is empowerment of women, especially in rural areas. Through various women-centric schemes and through financial strengthening of the MSME sector, the State Government has enabled economic gains for women, which has resulted in their increased role in household decision-making.

In population reduction too, the State has found pride of place in the report, since being on course to having a population growth rate from 2011 to 2021 (when the next census would be held) of just 0.74 per cent. Anything less than 1 per cent is very good.

For the period of 2021 to 2031, the number is predicted to fall to 0.50 per cent and for the period of 2031 to 2041, to 0.14 per cent. This is another strong point for Bangla, as mentioned in the Economic Survey.

In school education, the State’s gross enrolment ratio, ratio of students to teachers in both schools as a whole and in classrooms, and dropout rate are among the best in the country.

In construction of rural roads too, Bangla is among the top States.

Therefore, despite the rants of the Opposition, Bangla under the Trinamool Congress Government has performed in a commendable manner and is contributing in a big way to the India growth story.

Source: Bartaman

 

BJP will lose its deposits if elections are held on ballot papers: Abhishek Banerjee

All India Trinamool Congress organised protest marches across Bangla today against the rising prices of fuel and other essential commodities. Leading the protests in South Kolkata was TMYC National President Abhishek Banerjee.

After the protest march from Golpark to Hazra, he addressed the gathering. He said that if elections are held on ballot papers, BJP will lose its deposits.

Highlights of his speech:

All of you are aware that yesterday, our chief minister, Mamata Banerjee had a meeting with the Trinamool Congress MLAs wherein a multi-pronged approach to ensure better reach of the State Government’s various schemes was taken.

It is on her instructions that we are organising these protests today, against the sudden spike in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas brought about by the Central Government. Despite being organised at short notice, you all have participated whole-heartedly in the protests and therefore we are thankful to all of you.

Unlike the BJP Government at the Centre, our government in the State did not come about with the help of the CRPF and the Election Commission.

Our government was elected to power with the help of the love and affection of the people of Bangla. Therefore even if the BJP Government wants, it will not succeed in toppling our government.

Our loss in the just-concluded Lok Sabha election did not come about because of loss of popularity but because of the transferring of the CPI(M) votes to the BJP.

Despite the decrease in the number of seats from 34 in 2014 to 22 in 2019, our vote percentage increased from 39 per cent to 44 per cent. Out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bangla, Trinamool Congress has increased the vote percentage by 5 per cent in 41 seats.

Also, all the party offices captured by the BJP over the last few days have been captured back by us. Let me warn others, if you start doing politics using force, be prepared to go all the way.

Let me warn the BJP, you may have more than 300 MPs in Parliament but each of our 22 MPs is capable of putting up a fight with 20 of yours.

One must remember that despite the BJP, CRPF, Election Commission, Reserve Bank of India, CBI, ED and Income Tax Department on one side and the leader of our State, Mamata Banerjee alone on the other, we have managed to increase our vote percentage 44 per cent and halted the BJP’s shameless effort at bringing about religious polarisation in our State in its tracks.

The BJP has swept through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh but has been stopped from achieving its target here.

Our fight will continue, for which we will give a renewed call at the annual July 21 (Ekushe July) rally. Mamata Banerjee’s Ekushe July rally in 1993 was for enforcing the ‘no identity card no vote’ policy, her rally in 2019 will be for bringing back voting through ballot paper in order to save democracy as we have caught the BJP’s tactics of hacking EVMs. The BJP will lose its deposits if elections are held on ballot papers.

Like so many times previously, we have once again hit the streets to protest against the burden brought on to the common man’s shoulder by increasing the prices of fuels. This is what Trinamool Congress is all about – always by the side of the people, unlike other political parties.

For every serious issue that the country is facing, like rising unemployment, farmer suicides and others, Narendra Modi has only one answer – chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. This is what Bharatiya Janata Party is all about.

The BJP may chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ or ‘Jai Maa Kali’’ as much as they want, but will only go for ‘Jai Hind’, ‘Joy Bangla’ and ‘Vande Mataram’. We don’t confuse politics with religion.

My best wishes to all my Muslim brothers and sisters on the occasion of Eid tomorrow, and my best wishes are also there with all my Hindu brothers and sisters who celebrated the ‘Tirodhan Dibas’ of Baba Loknath yesterday.

On June 6, Trinamool Congress workers will organise massive protest marches on the issue of fuel price hike in all the 144 wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

We won’t stop till we throw the BJP out of power. We will protest inside Parliament, outside Parliament, in blocks, cities, towns and villages.

I ask all of you to rise up against the BJP, which vandalised the statue of a person as great as Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar.

The time for resting is over. We must all gear up to fight with all our might and ensure that in 2021, the BJP is given a burial through democratic means, the BJP which is out to destroy the culture of our State.

The people of the country have also realised that there is only one leader who can take the fight to the BJP, and that leader is Mamata Banerjee.

The BJP leaders are saying that Mamata Banerjee would be sent 10 lakh postcards with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ written on them. But before they could do that, we have sent them 25 lakh WhatsApp messages containing ‘Joy Bangla’, ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Mamata Banerjee Zindabad’.

Modi Government is the biggest threat to the country: Mamata Banerjee at Pandua

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today addressed a public meeting at Pandua in Hooghly constituency. In her speech she said that the Modi Government is the biggest threat to the country.

She added that it is our misfortune that Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. She urged people to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Highlights of her speech:

  • Modi Government is the biggest threat to the country
  • They have destroyed all the constitutional institutions. Democracy is under attack
  • It is our misfortune that Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister
  • The CPI(M) committed torture against Opposition workers for 34 years. The harmads have become BJP’s ustads
  • Those who orchestrate riots, practice divisive politics, do not deserve to rule the country
  • The BJP claims it is a Hindu party. How can that be? Hinduism is an ancient religion. BJP was formed only a few years ago
  • BJP uses Hinduism for politics. They bring shame to our Gods and Goddesses
  • Neither Hindus, nor Muslims participate in riots. Leaders like Narendra Modi organise riots for political reasons
  • What have they done in the last five years to deserve your vote?
  • We work for people of all communities, castes and creed. We do not discriminate against anyone
  • Like you see ‘440V – Danger’ signs, BJP is also dangerous for the country
  • Those who were initiated in politics through riots are saying mothers in Bengal are worried about the safety of their children
  • Modi is a blatant liar. He is spreading falsehoods about Bengal without any homework
  • They are distributing money. They are luring people to their rallies by offering money
  • They are organising rallies with maces and swords. This is not Bengal’s culture. Have you ever seen such rallies during Basanti Puja?
  • Falsehoods and propaganda is their only strength.
  • The Prime Minister, instead of bolstering peace, is inciting people into violence
  • Some untoward incidents happened. After investigation, CID found out that those were cases of suicide. But they are claiming those are political murders. They are trying to spread tension
  • Like Kalidas axed the branch he was sitting on, Modi is also dividing the country
  • CPI(M), Congress and BJP have come together in Bengal
  • He intimidates everyone – from industrialists to media houses. Even other political leaders are afraid of him. But I have struggled against the CPI(M)’s brutal regime. I am not afraid of anyone
  • Narendra Modi does not visit Bengal when there are floods, droughts or any other problem. Like a seasonal bird he comes here only during elections
  • In the name of NRC and Citizenship Amendment Bill, they want to declare you as foreigners and drive you away. Don’t let them get away with their divisive politics

 

There will now be poriborton in Delhi too: Mamata Banerjee at Khanakul

Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today addressed a public meeting at Khanakul in Hooghly district. She once again reiterated that the death knell of the BJP has rung and hence the time for poriborton has come in Delhi too.

Highlights of her speech:

  • Many areas in this region are flooded during the monsoons when the DVC releases water. We have created the Arambagh Master Plan to prevent floods. The DVC is not in our hands as it is a Central organisation, so in spite of our telling them to release water slowly, they don’t listen to us.
  • We have taken up another project to control flooding and improve irrigation – Lower Damodar Basin Project
  • A new road project to connect south and north Bengal is also under progress
  • This is an election for the Lok Sabha election, to decide the next government at Centre
  • Elections being held for a period of two months. Modi Babu and his people are going around in luxury and we are all suffering (in the heat)
  • From pensions to payments under 100 Days’ Work, all governmental work, developmental work is suffering
  • After winning the Lok Sabha election last time, Modi babu was touring foreign countries for four and a half years
  • They are scared to go to many places now but are turning up in Bengal like seasonal birds. Do they come here during natural disasters? Never
  • They have killed Gandhi Ji, and they don’t care about Netaji, Tagore, Babasaheb Ambedkar. They have destroyed the Constitution and undermined many institutions
  • Now they are only intimidating people through ED and the CBI, but they won’t be able to scare Bangla
  • This is the first prime minister who people are so scared of. Now mothers are putting their children to sleep singing lullabies about the scary Modi
  • The death knell of Modi Government has been sounded. It’s time for them to go. There will now be poriborton in Delhi too
  • He promised to create 10 crore jobs in five years. Instead, two crore people lost their jobs in 2017-18
  • Modi announced demonetisation, for controlling black money and stopping terrorism, but on the other hand terrorism has increased by 260%
  • Modi suddenly demonetised money – all money – by force. Now extinguish his power buy voting him out. You have the power.
  • They suddenly imposed the NRC – affecting 22 lakh Assamese Bengalis
  • These saffonites are fake – they are not true Hindus and don’t belong to any religion either
  • They don’t know about the culture of Bangla We follow Shri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Maa Sarada
  • We perform Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja as well as celebrate Eid, Christmas and other festivals. They are telling people to do “goda puja” (mace worship)
  • The BJP is a “goda party”, “tarowal party” (sword) – going around doing mischiefs in mosques. There some shorts-wearing people who are going around creating trouble. Beware of them
  • They are telling lies that I don’t permit Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja in Bangla.
  • The ‘terrible twins’ who are going around spreading lies about me should have their mouth shut with Leucoplast.
  • We have never seen such a shamelessly lying Prime Minister
  • The mutation fees and khajna tax on agricultural land have been waived off for farmers
  • We provide Rs 5,000 per acre of land annually under Krishak Bandhu scheme. We also bear the full premium of crop insurance.
  • We have launched Swasthya Sathi smart cards. They will be issued in the name of women, because they are ones who run the family. More than 7.5 crore people will be entitled to the benefits
  • Students of all castes are studying in schools – many are getting scholarships too
  • We are giving training in ITIs and jobs thereafter. The Utkarsh Bangla Scheme has won a UN award.
  • I follow humanism. I too am a Hindu but my elders never taught me to hate other religions.
  • For NRC, they are asking for documents – like the pre-1951 birth certificate of your mother. How many people can furnish these documents?
  • Through Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, they are trying to take away your citizenship rights and turn you into foreigners. Only after six years would you be re-considered. But why? You are already a citizen, then why do you need to provide proof of that again?
  • I had visited the Tripureswari Temple once. Even at other places, wherever I have gone to worship, when the priests ask me about my gotra, I say my gotra is Maa-Mati-Manush gotra.

 

Unlike Modi, we fulfill all the promises we make: Mamata Banerjee at Purbasthali

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee addressed a public meeting at Purbasthali in Purba Bardhaman district.

Highlights of her speech:

  • This region was hit by a storm yesterday. We are with those who were affected. Our govt will allocate at least Rs 300 crore for relief and rehabilitation. You have nothing to worry about.
  • Bardhaman is the rice bowl of the state. We have undertaken a big project for irrigation
  • A major road project, connecting north and south Bengal, has been started.
  • A bridge is coming up that will connect Kalna and Shantipur and will improve connectivity.
  • Several ITIs and polytechnic colleges have been set up in this district. After training, the youth are also getting employment opportunities.
  • More than 60 lakh SC/ST students have received scholarships. Kanyashree scheme has been extended to universities now. More than 70 lakh girls have been empowered
  • We have waived the khajna tax and mutation fees on agricultural land. Our government bears the full cost of the crop insurance scheme for farmers.
  • Swasthya Sathi smart cards will be issued in the name of women, recognising them as the guardian of the family. 7.5 crore people will be entitled to this health insurance scheme
  • This is not an election to decide who will form the government in Bengal. This is an election for the government at Centre
  • Earlier, they used to wear half pants and run around. Now they have turned their party office into a shopping mall, with loads of money in their coffers
  • What is happening in the country? Dalits and minorities are being persecuted. More than 12,000 farmers have committed suicide.
  • Notebandi has also been a major cause of distress. It has destroyed families, industries and created chaos. Now you have an opportunity to remove this govt that has caused so much distress.
  • We fulfill the promises we make, unlike Modi Babu who is full of lies. What has he done in the last five years? He has looted people and toured the world over, while people plunged into poverty and distress.
  • Put an end to the BJP misrule. The CPM harmads have crossed over to their side and are creating trouble in the state.
  • Maa Durga has weapons in her hand, but they do not look good in the hands of humans. The BJP goons are roaming the streets with swords and maces
  • They are moving around with loads of money and trying to buy votes. Don’t fall into their trap.
  • Let every vote you cast be a tight slap for Modi and BJP
  • He only makes tall promises. He intimidates everyone, including leaders of his own party. But I am not afraid. I have struggled against the CPI(M) and I have been beaten up many times.
  • Trinamool and other regional parties will form the next government at Centre.
  • We are also Hindus. But we have never been taught to hate other religions. We can never indulge in politics of discrimination
  • They want to drive people away in the name of NRC. We will not allow this. In the name of Citizenship Amendment Bill, they want to take your citizenship away. Do not allow their conspiracies to become successful
  • Trinamool MPs have had a good performance in Parliament in the last five years

 

He promised ‘Achhey Din’, instead Modi has destroyed the country: Abhishek Banerjee at Kaliganj

All India Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee today addressed a public meeting at Kaliganj in the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha Constituency in Nadia district.

Highlights of his speech:

I welcome all present here today to this rally and showed their support for Trinamool Congress.

If woman power is behind you, no other power can harm you.

There is a huge difference between the elections that were held in 2009 and 2014, and the election being held in 2019.

Our fight is against a power that has been using government agencies like the CBI and ED to spread fear among people. Mamata Banerjee is the only leader who could not be subdued by such threats.

Mamata Banerjee has given the clarion call to drive out the BJP of Bangla.

Bangla is the land of renaissance. Bangla showed the way during the freedom struggle.

Bengal has been the force behind mass movements such as that of Ekushey July, Netai, Singur, Nandigram, Bantala, Dhantala and Keshpur.

Bangla has never tolerated divisive politics.

Bangla is the land of Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Matangini Hazra and Ram Mohan Roy. The people of today need to follow that glorious tradition.

Our fight is not only for Ranaghat or the district of Nadia, but for winning all the 42 seats in the State.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose once said, “Give me blood and I will give you freedom,” and Mamata Banerjee has now given the call to win all 42 out of 42 seats to ensure for you a progressive, peaceful, secular and developed India.

We have done a lot of developmental work.

If there is comparison made between Modi and Didi in terms of developmental work, the former will lose badly.

‘Achhey Din’ never came. GST and demonetisation destroyed the country. GDP has dropped by 2%.

The country has become financially bankrupt.

The prime minister of the country is asking for votes in the name of the army, in the name of religion.

They have taken away the savings of the poor during demonetisation. And on top of that, they have built a seven-star party head office in Delhi.

Should the youth vote for such a BJP?

In the name of ‘Acchey Din’, the prices of cooking gas, petrol, diesel and kerosene have been increased.

The prime minister used to call himself a tea-seller, now he calls himself a chowkidar. But nobody has seen him selling tea at any time. Our chief minister, on the other hand, is still her humble self – still living in a small, tile-roofed house, from where she governs the 10 crore people of the State, ensuring the wave of development reaches every one of them.

The BJP talks about ‘imam bhata’ (stipend for imams) and ‘moazeem bhata’ (stipend for moazzems) being given out of the money you pay as tax. But that’s a falsehood being spread by them.

That money is taken out of fund of the Waqf Board, as ordered by the Supreme Court of India, and the money you pay as tax, all of it is spent on the various developmental schemes that the Trinamool Government has undertaken.

Mamata Banerjee had decided to give Rs 10,000 as a grant to Durga Puja committees across the State. And what did we see? The BJP, CPI(M) and Congress ganged up the next day and filed a case against us, calling the move Muslim appeasement.

We have respect for all religions. The only religion we follow is humanism. Our job is to ensure that all people get the benefits of government schemes.

The candidates of the other parties are making a lot of promises too. But all of them will be vanquished in the coming days and will never be seen again. .

We have all seen the seasonal insects (‘shyama poka’) that come to our homes during the Diwali period, which fly away after a few days. The same is the case with the BJP leaders who are now promising you so many things.

But Trinamool Congress has always stood beside the people – on all occasions, for every reason, at all times.

‘Acchey Din’’ has come only for the son of Amit Shah, whose company’s income increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in one year. People are disgusted because they have lost all their money.

How much black money has been recovered through demonetisation? Nothing.

After the election, the BJP must be driven out – all of us here must take this oath today.

People like Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi have fled the country after stealing huge amounts of money from the people in spite of the Chowkidar being present.

Modi is talking about ‘Make in India’ when the car he is using is made in Germany,

The government has funds for a Rs 3,000-crore statue and the bullet train project but not for social schemes.

Should you vote for the people who have terrorised the people of Nadia? The BJP is creating communal tensions between Hindus and the Muslims.

Some people are saying, Hindus are in danger while some are saying, Muslims are in danger. But if one sees things after removing the spectacles of distortion, one will realise that the whole nation is in danger.

The BJP came to power in 2014 with Swami Vivekananda supposedly in their hearts and minds but has not had the intention of giving recognition to Belur Math.

Our current prime minister has taken the country 200 years back.

Therefore vote for Mahua Moitra and through that, ensure that Mamata Banerjee become stronger. Mamata Banerjee is the only solution to all the ills that have befallen the country.