Tag: Government

Second edition of Ahare Bangla to promote Bengal heritage food items in a grand scale

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Buoyed by the success of the previous year, the ‘Ahare Bangla – A Unique Food Festival celebrating Bengal’ showcasing the popular and gourmet cuisine of the state shall be inaugurated on 21st October, 2016 at 6 P.M. at Milan Mela Ground (Opposite Science City) Kolkata. Going by the response of the last year’s festival, this year it shall be held in a larger area having a one time sitting capacity of about 2500 people. The entry of the festival is free and it will remain open from 12 Noon to 9 P.M. for further four days starting from 22nd October, 2016 to 25th October, 2016.

This five days long food carnival is going to be organized by the Animal Resources Development Department of Government of West Bengal in association with other concerned departments of the Government, namely, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises & Textiles, Information and Cultural Affairs, Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Fisheries and Agricultural Marketing.

Sufal Bangla, West Bengal State Export Promotion Society, West Bengal Livestock Development Corporation Limited, West Bengal State Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd, Benfish, West Bengal State Food Processing & Horticulture Development Corporation Limited and Mother Dairy Calcutta have partnered to showcase their conventional as well as innovative products in the festival.

The principal objective of this unique Food Carnival is to promote the Food and Food Processing Industries in the State. This Fair shall provide a platform where the producers and the consumers can interact under one roof and which in turn shall directly benefit the larger farming community of the State.

West Bengal has many unique varieties of rice namely, black aromatic rice popularly known as Kalabhat, short grained aromatic rice Kalonunia, Gobindabhog, Tulaipanji, Kataribhog etc. similarly, pulses such as Sonamug, Bhajakalai dal etc. and some exotic vegetables are found only in this part of the country which will be displayed in the fair.

The Animal Recourses Development Department shall promote various non-conventional meat and meat products of Quail, Turkey, Rabbit, Emu, Pork (including special Ghunghroo variety), Black Bengal goat, Bonopala lamb, Garole lamb. The Fisheries Department will exhibit new varieties of fish with high productivity and taste such as Vennami, Pungus, Vietnam Koi etc. All the items mentioned here, be it a aromatic rice varieties or precious pulses or various conventional or non-conventional meat and meat products or the latest products or Mother Diary Calcutta or the delicacies of rare and exotic fish, shall be available for both exhibition and retail sale at the fair.

Further, renowned restaurants and caterers of the city will partner with the Government to bring their diversified cuisine in a unique interactive setting where anyone can see, eat and buy.

A special zone in the form of “Theme Food” will feature innovative and separate themes each day and a kid zone will be set up which would be an added attraction of this year’s carnival.

 

আয়োজিত হতে চলেছে ‘আহারে বাংলা’-র দ্বিতীয় বর্ষ

গত বছরের অভূতপূর্ব সাফল্যের পর এই বছরেও আগামী ২১ অক্টোবর সন্ধ্যা ৬টায় মিলন মেলা প্রাঙ্গনে সারা বাংলার সমস্ত সমৃদ্ধ খাবারের সম্ভার নিয়ে উদ্বোধন করা হবে ‘আহারে বাংলা ২০১৬’। এই বছর এই মেলাটি আরো বড় আকারে করা হবে, যাতে ২৫০০মানুষ একত্রে বসতে পারেন। এই মেলাটিতে জনসাধারণ বিনামূল্যে প্রবেশ করতে পারবেন। মেলাটি চলবে ২২ থেকে ২৫ অক্টোবর পর্যন্ত দুপুর ১২টা থেকে রাত ৯টা অবধি। এই মেলাটির আয়োজক রাজ্য প্রাণী সম্পদ দফতর, ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারি শিল্প দফতর, তথ্য ও সংস্কৃতি দফতর, খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ দফতর, উদ্যানপালন দফতর, মত্স দফতর।

সুফল বাংলা, রাজ্য প্রাণিসম্পদ বিকাশ দফতর, বেনফিশ, খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ দফতর, মাদার ডেয়ারী সহ আরো অনেক দফতর নিজেদের তৈরী বিভিন্ন খাদ্য ভান্ডার নিয়ে ওখানে উপস্থিত থাকবে। এই মেলাটির মুখ্য উদ্দেশ্য হচ্ছে খাদ্য ও খাদ্য প্রক্রিয়াকরণ দফতরের উন্নয়ন।

এখানে ক্রেতা ও চাষীরা সরাসরি কথা বলতে পারবেন যার ফলে চাষীরা উপকৃত হবেন। বিভিন্ন ধরণের চাল ও ডাল ও কিছু সবজি যা দেশের মধ্যে একমাত্র বাংলাতেই পাওয়া যায়, সেই সব ধরণের সামগ্রী এই মেলাতে মজুত থাকবে।

প্রাণী সম্পদ দফতর বিভিন্ন ধরণের মাংস ও মত্স দফতর বিভিন্ন ধরণের মত্স ভান্ডারিয়ে উপস্থিত হবে এই মেলায়।এই সমস্ত ধরণের খাদ্য সামগ্রী ওখানে দেখাও যাবে ও খুচরো পরিমানে কেনাও যাবে। বিভিন্ন নামকরা রেস্টুরেন্ট ও ক্যাটারাররাও তাদের বিখ্যাত খাবার নিয়ে ওখানে উপস্থিত থাকবে।প্রতিদিন আলাদা আলাদা করে কিছু নতুন খাবারকে ‘থিম ফুড’ হিসেবে রাখা হবে। শিশুদের জন্য থাকবে ‘কিড জোন’।

 

State-run discom in Bengal launches mobile app for customers

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The State-run West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited has launched a new mobile app for payment of bills.

Christened Sahayogi, the app is free of cost for users and available on android app store. Consumers have an option of paying through the app.

Customers can also lodge complain through this app, which is in three languages, Bengali, English and Hindi.

The West Bengal State Electricity Board that has more than 1.65 crore consumers is looking at reducing the load at bill counters across the state once the app is launched.

Five zones, 18 regional offices, 70 distribution divisions and 501 customer care centers make up the backbone to the power distribution system of the state.

 

গ্রাহকদের জন্য WBSEDCLআনলো নতুন মোবাইল অ্যাপ সহযোগী 

ওয়েস্ট বেঙ্গল স্টেট ইলেকট্রিসিটি ডিস্ট্রিবিউশন কোম্পানি লিমিটেড (WBSEDCL) গ্রাহকদের স্বার্থে বিল পেমেন্টের জন্য একটি নতুন মোবাইল অ্যাপ চালু করেছে যার নাম ‘সহযোগী’।

সহযোগী – এই অ্যাপটি যে কোন অ্যানড্রয়েড ফোনে গুগল প্লে স্টোর থেকে বিনামূল্যে ডাউনলোড করা যাবে।

এই অ্যাপের মাধ্যমে গ্রাহকরা তাদের অভিযোগ জানাতে পারবেন। বাংলা, ইংরেজি, হিন্দি তিনটি ভাষাতেই এই অ্যাপটি পাওয়া যাবে।

পশ্চিমবঙ্গ রাজ্য বিদ্যুৎ পর্ষদের প্রায় ১ কোটি ৬৫ লক্ষ উপভোক্তা আছেন। এই অ্যাপ চালু হওয়ার ফলে বিদ্যুতের বিলের কাউণ্টারের চাপ অনেকটা কম হবে।

রাজ্যের বিদ্যুৎ সরবরাহ ক্ষেত্রে ৫টি জোন, ১৮টি রিজিওনাল অফিস, ৭০টি বিতরণ বিভাগ, ৫০১টি কাস্টোমার সার্ভিস সেন্টার রয়েছে।

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy asks the Government to release arrears and restructure old debts of Bengal

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If the Central Government is serious about cooperative federalism, then it must release funds to the Government of West Bengal which is due on account of BRFG, of Rs 2300 Crore, Rs 8561 towards flood relief and arrears of Rs 5001 crores for the compensation towards CST which is till due and payable to the Government of West Bengal by the Centre.

Secondly Sir, when a plan is afoot to write NPAs or bad loans and restructuring therein the nationalized banks to the tune of more than Rs 3 lakh crores, it is incumbent upon the Government to go for restructuring of the bad debt of the Government of West Bengal without further loss of time.

Sir, because though the proposed waiver or the restructuring of NPAs, the private parties in general and a section of the corporate in particular shall be benefited, then why the same principle of waiver or restructuring shall not be extended to states like West Bengal, in as much as the present Government of West Bengal is carrying over a debt of more than Rs 2 lakh crore for the fiscal anarchy perpetuated by the previous Government.

Sir, I would therefore request the Government of India to consider the request of the Government of West Bengal for the release of the arrears dues and also consider restructuring of old debts of over Rs 2 lakh crores at an early date.

Thank You Sir.

WB CM institutes ‘Work from Home’ for officers during holidays

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The West Bengal Government issued an order to set up a “camp office” at the residence of secretaries or the heads of all the 68 departments.  Following the corporate structure of Work from Home, the State has now set another example of progress of work culture in the State.

It has been decided that a camp/residential office will be set up for the secretaries/heads of the department of the state government to enable the officers to devote more time and attention to official work before and after the office hours and even on holidays. The directive has been sent to the respective officers.

The directive is part of a drive by the West Bengal Chief Minister to clear the backlog in projects and schemes in the districts.

The order dated May 20 is the brainchild of the personnel and administrative reforms department, which reports to the Chief Minister. It said two attendants would be deployed in the residential offices and facilities like a computer, a printer and an Internet connection would be provided by the department concerned.

The order, an attempt to change the work culture will be helpful in a number of ways. Except a few secretaries like the chief secretary, the home secretary and the disaster management secretary, the others remain unavailable after office hours. The chief minister wants to change this culture.

A number of things have been promised to poor people and the minority communities and much work is still left. The department secretaries now will have to take the responsibility to complete the projects on time.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had made it clear that department heads should shoulder the maximum responsibilities.

State Government employees now brought under e-payment

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The West Bengal Government has brought all payments to its employees under e-payment.

Earlier only salary used to be transferred through e-payment whereas all other adhoc payments like tour allowance, medical bill, and various types of loans used to be done by cheques.

Now, the State Finance Department has issued instruction to all its departments to update their data bank with employees’ bank details and from April onward all payment related to employee benefits will be done through e-payment.

Benefits derived from the scheme:

  • It will reduce the risk of bringing the cash from the bank and hazards of handling the cash such as cash shortage
  • It will reduce the cost of security arrangement
  • It will reduce the loss of man-hour for disbursing and receiving salary on pay-day

To align with the system it is requested that data be collected and updated within 31 March 2015 for a hassle free performance of the new system for the convenience of all employees.

West Bengal Government to regulate brick kilns in the State

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The West Bengal Government has decided to bring the brick kilns under strict regulation. In a high level meeting held at Nabanna it was decided these kilns should be made at a safe distance from railway tracks and roads.

Keeping in line with environmental issues, trees have to be planted around brick kilns, and to build new kilns clearance has to be taken from agriculture, irrigation and environmental ministries of the State. The regulation is being adopted to also put a check on soil and river bank erosion.

The Government has also decided to guide the farmers around brick kilns with the kind of crops which will grow best in their areas. Restrictions of unauthorised brick kilns is the first step towards implementation of these regulations.

 

WB FM holds fruitful meeting in Delhi, 38 projects cleared

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, during her 3-day visit to the National Capital, held a meeting on Monday with the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar regarding clearance for several investment proposals for the State.

State Finance and Industries Minister, Dr Amit Mitra followed up with the Union Minister on the status of projects submitted for clearance.

Thirty eight projects cleared

“These projects, once cleared, will generate a lot of investment to the State and create huge employment opportunities,” said Dr Mitra.

During the meeting, the Union Minister informed Dr Amit Mitra that the Centre has cleared 38 projects which include 5 State PSU projects, 19 private projects and 14 Central PSU projects. These projects were cleared with the effort of the State government.

 

List of Central PSU projects include:

  • ONGC – 4 projects
  • NTPC – 1 project
  • IISCO – 2 projects
  • DVC – Bankura Project
  • Eastern Coal Fields Ltd
  • Durgapur Steel Expansion among others

 

List of Private projects include:

  • Larsen & Tubro Power Development Ltd
  • Orissa Metaliks Pvt Ltd
  • Rashmi Cement Ltd
  • Rashmi Mitaliks Ltd
  • Bengal Emta Coal Mines Ltd
  • Alpine Distilleries Pvt Ltd among others

 

Mega Ganga cleaning project

The State government has also submitted a proposal worth Rs 13000 crore to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for cleaning the Ganga.

The mega Ganga cleaning plan involves 41 municipalities (for solid waste management), 780 industrial units (for affluent treatment). A report has been submitted to the Centre urging it to clear it through the NGT.

When it comes to environmental responsibility, the West Bengal Government has been proactive; the Ganga cleaning proposal is a perfect example of a concrete step taken by the government.

Parliament: Trinamool corners Govt during Zero Hour

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Trinamool MPs today slammed the Centre in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour and the Question Hour.

In Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien joined other Opposition parties in cornering the Government over the manner in which they were handling legislation. He said the government should have propriety and should not set any bad precedent.

Sukhendu Sekhar Roy raised his concern over use of land earmarked for Air Traffic Control to build a shopping mall at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

In Lok Sabha, Professor Saugata Roy and other Opposition parties condemned the statement made by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir; he demanded a clarification from the Government of India.

 

Highlights of Derek O’Brien’s intervention:

We have raised the issue of precedent. Last week there was an attempt made by the Government to withdraw some Bills.  That attempt was unsuccessful. The point I want to make is that of precedent; equally, and even more, important is proprietary. History should be the judge whether this should be done.

Highlights of Sukhendu Sekhar Roy’s intervention:

Three acres of land within Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata, which was earmarked for construction of new five-storied technical block of the Air Traffic Control and an 80 ft tower, which has now been proposed and transformed into a shopping mall. The way this Government is trying to privatise everything by compromising the safety of the air passengers to and fro from the city.

Highlights of Saugata Roy’s intervention:

I am speaking on the Adjournment Motion on the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister’s statement on Sunday, where he had thanked Pakistan, the militants and the Hurriyat, for the conducive atmosphere created during J&K Assembly polls. Yesterday, the Hon’ble Home Minister was kind enough to clarify that the Government of India did not associate with the views expressed by the Jammu and Kashmir CM.

The Home Minister mentioned that he had spoken to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister had informed him that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister had not told him about his views regarding Pakistan. So, obviously, the statement of the Home Minister is at variance with that of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. In such a case, we would like the Hon’ble Prime Minister to clear the air about such a sensitive issue coming from a newly elected Chief Minister of a State, which is a border and a sensitive state.

Bengal to get 10 more women police stations

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10 more women police stations are coming up in West Bengal besides the existing 20.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had targeted to set up 65 such police stations across the State.  The government has approved the establishment of 330 posts under various categories for the new police stations. A woman police officer will head each of these police stations and majority of the other ranks will constitute of women also.

In the first phase 20 women police stations were set up at Howrah, Barasat, Baruipur, Asansol, Jhargram, Contai, Chinsurah, Krishnanagar, Siliguri and Jalpaiguri Sadar, sub-divisional headquarters of Burdwan Sadar, Medinipur Sadar, Purulia Sadar, Bankura Sadar, Darjeeling Sadar, Sreerampore (Hooghly), Suri (Birbhum), English Bazar (Malda), Diamond Harbour (South 24-Parganas) and Barrackpore (North 24-Parganas) have got such stations. Now, 10 new stations have opened at Bidhannagar and Durgapur Commissionerate, Cooch Behar, Balurghat, Raiganj, Berhampore, Kharagpur, Haldia, Uluberia and Arambag.  With these new stations the total number of all women police stations has reached to 30.

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee has been working relentlessly for the safety of women across the State. It was her idea to have all women police stations in the state to combat women related crimes. In a police station where women will not only feel free and safe to report criminal cases against them, but where such cases will also be dealt with immense sensitivity and compassion.

In another innovative step, the West Bengal Government is launching a special police cell to deal with highway accidents. This cell will be known as ‘Highway Traffic Police’. Along with investigating accident cases on highways, they will also take prompt action so that accident victims get immediate medical attention and effective rescue missions.

 

How to obtain a Micro Business Credit Card

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The West Bengal Government has successfully launched a Micro Business Credit Card, the first of its kind in India, to facilitate small and medium business entrepreneurs of the State.

Entrepreneurs will now be able to avail cash credit or loan up to Rs 5 lakh for their business activities, even without collateral security. The State Bank of India has extended support to the Government of West Bengal in this venture.

A fund of Rs 200 crore has been set up for facilitation in Bardhaman, Durgapur, Asansol and other places to speed up the clearance process for the business credit cards.

For details on how to apply for the Micro Business Credit Card click here