Tag: Internation Year of Soils

Bengal number one in 100 Days’ Work : WB CM at Mati Tirtha, Bardhaman

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The State government organised the first leg of “Mati Tirtha Krishi Katha”, in Bardhaman. The conference will continue for three days and the second leg in Balurghat. The conference is indented to inform the farmers of the latest developments in agriculture and also how to avail easy agricultural loans.

The current government is giving agriculture top priority and such conferences are being held to reach out to farmers.

WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the conference at Bardhaman and she spoke to farmers and take questions from them.

The state government will also deploy agricultural experts to advice farmers regarding preventive measures to be adopted to prevent fungus infection of several agricultural crops.

It may be recalled that the state government has already provided Rs 4.70 crore for the development of agriculture in several districts.

Highlights of WB CM speech:

  • We thank the United Nations for sending a representative for the inauguration of Mati Tirtha.
  • UN has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils.
  • Bengal has been celebrating Mati Utsav for the last three years at Panagarh.
  • We have set up a Mati Tirtha at the Agricultural University in Bardhaman.
  • The Mati Tirtha will advise farmers in increasing efficiency of agriculture and improving productivity. The Mati Tirtha will help people associated with soil 365 days in a year, not just during 7 days of Mati Utsav.
  • We must ensure farmers are able to easily sell their products in urban areas, not just rural areas.
  • Mati (soil) is our janmabhoomi, karmabhoomi.
  • We have inaugurated 429 roads today. The project cost Rs 1151 crore
  • In the past we initiated the process of building 60000 km of roads in rural areas.
  • Centre is not giving us any funds. Instead they are taking away all our revenues. We are paying for sins committed by others.
  • We want answers from the Centre. We will go to Delhi if necessary. Bengal must get its dues.
  • They have no base in Bengal. They only appear on TV studios. They have no idea about running government.
  • I welcome criticism. But some people are indulging in smear campaign. UPA neglected Bengal. BJP is crossing all limits.
  • Why did our predecessors not think of Krishak Bazars, Mati Tirtha? Why did they not set up schools, hospitals?
  • We have given Kisan Credit Cards to 35 lakh people. We gave land pattas to 2.5 lakh people.
  • We will also set up Mati Tirtha at north Bengal.
  • Post independence, only 34 colleges were set up in Bengal till 2011. In 3 years we set up 31 colleges.
  • Only 2 universities were set up in Bengal during CPM rule. We set up 7 government and 5 private universities in 3 years.
  • AIIMS is being set up at Kalyani. IIIT is coming up in Kalyani.
  • We had set up a target of 50,000 ponds for 5 years. We have already created more than 1 lakh ponds in 3 years.
  • Bengal is No. 1 in 100 Days’ Work Scheme. That is why Centre has stopped giving us funds.
  • BJP Govt slashed funds for 100 Days’ Work. Prices of fertilizers have been increased. Funds for PMGSY have been blocked.
  • Centre abolished the Planning Commission. We oppose that. Netaji conceptualised the Planning Commission. We will not accept this.
  • We increased our revenues. But the Centre is taking away our taxes.
  • We want federal structure to be strengthened. States must have power of taxation.
  • Food grain procurement in Bengal has crossed 1.74 lakh metric tonnes.
  • We are giving away benefits of various schemes to 25000 people today.

Soil has an integral connection with the people: WB CM at Mati Utsav

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The seven-day long Mati Utsav was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee at Panagarh, Barddhaman. on 28th January, 2015 at Birudiha, Panagarh in Durgapur sub-division of Burdhaman district. This was the third edition of the unique programme connecting soils with humanity.

To showcase and encourage culture and tradition of rural Bengal, Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee envisaged the ‘Mati Utsav’. The festival is being celebrated since 2013.

In an innovative manner, the Government of West Bengal also enlightens the people about the various services, schemes and programmes launched and run by state government, through this festival. This is a people’s festival and common people will be informed about their various privileges and rights through this festival. Apart from this, the festival will also showcase whole range of village life and the real essence of rural Bengal.

The opening function witnessed the Government’s commitment to the people through a slew of developmental projects and programs. The festival also included laying foundation stones for new projects and inauguration of completed projects.

Over two hundred stalls consisting of various governments’ departments have been put up in this festival.

Highlights of WB CM speech:

  • Land gives us work and it is purer than gold, it defines our culture.
  • I am born in this soil. This soil is my ‘Janma Bhumi’, ‘Karma Bhumi’ and ‘Dharma Bhumi’.
  • Soil has an integral connection with the people.
  • I am proud of the young generation. They are the future of our country.
  • Farmers are our assets. We are proud of them. We are providing them with bicycles, machines and skill development programmes for all round development.
  • I have given away Krishi Ratna and Krishak Samman today.
  • On 9 February we are inaugurating Mati Tirtha at Bardhaman. It will act as a permanent center for dissemination of knowledge and socio‐economic exchanges on soil‐based activities.
  • United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization, for the first time, has decided to celebrate 2015 as the “International Year of Soils”.
  • We are celebrating Mati Utsav in every block and every district.
  • Bengal is number 1 in Skill Development and Small Scale Industries.
  • We have to preserve the environment. We must stop destruction of Nature. We must love Nature.
  • We have kept our commitment of Healthcare for all. We have made all beds free at Govt hospitals.
  • We have opened fair price medicine shops and fair price diagnostic centres. We will also be setting fair price shops in rural Bengal.
  • 40 multi super specialty hospitals are coming up in Bengal.
  • 83 Kisan Bazars have been completed. 100 more are coming up. Farmers will now be able to directly sell their crops in the Kisan Bazar.
  • 500 Karma Tirthas are coming up across the State. These Marketing centers will create new job opportunities.
  •  From ITIs to Polytechnics, we are moving ahead. We will provide free skill development training to 1 lakh people.
  • Bengal shows the way. Our fair price shops are national model now.
  • We are No. 1 in 100 Days’ Work. But Centre is not giving us due funds.
  • I can understand the sentiments of common man. I will always work for my poor people. I will always stand up to protect the rights of common man.
  • CPM incurred huge debts. Centre is taking away a large part of our revenue. We do not have fiscal autonomy.
  • The Centre has taken away Rs 21000 crore in the first year, then Rs 25000 crore in the second year and now Rs 28000 crore in this year.
  • We have increased our revenues. It has increased from Rs 21000 crore to Rs 40000 crore.
  • We believe in courtesy. Our motto is “Badla Noy Bodol Chai” (Change not Revenge).
  • Our courtesy is not our weakness. People who insult the soil of Bengal will not get our respect.
  • Tomorrow I will speak about investment and industry at the business meet in Asansol. I will make further announcements of investments at Industrial Trade Fair tomorrow.
  • Some media houses are criticising us because they want to please Delhi. Reject such adulterated news shops.
  • We will provide skill development training to 10 lakh youths.
  • We received investment proposals worth Rs 2.4 lakh crore at Business Summit. 1 crore jobs will be generated.
  • We are giving unemployment allowance to 1 lakh youths under Yuvashree scheme. We have set up employment bank.
  • As long as I live, I will go across the State and interact with people.