7.5 Lakh metric tonne of paddy procured till Feb 24: Food Minister

The state government has procured 7.52 lakh metric tonne of paddy till February 24, Jyotipriyo Mallick, state Food and Supplies minister said in the Assembly on Monday.

The Minister said the government had procured 38.59 lakh metric tonne of paddy in Kharif marketing season (KMS) of 2015-16. Altogether, 328 centralised procurement centres have been set up in the state. He said the state government would meet the procurement target ahead of its schedule, adding that 18 lakh farming families were benefitted in the last KMS. In 2017 so far, he said 3.2 lakh farmer have sold paddy.

The Food and Supplies department, along with Health and Family Welfare department, jointly run a programme to combat malnutrition. 4,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), identified by the Health department, are unit wise (mother and SAM child) being provided 5 kg rice, 2 kg wheat, 1 kg masur dal and 1kg Bengal gram per month free of cost for six months. Introduced in October 2014, the project has been very effective.

The State Government had budgeted Rs 5,020 crore to implement Khadya Sathi programme. January 27 was declared as Khadya Sathi Dibas by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The department had set up model fair price shops (FPS), run by self help groups in six closed tea gardens in the first phase. In 2016-17, a project to construct 126 FPS in 86 tea gardens has been taken up to ensure availability of food grains to the beneficiaries.

 

২৪শে ফেব্রুয়ারী পর্যন্ত ৭.৫ লক্ষ মেট্রিক টন ধান সংগ্রহ করেছে সরকার: খাদ্যমন্ত্রী

“রাজ্যে কৃষকদের কাছ থেকে ধান কেনা নিয়ে রাজনীতি নয়, বরং সহযোগিতা করুন,” বিধানসভায় নিজের দপ্তরের বাজেট পেশ করতে গিয়ে আবেদন খাদ্যমন্ত্রী জ্যোতিপ্রিয় মল্লিকের।

তিনি বলেছেন, “যাঁরা ধান বিক্রি করেছেন তাঁদের নাম-ধাম তো বটেই, ফোন নম্বরও রয়েছে আমাদের কাছে। চাইলে মিলিয়ে দেখুন স্বচ্ছতার অভাব আছে কি না। সিপিএম কিন্তু এমন কোনও তথ্যভাণ্ডার করত না। করেনি। আমরা করেছি।”

তাঁর দাবি, রেশন কার্ডের হিসাবে জল মিশিয়ে গণবণ্টন ব্যাবস্থাকেই শেষ করে দেওয়া হচ্ছিল। একের পর এক দুর্নীতি হয়েছে। বাংলায় ১ কোটি ৩১ লাখ জাল কার্ড ধরা পড়েছে। নতুন সরকার তা ধরেছে। ব্যাবস্থা নিয়েছে।

খাদ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, রাজ্যের মানুষ দু’টাকা কেজি চাল পান। কিন্তু বাইরে থেকে আর চাল কিনতে হয় না। রাজ্য স্বাবলম্বী। ফলে বাংলায় আর আমলাশোলের অনাহারের মৃত্যুর মতো ঘটনা ঘটবে না। ঘটতে দেওয়া হবে না। রাজ্যে কেরোসিনের বরাদ্দ কমিয়ে দেওয়া নিয়েও কেন্দ্রের বিরুদ্ধে সরব হন তিনি।

WB Govt to give food grains at 47 paise per kg to tea garden workers

Under the aegis of West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, the State Government has decided to give rice and wheat at 47 paise per kg to 12 lakh 9 thousand tea garden workers (including their families).

During the inauguration of the Khadya Sathi Scheme for food security a few days back, Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee had announced that more than 7 crore of the State’s population would get rice and wheat at Rs 2 per kg. Among this 7 crore, for the tea garden workers and their families in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, totaling 12 lakh 9 thousand, the State would give an additional subsidy of Rs 1.53. Thus, they would need to pay only 47 paise per kg for rice and wheat. Each family can get a maximum of 35 kg of subsidised food grains per month.

The decision was taken at a meeting involving the State’s Labour and Food Commissions yesterday evening. Food Minister Jyotipriya Mullick said, “Under the aegis of our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Government has taken this unprecedented decision. No other State could have even thought of taking such a decision. The way the Food Security Scheme has been implemented by West Bengal has become a model for other States.”

 

চা বাগানের শ্রমিকদের ৪৭ পয়সা কেজি দরে চাল দেবে রাজ্য সরকার

পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রী শ্রীমতী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের উদ্যোগে চা বাগানের শ্রমিক পরিবারের সদস্যদের ৪৭ পয়সা কিলো দরে চাল, গম দেওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার। এর ফলে প্রায় ১২ লক্ষ ৯ হাজার শ্রমিক উপকৃত হবেন।

কয়েকদিন আগেই মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রী ‘খাদ্য সাথী’ প্রকল্পের সূচনা করেছেন। সেখানে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী ঘোষণা করেছেন, রাজ্যের ৭ কোটির বেশি মানুষকে ২ টাকা কিলো দরে চাল ও গম দেওয়া হবে। ৪৯ লক্ষ মানুষ ১৩ টাকা দরে চাল ও ৯ টাকা দরে গম পাবেন। সেক্ষেত্রে দার্জিলিং, জলপাইগুড়ি ও আলিপুরদুয়ারের চা বাগান অধ্যুষিত ১২ লক্ষ ৯ হাজার মানুষের জন্য প্রতি কেজিতে বাড়তি ১ টাকা ৩৫ পয়সা দেবে রাজ্য সরকার। প্রতি মাসে পরিবার পিছু মিলবে ৩৫ কেজি খাদ্যশস্য।

গতকাল এই সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়ে রাজ্য সরকারের শ্রম দপ্তর ও খাদ্য দপ্তর। খাদ্যমন্ত্রী জ্যোতিপ্রিয় মল্লিকের বক্তব্য, “মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের নির্দেশে এটি একটি যুগান্তকারী পদক্ষেপ। আর কোনও রাজ্য এরকম সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়ার কথা ভাবতেই পারে না। রাজ্যে যেভাবে খাদ্য সুরক্ষা প্রকল্প নেওয়া হয়েছে তা অন্য রাজ্যের কাছে মডেল”।

WB Govt announces loan for workers of closed tea gardens

The state government on Tuesday announced soft loan to be provided to the planters of closed and sick tea gardens of North Bengal from the Rs 100 crore special corpus fund for tea industry.

The decision came after state labour minister Malay Ghatak held few rounds of meetings with the tea planters, trade union leaders and the officials of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts here at Uttar Kanya.

State food minister Jyotipriya Mullick also attended the meeting. Later, speaking to reporters, Mr Ghatak said, “The loan at low interest rate would be provided to the owners of sick and closed tea gardens to be used for the welfare of workers.”

The minister said the condition to get the loan is that the planters should use the loan only to carry out workers’ welfare activities.

He also informed that the state government is working to extend the National Food Security Act to the tea gardens by January 1, 2016. Under the act, the beneficiaries would get subsidized ration. The act was implemented in the state from September.

North 24 Parganas observes “Hand Wash Day”

North 24 Parganas district administration observed “Hand Wash Day” on December 4, 2015 as a part of the Nirmal Bangla programme. Inspired by Mamata Banerjee, the function saw the participation of over 25 lakh people.

Madhya Pradesh already has a Guinness Record of 10 lakh people participating in ;hand wash’ at a time. North 24 Parganas district administration hopes to break that record and create awareness about sanitation at the same time.

The “Hand Wash Day” programme commenced at 1:30 PM with the blowing of conch shells and siren. The main event took place at Barasat Kachhari Maidan along with similar events at various schools and administrative buildings.

Ministers Subrata Mukherjee and Jyotipriya Mullick were present on the occasion. WB CM Mamata Banerjee has already wished the district administration well ahead of the event.

26 new stadiums coming up in Bengal

To develop infrastructure for hosting more sporting events in the state, the West Bengal government will allot plots for a new cricket stadium, football academy and an indoor stadium.

At the Khel Ratna Samman ceremony, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said they are ready to give land to the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) to develop a cricket stadium in Rajarhat.

“I will give you (CAB) land, you prepare the stadium. One stadium (Eden Gardens) is not enough. With another stadium we will be able to host more sporting events,” she said adding that ISL franchisee Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) wants to establish a football academy in the city for which they are giving them some land in Dumdum area.

“I want them to nurture local talent in soccer. Take five clubs from Kolkata and five from the districts and nurture them. You spend so much money in ISL I want you to spend something for Bengal,” Banerjee said.

Besides the government also has plans to set up a new indoor stadium at a 20 acre plot in Rajarhat with a capacity of 20,000, she said.

On the Sports Village in Jalpaiguri district she said it will be of international standards but sought the support of the corporate sector in running it under a PPP (public private partnership) model.

“We have made the infrastructure and now if the corporates run it we are ready to extend all co-operation. They can take over and run this,” Banerjee said.

The chief minister also stressed on the need to have sports school so that football stars like Messi can be produced from the state.

“A committee with experts and corporates will identify which sports needs to be promoted and in what way. We want to nurture talent,” she said.

Altogether she said there are 26 new stadiums which are coming up in different parts of the state.

Kolkata has been selected as one of the venues for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

WB CM confers Khel Samman on sports legends

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today felicitated exceptionally talented sportspersons of the State who have excelled in various fields of sports. The felicitation ceremony was held at Netaji Indoor Stadium earlier today.

The West Bengal Chief Minister conferred lifetime Khel Ratna awards to legendary footballer and former Indian captain PK Banerjee and Tennis ace and former captain of India in Davis Cup, Akhtar Ali.

Thirty one players were felicitated with Khel Samman while 11 coaches were honoured with Krira Guru awards.

Speaking on the occasion, West Bengal Chief Minister said that sports sector in Bengal was on its path of resurgence. Twenty six new stadiums were being set up across the State, she said.

“We are proud that the U-17 World Cup is being held in Kolkata. We must bring back the glorious days of Bengal’s football,” the CM added.

“The world of sports will come to Bengal once all the stadiums and infrastructure is in place. What Bengal thinks today the world thinks tomorrow,” she said.

WB CM announced that a new indoor stadium will come up on 20 acres of land near Eco Park in Rajarhat. She sought help from the corporate sector to run the Jalpaiguri Sports Village under PPP mode. She also requested the CAB to build a new cricket stadium in Kolkata.

 

Image: Khel Samman Awards, 2013

WB Govt to set up 16000 rice procurement camps

West Bengal Government will assign around 700 officials to supervise and organise rice procurement camps in several blocks of the State. Procurement will commence on November 20.

Last year the State government has procured 22 lakh metric tonnes of rice. This year around 16000 camps will be set up.

“We are deploying 900 civic volunteers who will help police during the rice procurement,” said Food & Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mullick.

The State government has also urged the FCI to procure rice for the state.