Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertook a visit to Purba Bardhaman district and conducted the administrative review meeting for the district.
She was present at a public rally from where numerous developmental projects will be inaugurated. Among the projects she inaugurated today are the outdoor units of the Kalna and Asansol super-speciality hospitals, a Karma Tirtha, water projects, government buildings, a veterinary hospital, flood shelters and many other such projects.
She also laid foundation stones for power sub-stations, water supply projects, government building and some other projects.
She distributed monetary benefits under Kanyashree and Lok Prasar Prakalpa, bicycles under Sabuj Sathi, saplings under Sabujshree, houses under Geetanjali, etc.
The Bengal Chief Minister also announced the achievement of 100% rural electrification of the district.
After the inaugurations of the projects and her speech, Mamata Banerjee headeded straight for the administrative meeting at Sanskriti Lokmancha. For the first time, 60 students from Burdwan University were invited to an administrative review meeting.
Salient points of the speech she gave in Bardhaman
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech at the public meeting in Bardhaman
I convey my warmest wishes to the people on the occasions of Id-ul-Fitr and Rathyatra.
Bardhaman reminds me how green our beloved Bengal is.
On developmental projects in Bardhaman
I inaugurated multi-super-speciality hospitals in Asansol and Kalna today.
To mitigate long-standing drinking water problems in Kalna, I inaugurated a water purification project worth Rs 46 crore.
Today, I inaugurated the Mishti Hub in Bardhaman, which would one day enable the whole world to partake of some of the famous sweets of Bengal.
We are proud and happy for our Kanyashree girls. The Kanyashree Scheme bagged the first prize at a United Nations awards programme from among 550 projects from 66 countries. Like Kanyashree, the Sabuj Sathi Scheme would also be world-renowned one day.
We have set up schemes encompassing all phases of a person’s life. The BJP Government at the Centre is taking away Rs 40,000 crore from our revenue as repayment for the debt left behind by the CPI(M). In spite of this, we are providing 8.5 crore people rice at Rs 2 per kg as part of the Khadya Sathi Scheme. Such a thing has not been done anywhere in the world.
Farmers are our pride and our precious resource. Therefore our government has waived off the loans on agricultural land.
Today, I oversaw completion of the process of electrification of 100 per cent of the villages of Bardhaman.
In this district, ration cards have reached 100 per cent of the intended recipients. Our government has extended all manner of services to the people. Benefits under Khadya Sathi Scheme are reaching 82 per cent of the people. We have distributed 40 lakh bicycles as part of the Sabuj Sathi Scheme. We have started the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship for higher education. Various programmes have been taken up for irrigation and flood mitigation. During the next one year, 25,000 km of roads would be built in the state. The duty of our government is to serve the people with a human face.
This government of ours believes in doing deeds, not just speaking about them. Our government provides treatment free of cost, which is not available elsewhere. Those without homes have been provided homes as part of the Geetanjali Scheme. Other schemes like Gatidhara have been initiated. Those affected by demonetisation have been given Rs 50,000 each.
We have renovated the burial places and burning ghats. The government is making a payment of Rs 1000 to any family unable to pay for the last rites of its family members. We have even started insurance schemes for workers and for media personnel.
On demonetisation
People are still suffering because of demonetisation. Under the guise of demonetisation, the people’s economic rights are being held in ransom. I’ve said it before and I’m repeating it – demonetisation is more treacherous than the Emergency ever was. It will be proven in the near future that there has been no bigger scam than demonetisation.
On the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime
We were for GST. However, we had asked for some time. A lot of changes have been made forcefully. Starting from medicines, the Central Government has imposed taxes on too many things. The Trinamool Congress Government is a pro-people government. We are the only political party which does not fear the CBI. We are ready to leave everything but not betray the common people.
On other issues
The ideal, philosophy and dream of the Trinamool Congress is getting the love of the masses.
Why should you have to pay a fee for making more than four transactions at banks and ATMs?
Today, the rights of the people are being trampled upon. People live in fear of raids by the CBI and income tax authorities.
Even the media is not being spared. A few days back, NDTV was being harassed. The media have been told to telecast whatever the Central Government instructs them to. The media of Bengal work with courage. Except a few Delhi-based media houses, nobody has the courage to protest against this injustice.
On the Opposition’s policies and actions
Air India is the pride of the country; a plan is being made to sell it off. We do not support such an action. We are not like the CPI(M) or BJP, who are happy to take away jobs of the people. The Centre is gradually selling off the railways; civil aviation will follow. The people are not getting to know the real story.
When I was the Railway Minister, I saved Burn Standard. Now plans are being made to shift the offices of Burn Standard and the Tea Board of India.
We will protest against injustice. Political parties are not saying anything because of fear. The BJP has muted the voice of the media. There is dictatorship in the country. We will break this shield of conspiracy to pieces.
The Centre is not able to solve the Kashmir issue; it has been a total failure. Now, it is poking its fingers in the Darjeeling issue, and teaching the separatists to break the state of Bengal. I will not let them break Bengal up till the last breath of my life.
The Centre’s torture is going on and will go on. But those who live in Bengal will bow their heads in fear.
We are running our government under great constraints. The Centre had rejected the Kanyashree Scheme; now this very scheme has won over the world. In the future, Bengal will win over the world. The soil of Bengal is our pride.
They spend money on advertisements while the Trinamool Congress does its utmost to serve the people. Those who win over the people are the real victors.
The Centre has always given Bengal the short shrift, has always exploited, deceived and conspired against the state. Whatever conspiracy they may hatch, we will stand united; we will never shelter communal forces.
আজ বর্ধমানে একগুচ্ছ প্রকল্পের উদ্বোধন করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী
দু’দিনের সফরে আজ বর্ধমানে গিয়েছিলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। কন্যাশ্রী প্রকল্পে বিশ্বজয় করে রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জে সর্বোচ্চ পুরস্কার পাওয়ার পর প্রথম জেলা সফরে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর।
আজ পর পর দুটি অনুষ্ঠানে যোগ দিলেন তিনি। প্রথমে দুপুর ২টো নাগাদ পুলিস লাইন ময়দানে প্রকাশ্য সভায় যোগ দিলেন। এই সভা থেকেই সরকারি প্রকল্পের প্রায় ৭৬ কোটি টাকার মোট ২২টি প্রকল্পের উদ্বোধন এবং প্রায় ৫৫ কোটি টাকার ২৮টি প্রকল্পের শিলান্যাস করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।
উদ্বোধন করলেন পাকা রাস্তা, প্রাণী হাসপাতাল ভবন, সেতু, পানীয় জল প্রকল্প, নদী–সেচ প্রকল্প, বন্যার্তদের জন্য আশ্রয়স্থল প্রভৃতি। শিলান্যাস করলেন পানীয় জল প্রকল্প, সেতু নির্মাণ, রাস্তা সম্প্রসারণ, পুলিস ও পদস্থ কর্মচারীদের জন্য আবাসন প্রকল্প, বেশ কয়েকটি পার্ক প্রভৃতি।
এই প্রকাশ্য মঞ্চ থেকেই কন্যাশ্রী, সবুজ সাথী, যুবশ্রী, সবুজশ্রী, গীতাঞ্জলি, লোকপ্রসার প্রকল্প, কৃষি যন্ত্রপাতি, তাপনিরোধক বাক্স ও সাইকেল প্রভৃতি প্রকল্পের সুযোগ-সুবিধা প্রদান করলেন।
এরপরই প্রশাসনিক সভা করতে তিনি পুলিস লাইন ময়দানের জনসভা থেকে সোজা চলে গেলেন সংস্কৃতি লোকমঞ্চে। এই প্রশাসনিক সভায় উপস্থিত থাকার জন্য এবার প্রথম মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আমন্ত্রণ জানিয়েছিলেন বর্ধমান বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ছাত্রছাত্রীদের। এখানে প্রায় ৬০ জন ছাত্রছাত্রী ছিলেন।
