Message of communal harmony at I-Day celebrations at Red Road

Message of communal harmony at I-Day celebrations at Red Road

Posted on August 15, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Bangla Government celebrated Independence Day with full honours today. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hoisted the National Flag at Red Road. Parades and cultural functions were held at the venue. The CM was given Guard of Honour.

Bangla Government conveyed the message of communal harmony at this year’s Independence Day parade on Red Road. A tableau based on the theme of ‘Oikotan’ (Harmony) was a part of the parade. Bauls and folk artistes participated in these tableaux which projected the ‘unity in diversity’ in Bangla.

Besides the tableau based on ‘Oikotan’, there were tableauxs on the popular schemes and projects of the State Government, like Kanyashree, Sabuj Sathi, Ruposhree, Sabuj Shree, Khadya Sathi and Safe Drive Save Life.

IT infrastructure in Bangla growing at rapid pace

Posted on August 13, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

From May 2011, an amount of more than Rs 600 crore has been invested by the Trinamool Congress Government in the creation of physical infrastructure in the IT and electronics sector. This includes creation of IT parks and hardware parks, facilities for equipment manufacturing clusters (EMC), etc. The Information Technology & Electronics (IT&E) Department is overseeing all of these.

Hardware park and EMCs: Two electronics manufacturing clusters are coming up in Naihati and Falta. Construction is on in full swing. A hardware park in Sonarpur is complete. An IT park in Kalyani has been planned.

Start-up Warehouse: The State Government established a Start-up Warehouse in 2015 in collaboration with NASSCOM for the benefit of new ventures and start-ups in the IT/ITeS sector. Fifty-one companies have been promoted from the centre so far. Nineteen companies have received funding from private investors and nine companies have received their second round of funding.

Capacity building and self-employment: The IT&E Department, through the training wing of Webel, is imparting IT training in the districts and in tier-II/III-level towns in an organised way. Almost 1.5 lakh students were trained and 30,000 students got employment or achieved self-employment from 2011 to 17, compared to about 74,000 students trained and 11,000 students employed/self-employed during the period of 2004-11.

Cyber Security Centre of Excellence: The Cyber Security Centre of Excellence has been inaugurated by the department and is operational from November 2017. The portal for the same was launched in March 2018. The centre is working on five verticals: capacity building and awareness generation, cyber security assurance, Security Operation Centre, cyber forensics and investigation, and research and development (R&D) and Advisory.

Promotion of emerging technologies: The IT&E Department has been holistically promoting the emerging technologies – the technologies that are going to have a significant impact in the near future. The department has already started working on cyber security, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, animation, IoT (internt of things), Industry 4.0 (a standard), analytics, animation and e-sports. Summits are being held every month on different emerging technologies. Already summits on cyber security, blockchain and artificial intelligence have taken place.

Silicon Valley Asia: The Government is setting up a cutting-edge IT and hardware technology research and manufacturing hub at New Town called Silicon Valley Asia, on the lines of Silicon Valley in California, USA.

Capacity expansion by private companies: Several of the top IT companies in India have opened new campuses and expanded existing ones, or are in the process of doing those. More and more IT companies are showing interest in opening offices and campuses in Bengal.

Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Kalyani: The first IIIT of Bengal was started in 2014. The first batch of BTech came out in 2018.

Reaching destinations beyond Kolkata and Salt Lake: Twenty-five IT parks in tier-II and tier-III cities in different districts are either operational or at different stages of completion – 12 are fully operational, four are almost completed and nine have received sanction for construction.

Thus we see that the State Government is continuously developing infrastructure for different aspects of the information technology industry. The Government has big plans for making Bengal an IT powerhouse.

Bangla Govt embracing infotech: E-governance, fintech, AI, student competitions, cyber security

Posted on August 13, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Under the initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the State Government has embraced the use of information technology wholeheartedly. Every Bangla Government office, be they in Kolkata or the districts, is either wholly computerised or in the process of being so. The Government is also encouraging students to work on software technologies to create apps and other useful technologies.

E-governance has been made the norm. As a result, work has become faster – both for the Government offices as well as for the public being served.

All information technology-based aspects of the State Government are handled by the Information Technology & Electronics Department. Thus the department is playing a leading role in the digitisation of governance.

A report published by the McKinsey Global Institute last January had stated that Kolkata is poised to emerge as one of the top Indian cities and one of the epicentres of global financial activities by 2030. According to the report, by virtue of its relative proximity to Singapore and Hong Kong, Kolkata stands a bright chance of becoming a big IT hub.

The department is investing in the latest aspects of information technology. It has formed a core group which will interact with various stakeholders and prepare a repository of case studies of projects involving artificial intelligence (AI). Such cases will be taken up which can be adapted by various departments of the State Government.

The IT&E Department is coming up with is a Centre of Innovation. In an effort to give fresh graduates rent-free space for churning out ideas and designing innovative models, the department is setting up a Centre of Innovation at the IT park being built in Bantala, Kolkata. The blueprint for the centre has already been prepared. It will be functional from this financial year, and will have top academicians, scientists and industry members as its mentors.

The department is also encouraging software-based solutions from students, technical professionals and common citizens, particularly for the day-to-day problems of common people. For the last two years (2017 and 2018), the department has been organising Bengalathon, a competition for the development of apps for day-to-day needs.

Another sector the IT&E Department is actively promoting is fintech (short for ’financial technology’). Fintech is an emerging industry that comprises companies which use digital technology to provide financial services. These companies are involved in digital payment, automatic digital banking, share market analytics, insurance predictions and asset management.

The State Government has taken a leading role in developing fintech. A fintech hub is coming up in New Town, with plug-and-play infrastructure. Several companies have already rented space. The department came up with a stellar show at the Singapore FinTech Festival, held last November.

The department has already started working on emerging technologies like cyber security, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, animation, IoT (internet of things), Industry 4.0 (a standard), analytics, animation and e-sports. Summits are being held every month on different emerging technologies.

An important avenue of growth and safety that the State Government has identified is cyber security. It has set up a Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in order to successfully confront cyber crimes.

The cyber security centre collects, analyses and disseminates information on cyber security incidents, executes emergency measures, coordinates response, and issues guidelines, advisories and vulnerability notes. It also acts as a monitoring authority for the State, which looks at every single incident and incorporates the information for research and development.

Harnessing technology in the best possible way tops the Bangla Government’s priorities, and the above measures provide ample proof of that.

Consider Bangla your home: Mamata Banerjee at Silicon valley hub foundation laying ceremony

Posted on August 13, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone of Bangla Silicon Valley hub today. It will be located in Newtown.

This information technology (IT) industry hub has been conceived on the lines of the famous Silicon Valley in USA, and hence the name.

The hub commands a huge 100-acre vista, where national and international IT and IT-enabled service companies are expected to create numerous jobs for people from Bangla. It will also act as a centre of excellence for the IT industry, and will attract some of the biggest names of the world.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

The GDP growth rate of Bangla is 9.15%. We are very much ahead. Even if you see the GVA growth rate – India is 6.5% and Bengal is 9.59%.

Industry sector – India 5.54% and Bengal 16.29% (3 times more). Service sector growth for India is 8.30% and Bengal is growing at 15.61%. In the agriculture sector, India’s growth rate is 2.10% and for Bengal it is 2.28%

Unemployment is a big problem in India. You will be happy to know, as per a report of the Union Ministry of Labour, Bengal’s unemployment has reduced by 40%. The credit must go to my industry friends, small industries, unorganised sector as well as the IT industry.

Sometimes I feel bad that the IT industry is mainly based in Bangalore and Hyderabad. Of course the infrastructure was better there. At that time we were not in power.

We do not believe in coming to power for the love of chair. We believe in power to take care.

Bangalore and Hyderabad have become congested. I urge you to come to Bengal. You will get more talented people. If you invest in Bengal, those who are currently working elsewhere will also come back here.

Our young generation is working across the world. They are very dedicated, devoted, determined and sincere. They need respect, not money. I believe they can deliver any job, better than anybody else.

It was my challenge that we have to conquer the world. That’s why we have started the Silicon Valley hub today. If America has a Silicon Valley, Bangla also will have a second Silicon Valley.

We have 100 acres of land available. Set up your IT industry here. If you require more, I will ask the authorities to keep another 100 acres ready. Whatever we can, we will try our best.

Bangla is the gateway to north east India. You can set up your industry in Darjeeling also. Bangla is also the gateway to Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha are our adjacent states. We are only 3 hours away from Singapore. Bangkok is also 2 hours away.

If you invest here, you can tap into the potential of young students. We can give you more productivity, talent, researchers. I am proud to say, everywhere in the world, you will find a Bengali.

This is your State also. Treat this as your home. Nurture this as your baby. The asset is your working capital. I assure all cooperation from State Government. Consider us as your sweet family.

Bangla Govt announces funding for Light Hub in Chandannagar

Posted on August 10, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government has announced funding to the tune of Rs 11.5 crore for the proposed Light Hub in Chandannagar in Hooghly district. The hub is a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had announced its creation last year during an administrative review meeting in Tarakeswar.

Chandannagar is famous for its lighting displays. During Jagaddhatri Puja in Chandannagar and during Durga Puja in Kolkata and elsewhere, the expertise of the lighting technicians is on ample display. It has been like this for as long time. A few have spread their wings to Durga Pujas outside Bengal too.

Now the government has decided to give a structured boost to this industry by creating a special zone. The government would have a comprehensive role in the hub. From training lighting technicians and helping them market their products to enable them to bag contracts for different Pujas, everything would be overseen by the government.

This would naturally lead to more and better employment opportunities, including opportunities for the experts to spread their wings to other places in India, especially where Durga Pujas take place, and even abroad.

After Mishti Hub, Muslin Hub and similar clusters comes the Light Hub. These hubs have given a huge boost to traditional small-scale industries. They provide a steady source of income for the families involved and also help in preserving the crafts.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

Trinamool observes ‘Black Day’

Posted on August 5, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Trinamool Congress observed ‘black day’ in districts and blocks across the state on Saturday to protest against the “detention and manhandling” of its leaders in Assam’s Silchar airport, where they had gone to assess the situation after the publication of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The protest will continue on Sunday too. Carrying placards and sporting black masks and badges, TMC activists shouted slogans against the BJP governments at the Centre and Assam and the final draft of the NRC.

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had alleged that the members of the delegation, including women, were manhandled at the airport and accused the BJP of imposing a “super emergency” in the country.

Party’s Secretary-General Partha Chatterjee had said, “What happened to our party delegation is not only shameful but also undemocratic. Our slogan will be ‘we don’t need this monstrous government any more’.”

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017

Posted on August 2, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

We were discussing the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill on January 3, 2018, but because of disturbances, the House was adjourned and the discussion could not continue. This matter was discussed in the Rajya Sabha and the Amendment which had been brought by Bhartruhari Mahtab was accepted by the Rajya Sabha and now the Amendment has come for our consideration. Sir, on that date I had categorically said that we welcome this Amendment. Some of the anxieties have now been taken care of by reason of the amendment which has been accepted in Rajya Sabha itself.

I will just point out one or two things. Firstly, I really appreciate the Amendment that the State Government is not bound. According to Clause B (ii), provided such consultation that is not mandatory for the State Government in respect of our policy matter, affecting socially and educationally backward classes which are included in the list of our Constitution. Basically, we wanted to say this.

And every consultation with the State Government is very meaningful consultation, not mere consultation. It should be a meaningful consultation. In that case, both the Centre and the State will help, both have obligations, either in the case of SC or ST or OBC. Those who are lagging behind, the support has to be given to them for the purpose of equality. Now, therefore, the Bill is the concern. It is a nice one. We must try to resolve their problems as quickly as possible.

The chairman of the commission is there, members are there. Since it is concerning OBCs, appropriate steps should be taken so that the vice-chairman is appointed from among the OBC categories. That would be very helpful. They are more concerned about their problems.

One thing I just want to tell the Hon. Minister is that the number of scholarships that were given to OBCs have decreased by a large number. It has to be restored. They should be given more scholarships and more benefits.

Our Hon. Chief Minister, through a letter on July 23, 2016, addressed to the Hon. Prime Minister, had pointed out the degree of decreasing scholarships – the amount and the numbers. I will be happy if the Hon. Minister kindly takes care about that.

I will be completing my speech by saying one more thing, since in the morning it was also there – regarding the judgement pronounced with respect to the Scheduled Caste matter, diluting the provision for making FIRs and not to grant anticipatory bail.

Today it has been informed by our Hon. Home Minister that the Cabinet has taken the decision to bring in the The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017. We welcome it, but I have one question. The presiding judge, who was delivering the judgement in that case, the day after he retired was appointed in the Green Tribunal. This is a matter of surprise. When vacancies for Supreme Court judges are not being filled up, when for months after months vacancies of the High Courts are not being filled up, year after year; against whom are you speaking? The judgements, not any individuals. That presiding judge was appointed overnight. If anyone does something in favour of Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes and OBCs, it is because they need help and assistance, and that is a constitutional goal also. Otherwise, Part IV of the Constitution of India would become meaningless.

By saying this, and other things, whatever the agonies were there on January 3, have been removed. I wish this commission should starts functioning immediately in the true spirit of the provisions of the Constitution for the betterment of the people, that is, OBCs, who deserve help and assistance either from the Central Government or from the State Governments.

With this, Sir, I conclude.

Trinamool calls for ousting BJP from power at Centre

Posted on July 21, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

From the stage of the July 21 mega-rally in Kolkata (Ekushe July Shahid Dibas), leader after senior leader of Trinamool Congress gave calls to take strong measures to unseat the BJP from power.

Given below are the gists of what the senior leaders spoke.

Abhishek Banerjee

I salute and welcome those who have come here today. I am here today to take directions from our Chairperson, Mamata Banerjee. People have come to Dharmatala from various places far and wide. We congregate here every year. July 21 is not a mere date; neither is it just a date for deciding on action. July 21 is an emotion, a sign of pride, the identity of Trinamool. Those who are not aware of July 21 have no right to work for Trinamool.

Last year during the July 21 rally, we had taken a pledge to win the zilla parishad seats during the panchayat elections, and we had kept our promise by winning the 20 zilla parishads.

Today we have to take another pledge – to decimate the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. If so needed we are ready to give our lives but we’ll never tolerate insult. Trinamool cannot be scared using the CBI and ED. If people are hurt, we’ll never keep quite.

The Prime Minister had come to Bengal sometime back. He supposed addressed a Krishi Kalyan rally but even with a microscope one wouldn’t have been able to discern a single farmer at the meeting.

A pandal broke down at their rally of a mere ten to twelve thousand people. They can’t even take proper care of such a small rally, how will they take care of Bengal? A pandal broke down in 2018, in 2019, their Government will break into pieces.

Partha Chatterjee

There are no parallels to the way Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stood up against every form of injustice – from snatching away people’s precious savings to rising prices. Today we will hear from her the future course of Trinamool Congress.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay

The country’s politics is going through a torrid phase. If there is any Chief Minister at present capable of ruling keeping communal harmony and unity in place, that person is Mamata Banerjee. This has been endorsed by other Chief Minister of the country.

Subrata Bakshi

This rally is being watched not only by people in Bengal but all across the country. It would send the message everywhere that there is no other party in India so organised as Trinamool Congress.

Suvendu Adhikari

Like every year this year too we are paying our respects to the martyrs and their families. All around is a sea of heads. Whatever direction Mamata Banerjee will give, we will follow. During the elections many media outlets and Opposition parties had said a lot of negative things about Trinamool Congress, but the soil of Bengal is the secure base of Trinamool Congress. Trinamool cannot be stopped by threats. Congress is now with CPI(M) and another party is just interested in killing and destroying. The members of these parties are the worst kind of people. We are vowing to defeat them 42-0 at the next Lok Sabha elections. Remove BJP and save the country.

Subrata Mukherjee

We had removed corruption from Bengal, now another party has come to corrupt the State. We will defend Bengal with our last drop of blood. Today the country is directionless. The Prime Minister has not delivered on any of his promises. The poor are spending sleepless nights. After the setting of the sun of CPI(M), it is the turn of the BJP now. A new sun will rise over the country.

Chandrima Bhatrtacharya

Our leader Mamata Banerjee has shown how to give respect to women. We are simply her soldiers. The belief of the people on Mamata Banerjee has increased manifold, so we could win many more seats in 2016 than in 2011. A party which has so many women as leaders cannot be defeated. Today is a day for making a new pledge – we will become a stronger party in the future, this is our pledge.

Bengal CM flags off Banglashree Express buses

Posted on July 18, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Banglashree Express bus service between Kolkata and the district headquarters was flagged off by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today.

The air-conditioned Volvo bus service has been named such by the Chief Minister herself. The buses were flagged off in front of Nabanna. The decision to start the bus service was taken last March.

Twenty-two trauma care air-conditioned ambulances and 13 mechanical wrecker vans were also flagged off along with the buses.

The State Transport Department has already introduced 300 buses and there are projects in the pipeline to introduce more. In the beginning of June, five air-conditioned Volvo buses were introduced from Kolkata (Esplanade bus stand) to different places in north Bengal.

During the inauguration programme, the Chief Minister gave a short speech. Here are the highlights of her speech:

This new bus service is an effort on the Government’s part to extend another facility for the public. The Banglashree bus service would ensure that people face much less problem in travelling from far-off places to Kolkata.
The mechanical wrecker vans would be used to recover cars which have broken down. Ideally one should check properly the condition of one’s car before venturing out.
One ‘Safe Drive Save Life’ sticker each would be stuck on the front and back of cars.to create more awareness about safe driving. The stickers would be in English, Bengali and Hindi. From July 18 to August 15, small children would be pasting the stickers.
Say and do things which reach the people at the grassroots. Our government always tries to do things in innovative ways, to take the fruits of development to all levels of society.
Though we don’t have high-speed trains, we have started high-speed buses. Before the Pujas, we are going to start running 80 SC buses all over Kolkata.

11 air-monitoring stations for Kolkata and surroundings

Posted on July 17, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Environment Department has decided to have a total of 11 automatic air quality-monitoring stations by December for Kolkata and its surroundings.

Three are already running at Victoria Memorial and in Ghusuri and Padmapukur in Howrah district.

The new ones in Kolkata will come up at Maddox Square, Deshbandhu Park, Basanti Devi College, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences, IIM in Joka, Beadon Square, Administrative Training Centre in Salt Lake, police camp opposite Rabindra Bharati University and Police Training School, Barrackpore.

In the districts, such stations will be set up at Chinsurah, Bisva Bharati University, IIT Kharagpur.

Kolkata already has 17 air-monitoring stations but the automatic ones will be much more accurate.

Source: The Times of India