Tag: Kolkata

Bengal Govt connects Purulia to Kolkata via helicopter flights

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her recent district visit to Purulia, announced the starting of helicopter services to the district. This is a big step in the promotion of industry in Purulia.

The service would be under the aegis of the State Transport Department. A successful pilot flight was conducted on July 3 from Kolkata to the Charra Airfield, 8 km from Purulia town.

The airfield had long been abandoned. It was used during World War II by the US Air Force. Now, under the initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the Charra Airfield would again be actively used.

Source: Aajkaal

Mamata Banerjee flags off Rath Yatra in Kolkata

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today flagged off this year’s Rath Yatra in Kolkata, organised by ISKCON.

Starting from Hungerford Street opposite the ISKCON temple on Albert Road, the raths, or chariots, moved through some of the most important thoroughfares of the city – AJC Bose Road, Sarat Bose Road, Hazra Road, SP Mukherjee Road, ATM Road, Exide crossing, Jawaharlal Nehru Road and Outram Road – to reach the Brigade Parade Ground, where arrangements have been made for daily special darshan of Lord Jagananth, till July 22.

Special prasad will be distributed at the site of the rath on the Brigade Parade Ground every day till July 22, the day of Ulto Rath Yatra. Various cultural programmes will be held during the festival.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said:

  • Rath Yatra is celebrated with a lot of fanfare here. Besides by ISKCON in Kolkata and in Mahesh, it is also celebrated in many other places in Bengal in big or small forms. In fact, the Yatra is celebrated all over the world.
  • We should remember that religion is an integral part of our lives, whatever that religion may be. And festivals are for all to celebrate together.
  • Rath Yatra is for everyone. Devotees purify themselves by pulling the raths of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra.
  • Lord Jagannath is considered the ‘nath’ or ‘lord’ of the world by many believers.
  • There is a close connection between Maa Kali’s Temple and the Jagannath Temple of Puri.
  • Today, I am praying to Lord Jagannath for the good of all of you, to keep you and your families happy and healthy.
  • I am also praying for peace to reign in Bengal as well as in the entire country, and the whole world.
    Wishing all of you to remain healthy and happy.

 

Organic milk in environment-friendly packets, courtesy Sundarini

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The award-winning Sundarini Naturals brand of the State Government is soon going to sell organically-made factory-processed milk on a large scale, packed in environment-friendly easily degradable packets (which can break down easily in soil). The entire process – from rearing cows to producing milk – would be organic, that is, no chemicals would be used.

In an initiative to empower women of the Sundarbans, a cooperative named Sundarban Co-Operative Milk & Livestock Producers Union Ltd. was started in 2015. Its brand was named Sundarini Naturals by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

For its achievement in helping almost 3,000 downtrodden women to fight back in life through the making and selling of cow milk, ghee, honey from the jungles of the Sundarbans, eggs of ducks and hens, moong dal and rice, the National Dairy Development Board recently awarded Sundarban Co-Operative as the best milk cooperative and selected Sundarini Naturals as an ideal model, fit for replication elsewhere in the country.

Every day, 10,000 litres of milk would be packed at the state-of-the-art factory, to be built inside the Kisan Mandi in Mathurapur-1 block in South 24 Parganas. The work of building the plant would be completed by December.

Each pouch would be of 500 ml and would be priced at competitive rates. The initial effort would be to capture a portion of the Kolkata market. Sundarban Co-Operative is in talks with various malls to stock its brands there.

Source: Bartaman

KMC to introduce computers in its schools

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Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon introduce computer education in its schools. The syllabus in this regard has already been prepared by the Education Department of the civic body.

The Member Mayor-in-Council (MMiC) Education said that the syllabus has been framed in accordance with the computer syllabus of the State primary schools that are run by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education. Also, the syllabus has been prepared in three languages: Hindi, Bengali and English.

The KMC plans to start computer education in nearly 50 schools at first and then proceed further.

 Source: Millennium Post

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Bengal Govt setting up cluster for fireworks manufacturing industry

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With a view to developing the manufacturing of fireworks as a major industry and control illegal manufacturing, the Bengal Government has decided set up fireworks manufacturing clusters across the State.

There are many villages where manufacturing firecrackers is the source of livelihood for many. The new policy would put a proper structure in place.

Manufacturing of fireworks is a recognised small-scale industry in the State, but it needs more organisation. Hence the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise and Textiles Department is coming up with the policy of setting up manufacturing clusters.

The Government has roped in Fireworks Research and Development Centre (FRDC) to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to set up a cluster of fireworks factories on 50 acres at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas.

Based on the DPR, manufacturing clusters will be set up in the districts of Hooghly, Howrah, Murshidabad and Purba Bardhaman.

The policy would ensure a single-window opportunity for acquiring license and environment certificate by interested manufacturers.

It would ensure that the families involved in the manufacturing of firecrackers get to work in a better, safe and hazard-free environment. The clusters will have facilities for testing of materials to ensure quality control. The processes for manufacturing would be standardised.

There will be separate entry and exit points at each of the units in a cluster and those will have proper working conditions like adequate light, air, safety measures, etc. Moreover, warehouses for storing highly inflammable materials will be properly planned.

Source: Sangbad Pratidin

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KMC pilot project to put overhead wires underground on Park Street

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Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will undertake a pilot project on Park Street with the idea of putting all overhead wires underground. Wires hanging from lampposts, trees and every vantage point are an eyesore in the city’s skyline, and hence the decision.

It will be done in conjunction with the State Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department and a number of agencies like cable service MSOs (multiple system operators), CESC, BSNL and similar stakeholders who have overground wires.

After the pilot is completed, similar projects, with whatever modifications required, will be undertaken all across Kolkata.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing MSOs and cable operators during a meeting last April, had asked them to clean up the mess of wires and had urged all stakeholders, including the KMC, Public Works Department (PWD) and utility services, to chalk out a suitable plan.

 

Source: Millennium Post

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Bengal Govt to introduce integrated project monitoring system

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To ensure better execution of projects, the State Government is planning to introduce an integrated online platform for monitoring projects undertaken by its departments.

This was decided at a recent meeting of senior officials of some of the crucial departments of the State Government, including Finance Department, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and Public Works Department. The preliminary tasks for introducing the integrated project monitoring system have already been carried out.

It may be mentioned that, after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011, Bengal has witnessed a lot of developmental work. Moreover, in a bid to ensure that all projects are implemented properly and in a time-bound manner, the Chief Minister visits every district to hold administrative review meetings with concerned officials.

The Trinamool Congress Government has also introduced the Integrated Finance Management System (IFMS) and it has simplified the system of managing all finance-related issues.

Source: Millennium Post

India’s first transgender lit fest to be held in Kolkata

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India’s first literature festival for transgender people in the second week of July.

This was recently announced in Kolkata by Sahitya Akademi, whose eastern India branch is organising the meet. According to the organisers, the event will empower the community.

In this connection, it needs to be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always prioritised transgender rights, and the Trinamool Congress Government was only the third State Government to set up a development board for the community in 2015.

Manabi Bandopadhyay, a trendsetter in transgender rights and the vice-chairman of the above-mentioned board, who is also the country’s first transgender college principal, is taking the lead role in suggesting the names of authors who will be participating in the event.

Source: The Times of India

 

Lok Prasar Prakalpa: Reviving the lost glory of Bengal

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Through the Lok Prasar Prakalpa, the Trinamool Congress Government has revived Bengal’s folk culture through promoting folk artistes and providing for their economic betterment.

This initiative for folk artistes was taken by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself in an effort to restore the lost glory of the State.

Every month, the State Government is providing them with a pension, as well as an unemployment allowance. Besides, the folk artistes are gifted an honorarium at every event. Nearly two lakh local artists have been benefited by this initiative till date.

Folk artistes between 18 and 60 years of age receive a retainership fee of Rs 1,000 and in addition, an opportunity for four performances per month, with Rs 1,000 being paid for each. Senior artistes, that is, those above 60, receive a similar sum as monthly pension.

They get opportunities to perform at Government functions and at fairs organised by the State. Many Government schemes are promoted through their songs. This helps in awareness about the schemes reaching the farthest corners of Bengal.

The State Government has been organising the annual Biswa Bangla Lok Sanskriti Utsabs in Kolkata (the third one being held last January) to promote the talent of folk artistes in Kolkata. This festival is one of the highlights of the city’s festival scene.

These efforts by the State Government have lifted the art forms from the point of near-extinction to that of widespread popularity. There is a continuous to spread the popularity of these arts all over India and abroad as well.

Bengal Police overhauling its cyber-policing administration

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The State Police wants to introduce more modern policing methods. Towards that end, it has planned to completely re-do its website as well as remodel its social media approach.

The website is being completely overhauled. The various district police administrations as well as the State’s railway police administrations will be linked to the website. All information will be updated, including important cases solved and the list of most wanted criminals.

As for social media (Facebook and Twitter especially), the plan is to regularly post updates regarding various activities and fight fake news actively. The latter is becoming increasingly important in the field of cyber-policing.

The idea is also to examine the ways Kolkata Police has successfully built up a large following on its social media accounts and implement certain relevant ideas.

Source: Ei Samay