Compete on work, not on divisiveness, fighting or jealousy: Mamata Banerjee

Today Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed an audience of MSME investors at Nabanna Sabhaghar.

Highlights of her speech:

Several industrial clusters and industrial parks dedicated to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) were inaugurated today. The total acreage is 1,633 acres. Rs 13,000 crore has been allocated for developing them. Two lakh people would get employment.

A few weeks back I had inaugurated an expanded leather complex at Bantala; it is now the world’s second largest leather complex.

I have renamed the leather complex as Karmadiganta, where leather goods manufacturers from Kanpur, who had to endure huge losses due to closure of their business units, are setting up base.

Once upon a time Howrah was famous as an industrial hub; similarly Bardhaman was famous for sweets and Chandannagar for its lighting technicians. We are bringing those glory days back.

It is unfortunate that the media is intent on highlighting only the negative aspects of Bangla; there are so many positives to talk about. It is a matter of great pride that many who had once left our State are now coming back to work here.

We have a deep responsibility towards the citizens of this State. We want big industries to be set up here. A lot of companies are closing down across the country. There is no use giving just big talk and creating a mirage of stability through controlling the media. Economic independence is what really matters.

In such a state of affairs as it exists now, it is important to concentrate on jobs and agriculture.

Women, youth, students are our strengths, they show us the way.

For creating employment for the rural people, it is crucial to set up a strong MSME base.

Traditional industrial bases like Howrah, Haldia and others need to be developed more through the setting up of manufacturing units and more people need to come forward for this.

For ease of doing business, the Bangla Government has set up a single-window scheme for approval of proposals for setting industries. We will appoint a nodal officer to make the system more smooth, for which a committee has been set up.

We have streamlines the work culture of the State. Earlier 70 to 80 person-days used to be wasted every year, now that has stopped.

The Centre is trying to privatise 45 PSUs across the country, putting in danger the jobs of 8 lakh people.

The percentage of employment is at a 45-year high now.

We want people to work and be happy.

Bangla is a safe place for industry; that why companies like Wipro and Microsoft are setting up bases here.

A total of 26 helipads and greenfield airports are being constructed.

In MSME, skill training, GDP growth and girls’ empowerment (Kanyashree) Bangla is number one.

About 60 lakh girls are getting benefits through the Kanyashree Scheme, from school right till the postgraduate stage.

About 9 lakh people are benefitting from the Khadya Sathi Scheme and 7.5 crore through Swasthya Sathi.

Bangla has received the Krishi Karman Award six times.

Here medicine at government hospitals is available at very cheap prices, affordable for everybody, at discounts of up to 70 per cent.

Compete on work, not on divisiveness, fighting or jealousy: Mamata Banerjee

Everybody stay happy.

Improvements in paddy procurement in seven years

The State Government has brought about a lot of improvement in the procurement of paddy and in the quality control mechanism of the foodgrains bought from farmers. Storage capacity infrastructure has also undergone a sea change.

A significant step has been the institution of NEFT mechanism for directly paying farmers through account transfer against the paddy bought from them. This process has made payment easier and quicker, and for this reason, was recently taken up as a model by the Centre for implementation across all States.

The Food & Supplies Department has notched up quite a few successes in the procurement of paddy and custom milled rice (CMR) during the last seven years.

They are as follows:

Krishak Bazars also as paddy procurement centres: From kharif marketing season (KMS) 2014-15, the purchasing of paddy through Krishak Bazars has become prevalent.

Procurement centres increased: In KMS 2014-15, 46 Krishak Bazars having the required infrastructural facilities were identified as centralised procurement centres (CPC). Over just four seasons, that number was increased to 325 (in KMS 2017-18). At the same time, cooperative societies continue to function as paddy procurement centres for CMR agencies; 950 cooperative societies functioned as such for KMS 2017-18.

Farmers incentivised: In order to incentivise farmers for bringing in their paddy to CPCs, in KMS 2014-15, Rs 15 per quintal of paddy was allowed over and above the MSP of Rs 1,360 per quintal. In KMS 2017-18, it was enhanced to Rs 20 per quintal.

Electronic means introduced for procurement and payment: From KMS 2016-17, it was made mandatory to employ e-procurement software capable of recording all relevant information of the farmers as well as recording the details of transactions and payments.

From KMS 2016-17, the system of payment of the price of paddy directly to the farmers’ bank accounts through NEFT was introduced, and was made mandatory from KMS 2017-18. Significantly, electronic payment through NEFT has been recently taken up as a model by the Centre.

Participation of women’s self-help groups: Participation of women’s self-help groups (SHG) and sanghas in paddy procurement is being encouraged. Till March 2018, 300 SHGs have participated in KMS 2017-18 and have procured 31,217 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy from 9,600 small and marginal farmers.

Distress sale eliminated: As a result of the Food & Supplies Department’s procurement initiatives, no distress sale of paddy has been reported in KMS 2017-18. The market rate of paddy has increased and thus it is above MSP across the entire State.

Enhancement of storage capacity

The Food & Supplies Department has created an additional 7.85 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of storage capacity during the period of 2011 to 2018. As a result, the storage capacity has increased from just 63,000 MT in FY 2010-11 to 8.48 lakh MT in May 2017.

Moreover, the department has taken up an ambitious project for the creation of another 3 lakh MT of storage space within the next two years at a cost of Rs 500 crore. With this project, the department will achieve self-sufficiency in the storage of rice.

Quality control mechanism

In order to keep a check on the quality of the foodgrains bought from farmers and of those available in markets, the Food & Supplies Department has taken several initiatives for upgrading laboratories and constructing new ones, through the Directorate of Inspection and Quality Control (I&QC).

Quality control (QC) laboratories in Kolkata (headquarters), Krishnanagar and Bardhaman have been upgraded and modernised. Specialised laboratory furniture and modern benchtop digital refractometers have been set up in the laboratories in Kolkata and Bardhaman.

Seventy-five mini QC laboratories have been set up in government warehouses and 120 in private warehouses.

A target has been set for the construction of four more zonal QC laboratories in Siliguri, Malda, Suri and Medinipur and 15 more laboratories in the offices of district controllers of food and supplies (DCF&S).

In the agriculture sector, Bangla has been one of the best-performing States, acknowledged by the Central Government several times and awarded the Krishi Karman Award for five consecutive years. The government has ensured that not just in production but in procurement and quality control too, processes are streamlined and modern methods adopted.

Bengal leading producer of rice for last 4 years, as per Central Govt data

That Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always place a lot of importance on agricultural production is well known. As a result of that, over the last few years, Bengal has been creating records in terms of production of various crops.

As per an answer given by the Union Agriculture Ministry in the Lok Sabha, over the last four financial years, that is, 2014-15 to 2017-18 (for 2017-18, as per as per Second Advance Estimates), Bengal has been the leading producer of rice in the country.

The production of rice over the four years is as follows:

  • 2014-15: 146,77,20,000 tonnes
  • 2015-16: 159,53,90,000 tonnes
  • 2016-17: 153,02,50,000 tonnes
  • 2017-18: 149,90,00,000 tonnes

The Central Government has also given the state the Krishi Karman Award for various feats of agricultural production for five consecutive years.

 

চাল উৎপাদনঃ রাজ্যগুলির শীর্ষে বাংলা

 

২০১১ সালে ক্ষমতায় আসার পর থেকেই মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় কৃষি উন্নয়নের ওপর জোর দিয়ে এসেছেন । এর ফলস্বরূপ, গত কয়েক বছর ধরেই বিভিন্ন ফসল উৎপাদনে বাংলা রেকর্ড তৈরী করেছে।

এবার বাংলার মুকুটে যুক্ত হল নতুন পালক। লোকসভায় কেন্দ্রীয় কৃষি মন্ত্রীর পেশ করা তথ্য অনুযায়ী, গত চার অর্থবর্ষে – অর্থাৎ ২০১৪-১৫ থেকে ২০১৭-১৮ (দ্বিতীয় অ্যাডভান্স এস্টিমেট) -বাংলা চাল উৎপাদনে দেশের মধ্যে শীর্ষে।

গত চার বছরে বাংলায় উৎপন্ন হওয়া চালের পরিমানঃ

  • ২০১৪-১৫: ১৪৬,৭৭,২০,০০০ টন
  • ২০১৫-১৬: ১৫৯,৫৩,৯০,০০০ টন
  • ২০১৬-১৭: ১৫৩,০২,৫০,০০০ টন
  • ২০১৭-১৮: ১৪৯,৯০,০০,০০০ টন

উল্লেখ্য, কৃষিতে অসামান্য সাফল্যের জন্য পর পর পাঁচ বছর কেন্দ্রের কাছ থেকে কৃষি কর্মণ পুরস্কার পেয়েছে বাংলা।

A counter to BJP’s claims about Bengal

Finance minister Amit Mitra provides a point-by-point reply to Amit Shah’s “blatant and motivated attempt to distort the truth and misguide the people of Bengal.”

Excerpts:

Claim: We thought after end of Left rule, development will begin in Bengal. But we have been disappointed in the last 6 years

Fact: They are comparing a government of 6 years with 34 years of Left rule. They are like the seasonal birds who come and go and thus cannot see the development in Bengal. During the first five years of this government, the planed expenditure has increased from Rs 14,615 cr to Rs 54,069 crore. Capital expenditure too has increased 7 times and the state’s Own Revenues have doubled.

 

Claim: Share of Bengal in GDP growth was 25% during independence. Now it is 4%

Fact: GDP of Bengal has more than doubled from nearly Rs 4.61 lakh crore in 2010-11 to Rs 9.20 lakh crore in 2015-16

 

Claim: Bengal had a debt of Rs 1.9 lakh crore when Left was voted out. It has become Rs 3 lakh crore now

Fact: Of the Rs.113,000 crore increase in the state’s debt stock during the past five years, around Rs.94,000 crore went into debt servicing. Bengal’s debt-GSDP ratio has improved from 41% to 35%

 

Claim: Power production in Bengal is not at par with national average

Fact: Bengal one of the few power surplus States in the country. By June, 2017, 100% rural electrification will be achieved, the first State in India to do so.

 

Claim: Agriculture growth has slowed in Bengal

Fact: Bengal has won Krishi Karman award 5 years in a row from Govt of India for excellence in agriculture, since 2011

 

Claim: TMC promoted appeasement politics. Huge akrosh because of it

Fact: Kanyashree, Yuvashree, Sabuj Shree, Sabuj Sathi, Gatidhara, Geetanjali, Khadya Sathi, Baitarani, Samabyathi, Samarthan – these schemes are for all. Govt of Bengal works for all. Our reforms in e-governance, financial matters and in other areas of public service delivery have benefited all sections of society.

 

Claim: Bengal Govt failed to curb FICN, made it a laughing stock by opposing demonetisation

Fact: After demonetisation, the BJP claimed note-bandi has eliminated fake notes in the country. Everyone knows the truth.

 

Claim: Industries shutting down, bomb making factories booming

Fact: Industry growth – India 7% Bengal 10%. Furthermore, 40% investment proposals received at Bengal Global Business Summit are in process of fructification. (Figure for same in Gujarat is 2-3%).

 

BJP is jealous of development in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today lashed out at the Centre for withholding funds for the State; she said BJP is jealous of the development in Bengal and hence non-BJP ruled States were deprived of funds.

“I am stating with figures what Bengal can do, others cannot do; more so with the huge debt burden that was incurred by the Left. We do not make false promises to win elections,” the CM said.

“Agriculture growth in India is 1.1% while that of Bengal is 6%. Growth in service sector in India is 9% and that of Bengal is 13.99%. Industrial growth  in India is 7% and that of Bengal is 10 per cent,” she added.

“Institutional delivery has increased from 65% to 90%. Infant mortality has reduced from 32 to 26 per 1000 live births. We do not need lectures from them. Let them show one State where healthcare is free. I challenge them to compare the figures of infant mortality in Bengal and Gujarat,” she said.

The Chief Minister wondered if the claims of Bengal lagging in agriculture are true, how has the State received Krishi Karman award 5 years in a row from Government of India since 2011. She wanted to know from the Centre what happened to the promise of taking over 7 sick tea gardens in north Bengal. She accused the Centre of depriving Bengal by planning to shift the headquarters of Tea Board to Assam.

“Instead of working for the people, BJP is running malicious propaganda campaign on social media,” the Chief Minister added.

 

বাংলার উন্নয়নে বিজেপির খুব হিংসা: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

আলিপুরদুয়ারে প্রশাসনিক বৈঠকের পর সাংবাদিকদের মুখোমুখি হন বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

তিনি বলেন, “আমার তথ্যই কথা বলবে। আমি বাজে কথা কম বলি, মিথ্যে ভাষণ কম দিই, ভোটে জেতার জন্য কুতসার রাজনীতি কম করি, যেটুকু কথা বলার সেটুকুই বলি। গুজরাটে অপুষ্টিতে মৃত্যুর হার কত? বাংলায় কত? আমি চ্যালেঞ্জ করছি, গুজরাটে অপুষ্টিতে শিশু কত আক্রান্ত? বাংলায় কত? এত দেনা শোধ করেও?”

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, “দেনা আমরা করি নি, সিপিএম করেছে। কেন সেন্ট্রাল গভর্নমেন্ট তাদের পারমিট করেছিল দেনা করবার জন্য? আর দেনা যতক্ষণ সম্পূর্ণ শোধ না হয়, সেটা লাফিয়ে লাফিয়ে বাড়ে। আমরা এফারবিএম চালু করেছি, সেটাতে যে টাকা নেওয়া হয়, সবটাই দেনা দিতে চলে যায়, একটা টাকাও আমাদের কাজে লাগে না। এই দেনার যে টাকা, সেই টাকার টোটাল টাই কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারকে দিতে চলে যাচ্ছে। ৪০,০০০ কোটি টাকা কেন কাটে আমাদের থেকে? আবার বড় বড় কথা, বড় বড় ভাষণ। রেশন দেওয়ার ক্ষমতা নেই শুধু ভাষণ।”

পরিসংখ্যান দিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন বাংলা এগিয়ে চলেছে। “এগ্রিকালচারাল গ্রোথ ইন্ডিয়া ১.১% আর বেঙ্গল অ্যাবাউট ৬%; সার্ভিস সেক্টর, ইন্ডিয়া–৯.২% বেঙ্গল–১৩.৯৯%; ইন্ডাস্ট্রিয়াল গ্রোথ ইন্ডিয়া-৭.৩% বেঙ্গল-১.০.৫৯%; আর জিডিপি, ২০১০-১১য় ছিল ৪.৬ লক্ষ কোটি, ১৫-১৬য় এটা ৯.৩৯ লক্ষ কোটি হয়েছে। যদি এগ্রিকালচারাল গ্রোথ আমাদের খারাপ হয়, পরপর পাঁচ বছর পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার ভারত সরকারের কৃষি কর্মন অ্যাওয়ার্ড পেল কি করে?”

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, “বাংলাকে জ্ঞ্যান দিয়ে লাভ নেই। বাংলা যা পারে, অন্যরা কেউ তা পারে না। আমরা ৩৬৫ দিন কাজ করি, ৩৬৫ দিন মানুষের কাছে থাকি।”

তিনি আরও বলেন, “নির্বাচনের আগে বিজেপি প্রতিশ্রুতি দিয়েছিল সাতটা চাবাগান অধিগ্রহন করবে, আজ পর্যন্ত একটা কেউ টেকঅভার করেছে? উপরন্তু বাংলায় চা বাগান বেশী বলে, আমাদের কলকাতায় যে টি বোর্ডের অফিস আছে, সেই টি বোর্ডের অফিসটা হস্তান্তর করে আসামে নিয়ে যাচ্ছে। আমার আপত্তি নেই আসামে যদি আরেকটা করে, কিন্তু বাংলাকে বঞ্চনা কেন?”

Bengal bags Krishi Karman Award 5th time in row

Bengal has yet again bagged the Centre’s Krishi Karman Award for the fifth consecutive year for excellence in agriculture.

Congratulating farmers of the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s post on Facebook on Wednesday read:

“Bengal has done it again!

For the fifth time in a row, Bengal has again bagged the prestigious “Krishi Karman Award” of the Government of India for excellence in agriculture.

In spite of the devastating floods of 2015-16, our state has achieved spectacular growth in pulses production while sustaining overall growth in food production.

I dedicate this wonderful achievement to all my farmer brothers and sisters.

My best wishes to all.”

It may be mentioned that Bengal had bagged the Krishi Karman Puroskar last year for the increase in the cultivation of food grains and oil seeds in the 2014-15 fiscal.

Like the previous year, the Agriculture department will be getting a prize money of Rs 2 crore for bagging the Krishi Karman Puroskar and two farmers from the state – one male and one female- will be getting Rs 2 lakh each for their remarkable performance in the agriculture sector.

In the 2013-14 fiscal, the state had bagged the award for the increase in production of coarse cereals and a sharp rise in production and increase in area of maize cultivation. Similarly, in 2011-12 and 2012-13 financial year, too, the state had bagged the award for the increase in cultivation of coarse cereals. In the past few years, there was a manifold increase in production of food grains and oil seeds. Major steps were taken to bring in more agricultural land for oil seed cultivation.

 

পঞ্চম বার কৃষি কর্মণ পুরস্কার পেল বাংলা 

দেশের মধ্যে কৃষিজ পণ্য উৎপাদনে প্রথম স্থান অৰ্জন করল পশ্চিমবঙ্গ।  কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের কৃষি কর্মন পুরস্কার পেল রাজ্য। এই নিয়ে পাঁচবার পুরস্কার পেল পশ্চিমবঙ্গ। সব রাজ্যকে পিছনে ফেলে ওই পুরস্কার নিজেদের দখলে রাখল পশ্চিমবঙ্গ।

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী তাঁর সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ায় এই সাফল্য সমস্ত কৃষকদের উৎসর্গ করে তাদের শুভেচ্ছা জানিয়েছেন।

গত বছরের মত এবছরও বাংলার কৃষি দপ্তর ও রাজ্যের দুই কৃষক (প্রত্যেকে) তাদের পারফর্মেন্স এর জন্য এই পুরস্কার পাবেন যার মূল্য ২ কোটি টাকা।

উল্লেখ্য ২০১৪-১৫ আর্থিক বর্ষে খাদ্য শস্য ও তৈল বীজ উৎপাদন বৃদ্ধির জন্য এই পুরস্কার পেয়েছিল বাংলা।

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Bengal wins Krishi Karman for the fourth year in a row

West Bengal has won the Central Government’s Krishi Karman Award for outstanding agricultural productivity for the fourth year in a row. This time it is for the record production in oilseeds in the financial year 2014-15, of 9.01 lakh metric tonnes, which is an increase by 28.11% over the 2010-11 level. The cultivated area for oilseeds is now 7.76 lakh hectares, which is also an increase, by 15.67% over 2010-11.

Under the Trinamool Congress Government, the State has been making record productions of various crops. It is now a trendsetter in the country.

The State Government has created numerous schemes to benefit farmers, ranging from distribution of high-quality seeds to creation of better irrigation facilities to enabling easy procurement of fertilizers to helping farmers to get the right price for their produce by excluding middlemen by selling them at Krishi Bazaars.

Agricultural fairs have been held regularly since 2012-13 at block, district and state levels. For the first in India, a permanent site with infrastructure, called ‘Mati Tirtha,’ has been set up for agriculture and allied sectors – for fairs, exhibitions, demonstrations, promotions, publicity, etc.

 

চতুর্থবার কৃষি কর্মণ পুরস্কার পেল রাজ্য সরকার

দেশের মধ্যে কৃষিতে ব্যাপক সাফল্যের জন্য এই নিয়ে চতুর্থ বার কৃষি কর্মণ পুরস্কার পেল পশ্চিমবঙ্গ। ২০১৪-১৫ আর্থিক বছরে ব্যাপক পরিমানে তৈলবীজ উ९পাদন হয়েছে পশ্চিমবঙ্গে।

তৃণমূল সরকারে অধীনে খাদ্যশস্য উ९পাদনে ব্যাপক সাফল্য পেয়েছে রাজ্য। এই নিয়ে পরপর চার বার এই শিরোপা পেল রাজ্য।

রাজ্য সরকার কৃষকদের সাহায্যের জন্য কয়েকটি প্রকল্প চালু করেছে। উন্নতমানের বীজ বিতরণ করা হচ্ছে কৃষকদের। এছাড়া কৃষকরা যাতে তাদের উৎপাদিত দ্রব্যের সঠিক মূল্য পায় সেজন্য কৃষক বাজার তৈরি করেছে রাজ্য সরকার।

২০১২-১৩ সাল থেকেই রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন জেলার বিভিন্ন ব্লকে কৃষক মেলা অনুষ্ঠিত হচ্ছে। দেশের মধ্যে এই প্রথম কৃষকদের জন্য ‘মাটি তীর্থ’ তৈরি হয়েছে পশ্চিমবঙ্গে।