Mumtaz Sanghamita speaks on Supplementary Demands for Grants – Third Batch for 2017-18

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Hon Deputy Speaker Sir, thank you for allowing me to speak on this matter. It is apparent what hon finance minister has said. We have to revive the ailing sick banks, for that he is demanding special grants from our Budget money, he is talking about Rs 80,000 crore.

Sir, we need this because big public banks will give different loans to different publics, or sectors for our national growth. But, my question is, first of all, what is the guarantee that even after giving this amount, next year we will get repaid back and the banks will be solvent? Demonetisation was also touted as a process where the banks will be solvent from the poor people’s money. But, still that is not working. Then what about the solvency of the banks by guaranteeing the bigger loaners in the different corporate sectors and the big businessmen, who are not paid? There is no guarantee at all and we have got no idea how we can recover the amount.

Another thing, we are asking, rather the government is asking, is for a demand of grant for the solvency of the banks. But for the social sector development, employment and the survival of the general public we are not demanding more grants. Rather, the government has given up its major share to the States for expanding these schemes. One of them is MGNREGA. Even in the Mid-Day Meal scheme for the children’s growth who are two-thirds of our society, for their development, we are cutting the money from there. We have heard in the Zero Hour from my colleague, who narrated that widow pensions and other things have been stopped. And then, even the disabled people’s grants have been reduced, so has been the funds for the development of the SC/STs and minorities.

The ratio for PMGSY has been reduced from 80-20 to 50-50. So where do the states, specially some states that are not that solvent, get that money to pay for these schemes?

With these words Sir, I’m supporting this Bill. Thank you very much indeed.

Government must look at the interest of kisans and mazdoors: Trinamool in LS

Sugata Bose, Arpita Ghosh, Pratima Mandal and Mamtaz Sanghamita spoke  in the Lok Sabha on the agrarian situation in the country.

Sugata Bose raised the concern regarding the agricultural sector. The agricultural output has grown by only 1% in the last year. Agricultural sector constitutes about 55% of the employment in the nation, but contributed less than 15% of the GDP.

He urged the Government to immediately focus on irrigation so that it provides rural employment in the short run and increase productivity in the long run.

“The West Bengal Government’s ‘Jol Dharo Jol Bharo‘ programme has been more farsighted and successful. The Central Government’s ‘Krishi Sichai Yojana‘ should take lessons from West Bengal’s scheme”, he said.

He highlighted the importance of increase in the cold storage capacity and took the example of Bhangar, where with the support of West Bengal’s State Horticulture Department, a vegetable producer’s company has been established. As a result, per hectare output has increased dramatically from 7500 kg to 9500 kg and average peasant’s income has risen from Rs 22000 in 140 days to Rs 88000 in 120 days

Sugata Bose concluded by urging the House to rise to its full stature and make sure that the peasants, agricultural labourers and the range of service providers in rural areas be made partners and not victims in India’s development story.

Click here for the full speech of Sugata Bose. 

Arpita Ghosh criticised the Government for focusing only on corporatisation, but not on the agricultural sector. She highlighted the West Bengal Government’s initiatives in the agricultural sector like setting up ‘Kisan Mandis’ in every block and ‘Jal Dharo Jal Bharo’ Scheme.

“According to many surveys, in the last 7-8 years, almost 3 Crore farmers have left farming, many are contemplating to leave farming and many have committed suicide,” said Arpita Ghosh.

She urged the Government to set up a dedicated research institute in arid areas of West Bengal like Purulia and Bankura and to focus on agro-based industries in the State.

Click here for the full speech of Arpita Ghosh. 

Pratima Mandal asked the Government to have more policies to regulate the market  to ensure that the farmers get the fair price for their productions.

She said, “Soil test is a major issue in this regard, so that the farmers can know which crop is suitable for which field. Digging of canals and installation of deep shallow are required to maintain the water flow to the field. I would request to the Minister to allot more fund in this respect.”

She urged the Government for upgradation of Kalyani Krishi Vidyalaya for more effective research in the interest of the farmers of West Bengal.

Click here for the full speech of Pratima Mandal.

Mamtaz Sanghamita pointed out that even though India is an agricultural country, with 70% of rural population of  India are dependent on agriculture, yet policies formulated are not sufficient. Farmers are facing obstacles in cultivation system, natural calamities, no subsidy on fertilisers making them to lead them a borderline life.

She said, “Even when there is surplus yield of the agricultural product, there is no uniform system or rule of distribution or export to different states of India or abroad.”

Click here for the full speech of Mamtaz Sanghamita.

Mamtaz Sanghamita speaks on Rail Budget 2015-16| Transcript

Full transcript:

I have only two minutes in hand, I am not going to waste my time by praising or displeasing Hon’ble Minister or the Rail Budget.

There is no local train between Durgapur and Bardhaman. You may be knowing, Bardhaman is a very old growing town which has universities, medical colleges and is an agricultural belt. Durgapur is a steel city and an industrial city. There is no local train from Durgapur to Howrah. As you may be understanding there is heavy rush of daily passengers including students and office goers. There is also no local train between Katwa and Sealdah, it is also a very thickly populated.

There is Gomo local which is running between Bardhaman and Gomo. It is a long journey of six hours and you will be surprised to know that no toilet facility is provided and same thing is with Purulia local which runs between Purulia and Howrah, which takes at least three and half hours and if it is late it can go up to four to five hours. You can well imagine the situation of women and senior citizens.

There is urgent need of railway overpass in Kalna railway gate in the outskirts of Bardhaman town just connecting to the famous GT Road passing through the heart of Bardhaman town and having heavy traffic load and urgency of ambulance.

Also there is a need of Talit level gate overpass which is needed for Suri Road which is connecting National Highway 34 to North Bengal, Sikkim etc. I would like to bring your notice the importance of this overpass is that there is mineral and coal transport, tourist vehicles to Bolpur and North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan.

Let me talk about another important issue, the issue of security arrangement. There are no security arrangements in the ladies compartments in trains running between Bardhaman and Kolkata, specially in the evening time.

The hawkers, in the local trains are sometimes a big menace and very disturbing. The females in the ladies compartment also feel insecure due to them. There is a need to have a specified ID card for the hawkers.

There is a very narrow over bridge at Bardhaman station, above the GT road.

Food and water are essential requirements for a railway journey. It is presently served by IRCTC in platforms. They often serve junk food mostly. The local vendors should be hygienically supervised and be allowed to sell food also.