Committee headed by Bengal CM making grand plans for Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary

The State Government has set up a committee under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. The committee was formed on April 18.

There are 46 members in the committee. Members of the committee include members of Parliament (MP) Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Subrata Bakshi, Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya and Chief Secretary Malay De. Vice-chancellors of Calcutta University, Rabindra Bharati University, Presidency University and Jadavpur University were also present in the meeting.

It has been decided that on October 2, a programme will be organised at Gandhi Bhavan, for which the government is chalking out a detailed plan.

Based on the philosophy of Gandhiji, elocution and essay competitions will be held in schools, colleges and other educational institutions in order to spread the messages of Gandhiji among the people, particularly the youth. A booklet named Father of the Nation, containing speeches of Gandhiji on different issues including communal harmony, national integration and patriotism, will be published on October 2.

Universities in the state will also organise programmes to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Presidency University has a centre on Gandhian awareness, where they will organise seminars and symposiums in this regard.

It has also been decided that Gandhi Bhavan, now being maintained by the PWD Department, would be completely taken over the State Government for better maintenance as it is a heritage structure. A permanent chair in the name of Mahatma Gandhi would be instituted in Calcutta University.

 

মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর নেতৃত্বে গান্ধীজির স্বার্ধশতবর্ষ উদযাপন কমিটি গড়ল রাজ্য সরকার

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের নেতৃত্বে গান্ধীজির স্বার্ধশতবর্ষ উদযাপন কমিটি গড়ল রাজ্য সরকার । এই কমিটি গঠন হয় ১৮ই এপ্রিল, কমিটির সদস্য সংখ্যা ৪৬ জন। কমিটিতে সাংসদ, মন্ত্রীরাও আছেন। কমিটির প্রথম বৈঠকে বেশ কয়েকটি সিদ্ধান্ত গৃহীত হয়, উপস্থিত ছিলেন বিভিন্ন বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সহ উপাচার্যরাও।

কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে একটি স্থায়ী চেয়ার করা হবে গান্ধীজির নামে।বেলেঘাটার গান্ধীভবন যা বর্তমানে দেখাশোনা করে পূর্ত দপ্তর, সেটিকেও পুরোপুরিভাবে রাজ্য সরকার অধিগ্রহণ করবে। এই হেরিটেজ বাড়ির সংস্কার ও রক্ষণাবেক্ষণ করবে রাজ্য।

এবছর ২রা অক্টোবর ওই বাড়িতে একটি বর্ণাঢ্য অনুষ্ঠানের আয়োজন করা হবে। রাজ্য সরকার এই অনুষ্ঠানসূচী তৈরী করবে। গান্ধীজির পদাঙ্ক অনুসরণ করে স্কুল, কলেজ, অন্যান্য শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানে আবৃত্তি পাঠ ও রচনা লেখার প্রতিযোগিতার আয়োজন করা হবে। গান্ধীজির বার্তা রাজ্যের মানুষের মধ্যে বিশেষত যুবদের মধ্যে প্রচার করার কর্মসূচী নেওয়া হয়েছে।

গান্ধীজির ভাষণ লিপিবদ্ধ একটি পুস্তক যার নাম রাখা হয়েছে ‘জাতির জনক’, প্রকাশিত হবে ২রা অক্টোবর। যেহেতু ভারতের স্বাধীনতা আন্দোলনে পূর্ব মেদিনীপুরের খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা আছে, ওখানকার কোনও একটি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়কে গান্ধীজির নামাঙ্কিত করা হবে। রাজ্যের অন্যান্য বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলিতেও বিভিন্ন ভাবে স্বার্ধশতবর্ষ উদযাপন করা হবে। গান্ধীজির বিষয়ে মানুষের জ্ঞান বাড়াতে প্রেসিডেন্সি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে একটি কেন্দ্র আছে। সেখানেও সেমিনার ও সম্মেলনের আয়োজন করা হবে।

Source: Millennium Post

 

Bengal Govt to revive Darjeeling as an education hub

The Bengal Government has decided to revive the lost glory of Darjeeling as an education hub. Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is working hand-in-hand with the government on this venture.

New schools and colleges are being built in the district. Fifty-six new school buildings – 20 primary schools and 36 upper primary – are being constructed in Darjeeling district at a cost of Rs 26.48 crore. Forty-three more school buildings will be built by the State Government.

Two colleges are coming up in Siliguri sub-division within the new academic session – a Hindi-medium college at Hatighisha in Naxalbari block and another one in Ghoshpukur. Two industrial training centres (ITI) are also coming up in Siliguri sub-division, which will equip youths for the future with proper training.

The schools will come up in far-flung areas, from where students have to walk long distances to reach schools.

Incidentally, the State Government has plans to develop the town of Kurseong as an education hub. A campus of Presidency University will be opened there, along with a medical college. For proper development in all respects, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last year made Kurseong a separate district.

 

দার্জিলিঙে শিক্ষার প্রসারে উদ্যোগী রাজ্য

দার্জিলিঙে শিক্ষার প্রসারে উদ্যোগী রাজ্য, পাশে জিটিএ। অনেক নতুন স্কুল ও কলেজ তৈরী করা হচ্ছে এই জেলায়।

সর্বশিক্ষা অভিযানের অধীনে জিটিএ অঞ্চলে ৫৬টি (২০টি প্রাথমিক ও ৩৬টি উচ্চ প্রাথমিক) স্কুল তৈরী করা হচ্ছে। আরও ৪৩টি স্কুল তৈরী হবে এখানে। স্কুলগুলি তৈরী হবে প্রত্যন্ত এলাকায় যাতে ছেলেমেয়েদের পড়াশোনার স্বার্থে খুব দূরে যেতে না হয়।

শিলিগুড়িতে দুটি নতুন কলেজ তৈরী করা হচ্ছে। তৈরী হচ্ছে দুটি ইন্ডাস্ট্রিয়াল ট্রেনিং সেন্টার। নতুন শিক্ষাবর্ষে শিলিগুড়ির দুটি নতুন কলেজে পঠনপাঠন শুরু হবে। কার্শিয়াঙে ইতিমধ্যেই গড়ে উঠছে একটি শিক্ষা হাব। প্রেসিডেন্সি ইউনিভার্সিটির একটি সেন্টার ও একটি মেডিক্যাল কলেজ নির্মাণ হবে কার্শিয়াঙে।

নক্সালবাড়ি ব্লকের হাতিঘিশায় একটি হিন্দী মাধ্যম কলেজ তৈরী করা হবে। অন্য একটি কলেজ তৈরী হচ্ছে ঘোষপুকুরে। এই কলেজটির জন্য ইতিমধ্যেই উচ্চশিক্ষা দপ্তর কলা ও বাণিজ্য বিভাগ চালু করার অনুমোদন দিয়েছে।

Source: Millennium Post

 

Presidency University will become a model for the entire world: WB CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today visited Presidency University for the convocation ceremony. She announced a slew of projects for the renovation and upgradation of the current campus as well as new Rajarhat campus.

WB CM also announced that a new campus of Presidency University will be set up at Dow Hill, Kurseong and it will be known as Himalayan Institute.

West Bengal Government will give Rs 118 crore to Presidency University out of which the Chief Minister handed over Rs 30 crore to the Vice-Chancellor today.

“What Bengal thinks today, rest of India thinks tomorrow. Presidency will show the way. Presidency should become a model for the entire world,” she said.

“I am honoured to be at Presidency. I am happy to be in the midst of so many young, talented minds,” she added.

125 years of University Institute

WB CM also attended the 125th year anniversary of the foundation of Calcutta University Institute today. She inaugurated the newly-renovated auditorium of Calcutta University Institute during the event.

Speaking on the occasion, WB CM said, “We must never forget our roots, no matter which part of the world we are in. We must teach our future generations about our past.”

She added, “Bengal can become the seat of another Renaissance in the future.”

 

UK and Bengal sign 21 MoUs

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led delegation to the UK today clinched 21 MoUs with the UK in the fields of industry, health, education and urban development.

The agreements were signed during a bilateral meeting with Britain’s Minister of State for Employment and British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Indian Diaspora champion Priti Patel at a reception hosted at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London.

Praise for Bengal

“This is a landmark visit… These MoUs will help bring the UK and West Bengal ever closer, and unleash the potential of our relationship,” Patel said in her address.

“For 34 years, West Bengal languished under Communist rule. The state had tremendous potential, but that potential remained unfulfilled… I am delighted to say that things are changing fast. Today, West Bengal is on the move.

“Under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership the state is enjoying a renaissance and its potential is beginning to be realized,” said the Indian-origin minister, who had accompanied PM Cameron to Kolkata in 2013.

“The Prime Minister was impressed. It was clear to him this was a state ? and a Chief Minister ? that we could do business with. That’s why he invited you (Banerjee) to visit London,” she said on behalf of the British Prime Minister, who is on a tour of South East Asia.

Details of MoUs

Industry

1. Between WB Infrastructure Development Corporation and UK-IBC for building up business relation between England and West Bengal.

2. Between Pandrol Ltd, UK and Rahee Infratech for a rail fastening clip unit

3. JV between Fonz Leather Styles, UK and JC International for leather unit

4. JV between Fomas group, Italy and ArcVac Forgecast for forging press

5. On support from Laura Ashley and Luike Irvine, UK for promotion of Bengal handicrafts

6. Between Jacob’s UK Ltd and Nicco Park & Resorts Ltd for technical assistance

7. Invitation of guidance between WBIDC, India Teas Association and UK Teal Packeters.

8. Collaboration agreement between Eden Projects, UK and Highland Genesis Developers for micro climate controlled bio domes for eco-tourism.

9. Between Bengal’s Nestor’s Industries and Genus, UK for upgrading genetic potential in Bengal’s dairy animals.

10. Between PC Chandra group and Wester Winter GMBH & Co, UK for development in gold industry.

11. Agreement with Paul Mech, UK and Shopping Bag Directs Ltd to sell Gobindobhog rice in global markets.

Health

12. Understanding with Royal College of General Practitioners for support on PG diploma on family medicine.

13. Between Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance and University College of London Institute of Global Health for collaboration on public health education.

14. Between WB Health & Family Welfare Society and College of Nursing, Dundee, Scotland for nursing education.

15. Between Society for Health and Demographic Surveillance and London School of Tropical Medicine for assistance in Pubic Health Engineering.

Urban Development

16. Between WB HIDCO and Jason Bruges Studio, UK for smart technologies in New Town.

17. Between HIDCO and Smart Cities Catapult, UK for making New Town a Smart City.

Higher Education

18. Between School of Oriental and African Studies and Presidency University for co-operation on South Asian studies.

19. Between School of Oriental and African Studies and Presidency University for Bengali studies in SOAS and exchange programme.

20. Between University of Cambridge and Presidency University for collaboration in arts, humanities and social sciences.

21. Between East Anglia University, Norwich and Presidency University for collaboration in humanities.

 

 

Rajarhat to get education hub

An education hub is coming up at Rajarhat New Town. At least 30 different educational institutes have been allotted land in the township, covering more than 150 acres, to set up their campuses in different parts of the township.

While Presidency University , St Xavier’s College and Rabindra Bharati University are developing their second campuses here, institutes like Aliah University and Techno India have already set up their campuses and started operations.

Officials said that talks are on with several other institutes and more land could be allotted for their campuses. Campuses of several government and private institutes like Netaji Subhas Open University , Ganguly Educational Society , Bhawanipor Gujrati Education Society, IILM Foundation, WBSEDCL Staff Training Centre, State Government Vocational Institute, State Social Welfare School and others are also coming up in the township.

Authorities have been allotting land -from two acres to 10 acres -to different institutes through e-tenders.

Besides, the authorities have also earmarked a 20-acre plot to set up a government medical college and hospital. Tenders will be floated again. Cities across the world like Boston and Cambridge revolve around a big education hub where worldclass universities along with schools and colleges are located.